Massena 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.

Massena, New York - 5 schools

An equity score of 43/100 ranks Massena Central School District #518 of 941 districts in New York (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $21,995 per pupil, Massena Central School District ranks #732 of 999 New York districts by per-pupil spending (New York districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,457
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$21,995
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Massena Central School District operates 5 public schools serving 2,457 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 combined, 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 St. Lawrence County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $21,995 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower 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 21.6% local, 59.5% state, and 18.8% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 43/100, ranked #518 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.

a 336.1:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 33.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.3% White, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.3% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Jefferson Elementary School, with a diversity index of 39.2/100.

Its largest campus is Massena Senior High School, enrolling 743 students (30% of the district's total enrollment).

Massena Senior High School accounts for 30.1% of all Massena Central School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Massena 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

Massena Central School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 59.8% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Massena Central School District student-counselor ratio is 336:1 — 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 Massena Central School District is typically wider than the Massena Central School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Massena Central School District chronic absenteeism rate is 33.0% — 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?

18.8%
Federal
59.5%
State
21.6%
Local

Funding Equity

43
Equity Score
518 / 941
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Massena Central School District.

White 81.3%
Hispanic or Latino 1.5%
African American 1.3%
Asian 1.0%
Multiracial 3.0%
Other 11.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 31.9/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Massena Central School District's schools, below the New York average of 45.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Jefferson Elementary School 39.2
  2. 2 Massena Senior High School 35.2
  3. 3 J William Leary Junior High School 33.9
  4. 4 Nightengale Elementary School 28.2
  5. 5 Madison Elementary School 23.0

Programs & Resources

336.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Massena Central School District

School Enrollment
Massena Senior High School
743
Nightengale Elementary School
454
Jefferson Elementary School
452
Madison Elementary School
432
J William Leary Junior High School
388

How Massena Central School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Port Jervis City School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Miller Place Union Free School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
North Shore Central School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Maine-Endwell Central School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Massena 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 Massena 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 Massena Central School District?

Massena Central School District has 5 schools, including 1 high, 3 combined, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 2,457 students.

How much does Massena Central School District spend per student?

Massena Central School District spends $21,995 per student. The district has an equity score of 43/100, ranking #518 in New York.

What is the demographic composition of Massena Central School District?

Massena Central School District students are 81.3% White, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.3% African American, 1.0% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Massena Central School District?

Massena Central School District has an equity score of 43/100, ranking #518 out of 941 districts in New York.