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Highland, New York - 3 schools
An equity score of 49/100 ranks Highland Central School District #404 of 941 districts in New York (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $26,696 per pupil, Highland Central School District ranks #375 of 999 New York districts by per-pupil spending (New York districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
1,565
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$26,696
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Highland Central School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,565 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Ulster County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $26,696 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 999 New York districts by per-pupil spending. See how New York compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 59.9% local, 34.5% state, and 5.6% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 49/100, ranked #404 of 941 in New York against a state average of 45, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 322.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 30.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 67.6% White, 17.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Highland Elementary School, with a diversity index of 51.7/100.
Its largest campus is Highland Elementary School, enrolling 665 students (44% of the district's total enrollment).
Highland Elementary School accounts for 42.5% of all Highland Central School District student enrollment
That dominant concentration means Highland Central School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Highland Central School District student-counselor ratio is 322:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Highland Central School District is typically wider than the Highland Central School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Highland Central School District chronic absenteeism rate is 30.0% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Highland Central School District is typically wider than the Highland Central School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Comparisons are relative to Highland Central School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.
Nearby Districts in New York
Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.
How many schools are in Highland Central School District?
Highland Central School District has 3 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,565 students.
How much does Highland Central School District spend per student?
Highland Central School District spends $26,696 per student. The district has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #404 in New York.
What is the demographic composition of Highland Central School District?
Highland Central School District students are 67.6% White, 17.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% African American, 3.0% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Highland Central School District?
Highland Central School District has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #404 out of 941 districts in New York.