Plainedge Union Free 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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

N Massapequa, New York - 5 schools

An equity score of 36/100 ranks Plainedge Union Free School District #628 of 931 districts in New York (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $30,821 per pupil, Plainedge Union Free School District ranks #250 of 986 New York districts by per-pupil spending (New York districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,880
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$30,821
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Plainedge Union Free School District operates 5 public schools serving 2,880 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 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 Nassau County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $30,821 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 986 New York districts by per-pupil spending. See how New York compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 64.3% local, 30.0% state, and 5.7% 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 36/100, ranked #628 of 931 in New York against a state average of 45, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 195.8:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 18.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 74.2% White, 13.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is John H West School, with a diversity index of 60.3/100.

Its largest campus is Plainedge Senior High School, enrolling 856 students (29% of the district's total enrollment).

Plainedge Senior High School accounts for 28.9% of all Plainedge Union Free School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Plainedge Union Free School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Plainedge Union Free School District student-counselor ratio is 196:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Plainedge Union Free School District chronic absenteeism rate is 18.6% — 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 Plainedge Union Free School District is typically wider than the Plainedge Union Free School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

5.7%
Federal
30.0%
State
64.3%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
628 / 931
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Plainedge Union Free School District.

White 74.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.8%
African American 1.5%
Asian 7.8%
Multiracial 2.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 41.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Plainedge Union Free School District's schools, below the New York average of 45.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 John H West School 60.3
  2. 2 Plainedge Middle School 38.4
  3. 3 Eastplain School 36.9
  4. 4 Charles E Schwarting School 36.4
  5. 5 Plainedge Senior High School 33.9

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
195.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Plainedge Union Free School District

School Enrollment
Plainedge Senior High School
856
Plainedge Middle School
661
Charles E Schwarting School
524
John H West School
473
Eastplain School
445

How Plainedge Union Free School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Goshen Central School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
South Orangetown Central School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Monticello Central School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Mineola Union Free School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Plainedge Union Free 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.

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Plainedge Union Free 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 Plainedge Union Free School District?

Plainedge Union Free School District has 5 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 2 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 2,880 students.

How much does Plainedge Union Free School District spend per student?

Plainedge Union Free School District spends $30,821 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #628 in New York.

What is the demographic composition of Plainedge Union Free School District?

Plainedge Union Free School District students are 74.2% White, 13.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 1.5% African American, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Plainedge Union Free School District?

Plainedge Union Free School District has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #628 out of 931 districts in New York.