Average
#420 of 992 private schools in NY
Top 42% of private schools
Abilities First
School
24 FIREMENS WAY, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Enrollment
105
Student-Teacher
8.8:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
105
Student-Teacher
8.8:1
Score
6.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
New York private schools
#420 of 992
In Poughkeepsie
#5 of 7
public schools
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Abilities First
School in Poughkeepsie · grades Kindergarten – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Hawk Meadow Montessori School
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Overlook Primary School
0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Abilities First
Abilities First is a private school in Poughkeepsie, NY. Abilities First serves approximately 105 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-12th, and has a 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Abilities First has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #420 of 992 private schools in NY.
- This school 6.5 · Average
- NY avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
At 105 students, Abilities First is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 8.8:1 students to teachers, Abilities First sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Abilities First is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Abilities First compares to 21 public schools serving similar grades in Poughkeepsie, NY
Student Demographics
Nearby Other Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Abilities First (this school) | 6.5 |
| OVERLOOK PRIMARY SCHOOL | 6.1 |
| TITUSVILLE INTERMEDIATE | 5.2 |
| ARTHUR S MAY SCHOOL | 5.8 |
| VASSAR ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3.5 |
| KINRY ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4.6 |
| G W KRIEGER SCHOOL | 4.0 |
| POUGHKEEPSIE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5.3 |
| POUGHKEEPSIE HIGH SCHOOL | 6.1 |
| SPACKENKILL HIGH SCHOOL | 8.9 |
| SMITH EARLY LEARNING CENTER | 5.9 |
| HAGAN SCHOOL | 7.1 |
| NOXON ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 7.1 |
| WARRING MAGNET ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | 5.3 |
| ORVILLE A TODD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 8.0 |
| GOV GEORGE CLINTON SCHOOL | 5.2 |
| MORSE YOUNG MAGNET SCHOOL | 3.8 |
| OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 5.0 |
| NASSAU SCHOOL | 4.3 |
| VIOLET AVENUE SCHOOL | 5.7 |
| DUTCHESS BOCES | 5.4 |
Showing 20 of 21 schools. View all schools in Poughkeepsie
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NY.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in NY
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
24 FIREMENS WAY, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Abilities First may also want to explore other schools in the area. SPACKENKILL HIGH SCHOOL (rated 8.9/10, 3.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Lagrangeville), which scores notably higher. Additionally, NOXON ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 3.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Poughkeepsie, see our Poughkeepsie schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| HAWK MEADOW MONTESSORI SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 0.5 mi | 6.6 |
| OVERLOOK PRIMARY SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 0.9 mi | 6.1 |
| TITUSVILLE INTERMEDIATE Poughkeepsie | 1.0 mi | 5.2 |
| ST MARTIN DE PORRES SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 1.7 mi | 5.0 |
| POUGHKEEPSIE DAY SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 2.1 mi | — |
| VASSAR ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 2.6 mi | 3.5 |
| KINRY ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 2.6 mi | 4.6 |
| ARTHUR S MAY SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 2.3 mi | 5.8 |
| HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 2.6 mi | 5.0 |
| G W KRIEGER SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 2.8 mi | 4.0 |
| NOXON ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 3.3 mi | 7.1 |
| POUGHKEEPSIE MIDDLE SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 3.0 mi | 5.3 |
| SPACKENKILL HIGH SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 3.1 mi | 8.9 |
| POUGHKEEPSIE HIGH SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 3.1 mi | 6.1 |
| HAGAN SCHOOL Poughkeepsie | 3.3 mi | 7.1 |
| SMITH EARLY LEARNING CENTER Poughkeepsie | 3.2 mi | 5.9 |
| ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Lagrangeville | 3.2 mi | 7.8 |
| WARRING MAGNET ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Poughkeepsie | 3.5 mi | 5.3 |
| DUTCHESS BOCES Poughkeepsie | 4.5 mi | 5.4 |
| LAGRANGE MIDDLE SCHOOL Lagrangeville | 3.5 mi | 4.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 12603 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$104,185
Median Home Value
$342,000
Median Rent
$1,626/mo
Population
41,513
College Educated
46.9%
Homeownership
71.8%
Avg Commute
29.6 min
Poverty Rate
8%
Median Age
43.4
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| DESTINY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AND PRESCHOOL Rochester, NY | 6.6 |
| INDIAN LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL Indian Lake, NY | 6.6 |
| JEWISH HERITAGE DAY SCHOOL/OHR TEMIMIM Amherst, NY | 6.4 |
| LANGAN SCHOOL/CENTER FOR DISABILITY SERVICES Albany, NY | 6.6 |
| LINNAEUS W WEST SCHOOL Endicott, NY | 6.4 |
| MAIMONIDES HEBREW DAY SCHOOL Albany, NY | 6.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Abilities First
What grades does Abilities First serve?
Abilities First serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Abilities First?
Abilities First has an enrollment of approximately 105 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Abilities First?
The student-teacher ratio at Abilities First is 8.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Abilities First rank in NY?
Abilities First ranks #420 of 992 private schools in NY.
What is Abilities First's MySchoolScout rating?
Abilities First has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Abilities First a private school?
Yes, Abilities First is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Abilities First a religious school?
No, Abilities First is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 105
- Gender Split
- 69% M / 31% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 5.5 hours
- Days Per Year
- 180 days
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Dutchess County
- Phone
- (845) 452-0774
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