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Downtown Dover Plains, NYPhoto: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Dover · Dover Union Free School District

Dover’s public schools score below 75% of New York districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Dover’s districts is 32%, below the New York average (46%). The grade covers the public school district serving Dover, 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.

#614of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 87% 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
42%
▼ 7 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
32%
▼ 14 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 3–7 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$30.7K
▼ 11% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.7
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
1,317 students on the public path
In brief

Dover’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1019 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Dover’s, its schools beat 16%, lower than their 25% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 42% of tested students were proficient in reading and 32% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 87% 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 Dover’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $30,721 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Dover Elementary School, then Dover Middle School, then Dover High School. See the path ↓

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 Dover’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 25% of New York school districts, #614 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 25%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1019)Better than 16%
Towns in Dutchess County (20)Better than 10%
DC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 606 test results and a graduating class of 109 could put Dover anywhere from D to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of Dover’s students in the tested grades sat them (630 in math, 581 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2Wingdale Elementary SchoolDover Union Free School DistrictNo scores
3–5Dover Elementary SchoolDover Union Free School DistrictC−
6–8Dover Middle SchoolDover Union Free School DistrictC−
9–12Dover High SchoolDover Union Free School DistrictA−

Dover’s public schools are run by Dover Union Free School District. Parts of Dover (5% of its land) are served by Pawling Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Dover Union Free School DistrictGrades K–12 · 4 schools · 1,317 students · 10.7 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$30,721NY $34,607 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading42%
State average 48.9% · 581 students tested
Math32%
State average 46.5% · 630 students tested

Dover vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DoverCDover Union Free
AmeniaD−Northeast Central
Union ValeB−Millbrook Central PK–12 · Arlington Central K–12
BeekmanB−Arlington Central
PawlingBPawling Central

Kent, CT and Sherman, CT border Dover but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Dover

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).

District schools in Doverby address
Wingdale Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Wingdale
255 students11:1Rate it →
Dover Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Dover Plains
C−
305 students12:1Rate it →
Dover Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dover Plains
C−
295 students9:1Rate it →
Dover High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dover Plains
A−
462 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Dover’s schools

Are Dover’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Dover children attend score below 75% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #614 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 16%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dover in?

Dover Union Free School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,317 students in 4 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Dover are served by Pawling Central.

Where do Dover kids go to high school?

Dover High School in Dover Plains, with 462 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Dover’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Dover spend per student?

$30,721 in Dover Union Free School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Dover families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dover → 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.