The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ellenville Junior/senior High School
Ellenville Junior/Senior High School serves grades seven through twelve in a compact rural village that sits at the foot of the Shawangunk Ridge and functions as a cultural and commercial hub for a tri-county region spanning southwestern Ulster, eastern Sullivan, and northern Orange counties. The school building occupies Maple Avenue within the village itself, about a half-mile from the historic downtown core.
The school population is economically mixed but weighted toward need. A majority of enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting both the district's rural character and the prevalence of lower-income households across the tri-county area. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with roughly equal shares of Hispanic and white students, along with smaller African American, multiracial, and Asian populations. The school's enrollment spans roughly five hundred to just under seven hundred students across the six grades, with roughly similar cohort sizes from seventh through twelfth grade.
State testing results for seventh and eighth grade show proficiency rates that sit below the midpoint among Ulster County districts. In seventh grade mathematics, about four in ten students scored proficient. Seventh grade English language arts performed somewhat higher, with about half proficient. Eighth grade scores decline notably: roughly three in ten met proficiency in mathematics, about one in three in English language arts. Eighth grade science proficiency sat at roughly four in ten. Participation rates were strong, exceeding nine in ten across all subjects and grades tested. No state testing data was available for high school grades, as New York does not administer common state assessments to tenth through twelfth graders; high school academic trajectory would be visible through course selection, grade outcomes, and college-preparatory course offerings rather than state exams.
A parent may want to look into the school's instructional response to the softer junior-high proficiency numbers and what academic supports or interventions are in place in middle grades, particularly in eighth grade mathematics.
The district recently took steps to broaden access to advanced and college-level coursework in grades seven through twelve. The district adopted an equity initiative that includes free or reduced college-course tuition for income-eligible students, meaning that a student whose family qualifies for lunch assistance would not face financial barriers to dual-enrollment or college-credit classes. This is a meaningful opening, particularly for first-generation students and those from lower-income households.
The district reintroduced and expanded pre-kindergarten into a full-day program, now enrolling about fifty-four students across three classes, continuing into the coming school year. For families with younger children, this represents restored early-learning access within the district.
Voters approved a multi-year facilities improvement capital project in late 2024, funding safety upgrades, athletic field and outdoor learning improvements, and aging-infrastructure work including ADA compliance. The project leverages reserve funding and state building aid to limit the tax burden on local homeowners. For families in the district, this signals ongoing facility modernization over the next several years.
The village itself is walkable and compact, with a historic downtown centered on Center, Canal, Liberty, Main, and Market Streets where civic and cultural life concentrate. The Ellenville Public Library and Museum sits downtown and serves as an informational and cultural hub. Intercity bus service connects to Port Authority Bus Terminal about five times a week, and local transit includes Ulster County Area Transit routes. The area sits within reach of outdoor recreation including Minnewaska State Park Preserve and the Shawangunk Ridge.
Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to state and national benchmarks, and the village is actively pursuing downtown revitalization and housing production through state programs. The economy centers on arts, culture, local dining, and outdoor recreation, with Ellenville Regional Hospital serving as a major regional employer. The median household income in the broader region sits above the national figure, though the school's enrollment suggests a meaningful income distribution below that average.
See more original research from School Decision →