Monticello Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Monticello Central School District

Monticello Central School District serves a diverse student population of roughly mid-size enrollment across Sullivan County, spanning pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. The district's academic results present a clear and pressing picture. Across state testing in English language arts and mathematics, proficiency rates are substantially below the state standard and well below the median performance of other Sullivan County districts. In mathematics, proficiency ranges from roughly one in ten students in grade six to roughly one in three in grade four; in English language arts, the pattern is similarly constrained, with particular weakness in the middle grades. Science proficiency, tested in grades five and eight, hovers around one in four to one in five students meeting standard. These results place the district in the bottom quartile of Sullivan County's eight school districts on overall proficiency. The chronic absenteeism rate is also notably elevated, at nearly half the student body, the highest or near-highest in the county.

The district's enrollment is marked by considerable demographic diversity. Hispanic students constitute roughly two in five of the enrollment; white and Black students each form significant populations at roughly one-third and one-sixth respectively; and students of two or more races represent a smaller but meaningful share. The district does not report its free-or-reduced-price-lunch count or rate, nor does it report counts for students with IEPs or English learners, so a full picture of economic and academic need cannot be assessed from available data.

The district encompasses five named schools: three elementary buildings, a middle school, and a high school. The district recently undertook a substantial capital improvement initiative, approved by voters in May 2024 and broken ground in May 2025. This multi-million-dollar project includes a complete renovation of athletic facilities with an expanded track, security upgrades at two elementary schools, and repairs across the high school and a community school building. The project was financed in large part through existing capital reserves, limiting the immediate tax impact. In May 2025 voters also approved a new operating budget that stayed within the state's tax cap, added several staff positions, and created a new capital reserve fund for future facility projects.

Housing values in the district's communities range widely, from roughly mid-range to above state median in parts of the district, with rental availability concentrated in the Monticello area. Property affordability sits near the national benchmark, and rental costs consume a modest share of median household income, making the area relatively accessible to working families.

The district's path forward hinges on reversing the broad academic gap. The proficiency numbers across grades and subjects are low enough and consistent enough to suggest systemic challenges in curriculum, instruction, or student support rather than isolated weakness in a single area. The elevated chronic absenteeism rate compounds the academic concern; consistent attendance is foundational to learning. A parent evaluating this district should seek direct conversation with the district office about what diagnostic work has been done to explain the proficiency gap, what instructional changes are underway, and what supports exist for struggling students. The recent capital investment in facilities is concrete and visible; academic recovery, though less tangible in near term, is the critical leverage point for family outcomes.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,856

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 39%

Black 15%

White 35%

Asian 2%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

64%

—

Gr 3

16%

26%

Gr 4

19%

46%

Gr 5

33%

58%

Gr 6

10%

23%

Gr 7

16%

13%

Gr 8

18%

37%

Math

Gr EOC

22%

—

Gr 3

14%

30%

Gr 4

28%

54%

Gr 5

21%

42%

Gr 6

17%

Gr 7

17%

25%

Gr 8

12%

Science

Gr EOC

35%

—

Gr 5

21%

46%

Gr 8

16%

33%

Social studies

Gr EOC

54%

—

Schools in this District

5 schools are officially reported under this district.

EMMA C CHASE SCHOOL

GEORGE L COOKE SCHOOL

KENNETH L RUTHERFORD SCHOOL

MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL

ROBERT J KAISER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

19%

Grade 3

36%

Grade 4

27%

Grade 5

11%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

11%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

19%

Grade 3

27%

Grade 4

40%

Grade 5

14%

Grade 6

15%

Grade 7

25%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

28%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$316,529

Year-over-year change+2.2%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$208K to $401K

vs. state typical0.62x

vs. national typical0.86x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
12701	Monticello	$277K	+2.5%	32.2%
12777	Forestburgh	$387K	+1.7%	20.6%
12790	Wurtsboro	$285K	-0.7%	14.9%
12786	White Lake	$294K	+3.8%	8.8%
12775	Rock Hill	$401K	+6.3%	7.2%
12783	Swan Lake	$331K	+2.6%	3.8%
12720	Bethel	$313K	+2.9%	1.9%
12751	Kiamesha Lake	$208K	+2.2%	1.3%
12742	Harris	$301K	-0.4%	1.1%
12734	Ferndale	$315K	+1.9%	0.7%
12779	South Fallsburg	$286K	+4.3%	0.2%
12747	Hurleyville	$307K	+4.8%	0.1%
12737	Glen Spey	$351K	+6.2%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,825/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
12701	Monticello	$1,825	—	32.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,597/mo

Home price / national median income3.8x

Annual rent / national median income26.2%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$228/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$510,449 (+5.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.