📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NY State tests 2023–24), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 13 Rated Districts in Dutchess County, NY
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rhinebeck Central School District | Rhinebeck | 10/10 Excellent | 93rd |
| #2 | Spackenkill Union Free School District | Poughkeepsie | 9/10 Excellent | 81st |
| #3 | Red Hook Central School District | Red Hook | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #4 | Millbrook Central School District | Millbrook | 8/10 Good | 74th |
| #5 | Wappingers Central School District | Hopewell Junction | 8/10 Good | 74th |
| #6 | Pine Plains Central School District | Pine Plains | 6/10 Average | 57th |
| #7 | Arlington Central School District | Lagrangeville | 5/10 Average | 47th |
| #8 | Hyde Park Central School District | Hyde Park | 4/10 Below Average | 38th |
| #9 | Pawling Central School District | Pawling | 4/10 Below Average | 37th |
| #10 | Beacon City School District | Beacon | 4/10 Below Average | 32nd |
| #11 | Dover Union Free School District | Dover Plains | 3/10 Below Average | 21st |
| #12 | Northeast Central School District | Amenia | 1/10 Poor | 9th |
| #13 | Poughkeepsie City School District | Poughkeepsie | 1/10 Poor | 2nd |
Best School Districts in Dutchess County, New York (2026)
This page lists the 13 public school districts headquartered in Dutchess County, New York that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using NY State tests 2023–24 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in New York, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Dutchess County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Dutchess County, New York? ▼
Among the 13 rated districts in Dutchess County, New York, the highest-rated is Rhinebeck Central School District (Rhinebeck), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 93rd percentile of New York districts on NY State tests 2023–24 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NY State tests 2023–24), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in New York and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.