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Union StationUnion Station · Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0
C+
Schools in Ghent · Chatham Central School District, Taconic Hills Central School District

Ghent’s public schools score below 65% of New York districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 39% of Ghent’s students scored proficient, below the New York average (46%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Ghent, 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.

#531of 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
47%
▼ 2 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▼ 7 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 3–7 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$33.4K
▼ 3% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Taconic Hills Central
Students per teacher
9.1
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
907 students on the public path
In brief

Ghent’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 47% of tested students were proficient in reading and 39% 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 Ghent’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Chatham Central spends $34,286 per student and Taconic Hills Central $33,424, 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 Ghent’s grade

C+ Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 35% of New York school districts, #531 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 35%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1142)Better than 33%
Towns in Columbia County (18)Better than 22%
C−B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 922 test results and a graduating class of 103 could put Ghent anywhere from C− to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of Ghent’s students in the tested grades sat them (930 in math, 915 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Mary E Dardess Elementary SchoolChatham Central School DistrictC
6–8Chatham Middle SchoolChatham Central School DistrictC
9–12Chatham High SchoolChatham Central School DistrictA−

Ghent runs its own schools through grade 12 (Chatham Central School District). From grade PK, students attend the Taconic Hills Central School District, shared with Ancram, Austerlitz, Claverack, Copake, Hillsdale, Philmont and Taghkanic. Parts of Ghent (14% and 7% of its land) are served by Kinderhook Central and Hudson City instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Ghent

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
Taconic Hills Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 974 students, down 18% since 2020–21 · 10.0 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$33,424NY $34,607 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

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, Taconic Hills Central School District52%
State average 48.9% · 559 students tested
Math · PK–12, Taconic Hills Central School District35%
State average 46.5% · 562 students tested

Ghent vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
GhentC+Chatham Central PK–12 · Taconic Hills Central PK–12
ClaverackC−Taconic Hills Central PK–12 · Hudson City PK–12
KinderhookB+Kinderhook Central
AusterlitzC+Chatham Central PK–12 · Taconic Hills Central PK–12
ChathamC+Chatham Central PK–12 · New Lebanon Central PK–12
StockportC+Hudson City PK–12 · Kinderhook Central K–12
HillsdaleC+Taconic Hills Central

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

Every school in Ghent

3 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 Ghentby address
Mary E Dardess Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Chatham
C
365 students10:1Rate it →
Chatham Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Chatham
C
226 students7:1Rate it →
Chatham High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Chatham
A−
316 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Ghent’s schools

Are Ghent’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Ghent children attend score below 65% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #531 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 33%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Ghent in?

Two districts: Chatham Central School District runs grades PK–12, and Taconic Hills Central School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Ancram, Austerlitz, Claverack, Copake, Hillsdale, Philmont and Taghkanic.

Where do Ghent kids go to high school?

Chatham High School in Chatham, with 316 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Ghent’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Ghent spend per student?

$34,286 in Chatham Central School District and $33,424 in Taconic Hills Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Ghent families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ghent → 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.