Wappingers 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.

Hopewell Junction, New York - 15 schools

An equity score of 22/100 ranks Wappingers Central School District #784 of 941 districts in New York (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $23,204 per pupil, Wappingers Central School District ranks #644 of 999 New York districts by per-pupil spending (New York districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

10,479
Total Enrollment
15
Schools
$23,204
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wappingers Central School District operates 15 public schools serving 10,479 students, placing it among the smaller districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 elementary, 3 high, 3 combined, 2 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Dutchess County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,204 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 63.6% local, 30.2% state, and 6.2% 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 22/100, ranked #784 of 941 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 2 of 15 schools offering Advanced Placement (20 AP courses district-wide), a 287.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 60.1% White, 25.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Sheafe Road Elementary School, with a diversity index of 64.7/100.

Its largest campus is John Jay Senior High School, enrolling 1,768 students (17% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Orchard View Alternative High School, at 58 students, a 30x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

John Jay Senior High School accounts for 16.9% of all Wappingers Central School District student enrollment

That concentration means Wappingers 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

Wappingers Central School District school enrollment varies 30× across entities

Wappingers Central School District school enrollment ranges from 58 students (lowest) to 1,768 students (highest), a spread of 1,710 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

Wappingers Central School District student-counselor ratio is 288:1 — 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 Wappingers Central School District is typically wider than the Wappingers Central School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Wappingers Central School District chronic absenteeism rate is 29.3% — 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 Wappingers Central School District is typically wider than the Wappingers Central School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

6.2%
Federal
30.2%
State
63.6%
Local

Funding Equity

22
Equity Score
784 / 941
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 15 schools in Wappingers Central School District.

White 60.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.1%
African American 7.8%
Asian 3.7%
Multiracial 3.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 55.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Sheafe Road Elementary School 64.7
  2. 2 Roy C Ketcham Senior High School 63.2
  3. 3 Wappingers Junior High School 61.1
  4. 4 James S Evans Elementary School 61.0
  5. 5 Oak Grove Elementary School 59.9

Programs & Resources

2 / 15
Schools with AP
20 AP courses total
287.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Wappingers Central School District

School Enrollment
John Jay Senior High School
1,768
Roy C Ketcham Senior High School
1,557
Van Wyck Junior High School
878
Myers Corners School
836
Gayhead School
831
Wappingers Junior High School
764
Sheafe Road Elementary School
612
Fishkill Plains Elementary School
602
Brinckerhoff Elementary School
545
Oak Grove Elementary School
455
Kinry Road Elementary School
368
Fishkill Elementary School
334
James S Evans Elementary School
297
Vassar Road Elementary School
294
Orchard View Alternative High School
58

How Wappingers Central School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Greece Central School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
East Ramapo Central School District (Spring Valley) Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
New Rochelle City School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
New York City Geographic District #18 Similar size No spending data No revenue-mix data
Newburgh City School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Wappingers 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 Wappingers 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 Wappingers Central School District?

Wappingers Central School District has 15 schools, including 3 high, 2 middle, 7 elementary, 3 combined. Total enrollment is 10,479 students.

How much does Wappingers Central School District spend per student?

Wappingers Central School District spends $23,204 per student. The district has an equity score of 22/100, ranking #784 in New York.

What is the demographic composition of Wappingers Central School District?

Wappingers Central School District students are 60.1% White, 25.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% African American, 3.7% Asian, averaged across 15 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wappingers Central School District?

Wappingers Central School District has an equity score of 22/100, ranking #784 out of 941 districts in New York.