Potsdam 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.

Potsdam, New York - 3 schools

An equity score of 42/100 ranks Potsdam Central School District #542 of 941 districts in New York (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $23,884 per pupil, Potsdam Central School District ranks #586 of 999 New York districts by per-pupil spending (New York districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,327
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$23,884
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Potsdam Central School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,327 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high 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 $23,884 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 37.2% local, 52.1% state, and 10.7% 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 42/100, ranked #542 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.

and 32.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.9% White, 4.1% Asian, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lawrence Avenue Elementary School, with a diversity index of 26.8/100.

Its largest campus is Lawrence Avenue Elementary School, enrolling 526 students (41% of the district's total enrollment).

Lawrence Avenue Elementary School accounts for 39.6% of all Potsdam Central School District student enrollment

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

Potsdam Central School District chronic absenteeism rate is 32.9% — 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?

10.7%
Federal
52.1%
State
37.2%
Local

Funding Equity

42
Equity Score
542 / 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 3 schools in Potsdam Central School District.

White 86.9%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
African American 2.1%
Asian 4.1%
Multiracial 3.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 24.0/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Lawrence Avenue Elementary School 26.8
  2. 2 A a Kingston Middle School 24.2
  3. 3 Potsdam Senior High School 21.0

Programs & Resources

32.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Potsdam Central School District

School Enrollment
Lawrence Avenue Elementary School
526
A a Kingston Middle School
393
Potsdam Senior High School
373

How Potsdam Central School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Cheektowaga-Sloan Union Free School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Eden Central School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Wayland-Cohocton Central School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Catskill Central School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Newfane Central School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Potsdam 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

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Compare Potsdam 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 Potsdam Central School District?

Potsdam Central School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 1,327 students.

How much does Potsdam Central School District spend per student?

Potsdam Central School District spends $23,884 per student. The district has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #542 in New York.

What is the demographic composition of Potsdam Central School District?

Potsdam Central School District students are 86.9% White, 4.1% Asian, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Potsdam Central School District?

Potsdam Central School District has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #542 out of 941 districts in New York.