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C+
Schools in Chatham · Chatham Central School District, New Lebanon Central School District

Chatham’s public schools score below 61% of New York districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Chatham, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#503of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 83% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
43%
▼ 6 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
45%
▼ 2 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 3–7 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$34.3K
▼ 1% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Chatham Central
Students per teacher
8.3
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,002 students on the public path
In brief

Chatham’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 753 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Chatham’s, its schools beat 24%, lower than their 39% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 43% of tested students were proficient in reading and 45% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 83% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across New York (the state reports Chatham’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Chatham Central spends $34,286 per student and New Lebanon Central $31,981, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Chatham’s grade

C+ Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 39% of New York school districts, #503 of 755 New York towns. Both inputs trail the New York average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 39%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (753)Better than 24%
Towns in Columbia County (18)Better than 44%
C−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 545 test results and a graduating class of 80 could put Chatham anywhere from C− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 83% of Chatham’s students in the tested grades sat them (567 in math, 523 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Chatham, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–62 schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C
7–122 schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+

Chatham runs its own schools through grade 12 (Chatham Central School District). From grade PK, students attend the New Lebanon Central School District, shared with Canaan, East Nassau, New Lebanon and Stephentown. Its school is in Chatham. Parts of Chatham (12% of its land) are served by Kinderhook Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Chatham

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Chatham Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 907 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 8.3 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$34,286NY $34,607 · FY2024
C
New Lebanon Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 411 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 8.4 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$31,981NY $34,607 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Chatham Central School District39%
State average 48.9% · 356 students tested
Math · PK–12, Chatham Central School District46%
State average 46.5% · 368 students tested
Reading · PK–12, New Lebanon Central School District52%
State average 48.9% · 167 students tested
Math · PK–12, New Lebanon Central School District42%
State average 46.5% · 199 students tested

Chatham vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New York towns that share Chatham’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ChathamC+Chatham Central PK–12 · New Lebanon Central PK–12
KinderhookB+Kinderhook Central
CanaanC+Chatham Central PK–12 · New Lebanon Central PK–12
NassauA−East Greenbush Central PK–12 · Averill Park Central K–12
GhentC+Chatham Central PK–12 · Taconic Hills Central PK–12
New LebanonB−New Lebanon Central
AusterlitzC+Chatham Central PK–12 · Taconic Hills Central PK–12

3 of the 6 neighbors share Chatham Central with Chatham for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Chatham

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New York’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Chathamin other towns
Mary E Dardess Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
365 students10:1Rate it →
Walter B Howard Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · New Lebanon
C−
238 students10:1Rate it →
Chatham Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
226 students7:1Rate it →
New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School
High · Grades 7–12 · New Lebanon
B+
173 students7:1Rate it →

Questions about Chatham’s schools

Are Chatham’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Chatham children attend score below 61% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #503 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 24%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Chatham in?

Two districts: Chatham Central School District runs grades PK–12, and New Lebanon Central School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Canaan, East Nassau, New Lebanon and Stephentown.

What is Chatham’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Chatham Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Chatham spend per student?

$34,286 in Chatham Central School District and $31,981 in New Lebanon Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Chatham families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Chatham → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New York. Stars are from neighbors.