Highland Falls Central School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Highland Falls, New York - 3 schools

An equity score of 79/100 ranks Highland Falls Central School District #39 of 941 districts in New York (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $30,868 per pupil, Highland Falls Central School District ranks #191 of 999 New York districts by per-pupil spending (New York districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,025
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$30,868
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Highland Falls Central School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,025 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 combined 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 Orange County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $30,868 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 31.4% local, 35.3% state, and 33.3% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 79/100, ranked #39 of 941 in New York against a state average of 45, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (11 AP courses district-wide), a 151.7:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 32.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 48.6% White, 35.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Highland Falls Intermediate School, with a diversity index of 67.2/100.

Its largest campus is James I O'neill High School, enrolling 409 students (44% of the district's total enrollment).

James I O'neill High School accounts for 39.9% of all Highland Falls Central School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Highland Falls Central School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Highland Falls Central School District school enrollment varies 2.2× across entities

Highland Falls Central School District school enrollment ranges from 187 students (lowest) to 409 students (highest), a spread of 222 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Highland Falls Central School District student-counselor ratio is 152:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Highland Falls Central School District chronic absenteeism rate is 32.6% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

33.3%
Federal
35.3%
State
31.4%
Local

Funding Equity

79
Equity Score
39 / 941
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Highland Falls Central School District.

White 48.6%
Hispanic or Latino 35.0%
African American 9.8%
Asian 1.8%
Multiracial 4.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 62.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Highland Falls Central School District's schools, above the New York average of 45.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Highland Falls Intermediate School 67.2
  2. 2 Fort Montgomery Elementary School 62.1
  3. 3 James I O'neill High School 57.4

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
11 AP courses total
151.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
32.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Highland Falls Central School District

School Enrollment
James I O'neill High School
409
Highland Falls Intermediate School
334
Fort Montgomery Elementary School
187

How Highland Falls Central School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New York districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy Ii Charter School Similar size Similar spending No revenue-mix data
Democracy Prep Harlem Charter School Similar size Lower spending No revenue-mix data
Stillwater Central School District Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Silver Creek Central School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Chester Union Free School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Highland Falls 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.

Compare Highland Falls Central School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs New York City Geographic District #31 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Highland Falls Central School District?

Highland Falls Central School District has 3 schools, including 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 1,025 students.

How much does Highland Falls Central School District spend per student?

Highland Falls Central School District spends $30,868 per student. The district has an equity score of 79/100, ranking #39 in New York.

What is the demographic composition of Highland Falls Central School District?

Highland Falls Central School District students are 48.6% White, 35.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% African American, 1.8% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Highland Falls Central School District?

Highland Falls Central School District has an equity score of 79/100, ranking #39 out of 941 districts in New York.