9 Most Equitable, 13 Least Equitable NY Districts Are In HV: Study

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — School districts in the Hudson Valley were ranked among the most equitable in the state, according to a new study, but a handful in our region were also ranked among the least equitable.

In many states, including New York, more affluent school districts are likely to receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts.

Authors of a new Wallet Hub study found that discrepancies between the rich and the were dramatically exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students suffered the greatest "learning loss" due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor was that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need. Now, less fortunate students must struggle to make up the educational ground that they lost due to this lack of resources, the researchers said.

"If we make sure that every school district has equitable funding, students in less affluent communities will have a level playing field with students in wealthy districts," WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez explained. "As a result, their graduation rates will increase, as will their likelihood to pursue higher education and earn larger incomes. College graduates have $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree."

The new study from Wallet Hub finds that New York has the least equitable school districts in the nation, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. The survey scored 674 districts in New York based on average household income and per-student spending in public schools.

Here is where the most and the least equitable school districts in the Hudson Valley ranked in New York, according to the just released study:

Top 30 - Most Equitable

• Washingtonville Central School District (1)
• New Rochelle City School District (3)
• East Ramapo Central School District (9)
• Beacon City School District (10)
• Northeast Central School District (11)
• Rondout Valley Central School District (13)
• Wappingers Central School District (25)
• Valley Central School District (Montgomery) (26)
• Pine Bush Central School District (28)

Bottom 30 - Least Equitable

• Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free School District (647)
• Ardsley Union Free School District (652)
• Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District (653)
• Irvington Union Free School District (654)
• North Salem Central School District (655)
• Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District (662)
• Edgemont Union Free School District (664)
• Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District (665)
• Byram Hills Central School District (666)
• Tuxedo Union Free School District (668)
• Scarsdale Union Free School District (669)
• Chappaqua Central School District (670)
• Rye City School District (671)

The data used in the rankings were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.

Rye City School District, the lowest ranked Hudson Valley school system in terms of equality of spending, received an investment of $47,904 per student in public schools with a reported average household income of $203,723, according to the study. Meanwhile, first-ranked Washingtonville Central School District schools received an investment of $23,594 per student with an average household income of $92,060.

The full list of 674 New York school district rankings and Wallet Hub's methodology used to calculate rankings can be viewed here.

The study's authors say the discrepancies in funding between the most equitable schools and the least equitable schools have perhaps never posed a greater challenge than in the upcoming school year.

"To support underprivileged school districts during this difficult economic period, we should make sure that all schools have the resources they need to provide a robust education in the coming year. Students have experienced a large amount of learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we cannot expect all parents to be able to afford resources to help their children catch up. That’s especially true during this period of high inflation," Gonzales said. "All schools should have enough funding for an effective catch-up year, including tutoring resources for students who have fallen behind. We should also make sure that all students are able to eat a nutritious breakfast and lunch if their parents are unable to provide them due to rising food costs."