South Orangetown 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.

Blauvelt, New York - 4 schools

An equity score of 56/100 ranks South Orangetown Central School District #293 of 941 districts in New York (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $32,407 per pupil, South Orangetown Central School District ranks #138 of 999 New York districts by per-pupil spending (New York districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,886
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$32,407
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

South Orangetown Central School District operates 4 public schools serving 2,886 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 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 Rockland County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $32,407 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 78.0% local, 17.3% state, and 4.7% 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 56/100, ranked #293 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 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (20 AP courses district-wide), a 696.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 13.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 59.4% White, 24.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Cottage Lane Elementary School, with a diversity index of 58.7/100.

Its largest campus is Tappan Zee High School, enrolling 911 students (33% of the district's total enrollment).

Tappan Zee High School accounts for 31.6% of all South Orangetown Central School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means South Orangetown 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

South Orangetown Central School District student-counselor ratio is 697:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

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 above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

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

South Orangetown Central School District chronic absenteeism rate is 13.7% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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

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

Where does the funding come from?

4.7%
Federal
17.3%
State
78.0%
Local

Funding Equity

56
Equity Score
293 / 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 4 schools in South Orangetown Central School District.

White 59.4%
Hispanic or Latino 24.0%
African American 1.6%
Asian 9.1%
Multiracial 5.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 57.8/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Cottage Lane Elementary School 58.7
  2. 2 William O Schaefer Elementary School 58.1
  3. 3 Tappan Zee High School 57.5
  4. 4 South Orangetown Middle School 56.8

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
20 AP courses total
696.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
13.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in South Orangetown Central School District

School Enrollment
Tappan Zee High School
911
South Orangetown Middle School
641
Cottage Lane Elementary School
636
William O Schaefer Elementary School
559

How South Orangetown Central School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

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

Comparisons are relative to South Orangetown 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 South Orangetown 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 South Orangetown Central School District?

South Orangetown Central School District has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,886 students.

How much does South Orangetown Central School District spend per student?

South Orangetown Central School District spends $32,407 per student. The district has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #293 in New York.

What is the demographic composition of South Orangetown Central School District?

South Orangetown Central School District students are 59.4% White, 24.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 1.6% African American, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for South Orangetown Central School District?

South Orangetown Central School District has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #293 out of 941 districts in New York.