Best Schools in Poughkeepsie, New York
29 schools · 20 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Poughkeepsie?
Use this page to compare every school in Poughkeepsie by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Spackenkill High School
High · Spackenkill Union Free School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Oakwood Friends School
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Holy Trinity Annex @ St Peter School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Poughkeepsie for 2026 are Spackenkill High School (8.9/10), Oakwood Friends School (8.3/10), and Holy Trinity Annex @ St Peter School (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 24 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
29
21 public · 8 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$308,900
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Schools
29
21 public · 8 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$308,900
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 25% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Poughkeepsie schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Poughkeepsie
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (24 of 29). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spackenkill High School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Oakwood Friends School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Holy Trinity Annex @ St Peter School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Orville a Todd Middle School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Tabernacle Christian Academy | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Noxon Road Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Hagan School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Hawk Meadow Montessori School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Abilities First | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Poughkeepsie High School | 6.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $84,477
- Median home value
- $308,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 38%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Poughkeepsie compares
New York rank
#336 of 475
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below New York avg (6.2)
Median household income
$84k
90% of New York median
Schools in this city
28
About Schools in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie's public school landscape spans 21 ranked schools, with an average score of 6.0 out of 10 — a range that gives parents both strong options and important distinctions to weigh. The city's top performers cluster in the Spackenkill Union Free and Arlington Central districts, where scores sit well above the city mean. Six schools — 29% of the total — score 7 or higher, so the strongest options are genuine, but they represent a minority of the overall picture.
At the elementary level, Arthur S. May School leads the city with a 9.1 out of 10, the highest score among all 21 ranked schools. Noxon Road Elementary follows at 8.8, and Nassau School earns a 7.2 — all three clearing the 7-plus threshold that separates the city's top performers from the pack. Parents with elementary-age children have three strong public options to evaluate, with meaningful performance separation between them and the schools below the 7 mark.
The middle and high school picture is similarly concentrated. Orville A. Todd Middle School scores 8.5, and Spackenkill High School scores 8.4 — both landing in the top tier. Together, these schools suggest that students entering the Spackenkill pipeline can expect consistently strong performance from elementary through graduation. For families not in that district, the step-down in scores is noticeable and worth factoring into housing decisions.
The practical takeaway for parents: Poughkeepsie rewards careful district-level research. The city's average of 6.0 reflects a wide spread — the gap between Arthur S. May's 9.1 and lower-scoring schools is substantial. Families prioritizing academic performance should focus their search on the Spackenkill district, where the top-rated elementary, middle, and high schools form a coherent, high-scoring pathway. Parents open to other parts of the city should check individual school scores directly, since the 6.0 average conceals both standouts and underperformers that a city-wide summary will not reveal.
Elementary Schools
20 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 352 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 364 students · 3rd–5th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 383 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 6.1 |
| 4 | 308 students · Pre-K–1st | 5.9 |
| 5 | 496 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 |
| 6 | 306 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.7 |
| 7 | 294 students · 1st–5th | 5.3 |
| 8 | 410 students · 3rd–5th | 5.2 |
| 9 | 255 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 |
| 10 | 480 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.0 |
Show all 20 elementary schools in Poughkeepsie
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 389 students · 6th–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 872 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 516 students · 9th–12th | 8.9 | ||
| 2 | 1,161 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Oakwood Friends School
Private
191 students · 5th–12th | 8.3 | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 292 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Tabernacle Christian Academy
Private
107 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | Abilities First
Private
105 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | Poughkeepsie Day School
Private
29 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
Schools in Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie, New York · 29 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$84,477
Median Home Value
$308,900
Median Rent
$1,501/mo
Population
86,209
College Educated
38%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Community Profile
Poughkeepsie has a median household income of $84,477. It is an area where 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $308,900, with a median rent of $1,501/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.7%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 20
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 4
Resources
School Districts (7)
ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
11 schools · 7,768 students
SPACKENKILL UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
4 schools · 1,584 students
HYDE PARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
6 schools · 3,515 students
POUGHKEEPSIE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
7 schools · 3,880 students
WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
15 schools · 10,614 students
DUTCHESS BOCES
1 school
LITTLE WATER PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 152 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Poughkeepsie, New York
How many schools are in Poughkeepsie, New York?
Poughkeepsie has 29 schools, including 21 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Poughkeepsie, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Poughkeepsie is 5.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Poughkeepsie, New York?
The top-ranked school in Poughkeepsie on MySchoolScout is Spackenkill High School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Poughkeepsie, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Poughkeepsie on MySchoolScout is Holy Trinity Annex @ St Peter School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Poughkeepsie, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Poughkeepsie on MySchoolScout is Orville a Todd Middle School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best high school in Poughkeepsie, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Poughkeepsie on MySchoolScout is Spackenkill High School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
How many school districts serve Poughkeepsie, New York?
Poughkeepsie is served by 7 school districts: Arlington Central School District, Spackenkill Union Free School District, Hyde Park Central School District, Poughkeepsie City School District, Wappingers Central School District, Dutchess Boces, Little Water Preparatory Charter School.
What is the education level in Poughkeepsie, New York?
According to Census data, 38% of adults in Poughkeepsie have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Poughkeepsie, New York?
The median household income in Poughkeepsie is approximately $84,477 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Poughkeepsie, New York?
Yes, Poughkeepsie has 8 private schools alongside 21 public schools. The top-rated private school is Oakwood Friends School with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Poughkeepsie, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Poughkeepsie is 12.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Poughkeepsie, New York?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New York State Education Dept., and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.