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G.A.R. Memorial, Lincoln Park, Olean, New York - 20210730Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Olean · Olean City School District, Portville Central School District

Olean’s public schools outscore 55% of New York districts

The grade covers the three public school districts serving Olean, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 86% 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
49%
▼ 0 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
47%
▲ 0 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 3–7 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.2K
▼ 27% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Olean City
Students per teacher
10.5
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
2,493 students on the public path
In brief

Olean’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1182 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Olean’s, its schools beat 69%, higher than their 55% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 47% across its districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Olean City spends $25,189 per student and Portville Central $21,452, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then three middle schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. 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 Olean’s grade

B Test scoresC− Graduation

B: better than 55% of New York school districts. Test scores are above the New York average; graduation is below it.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 55%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1182)Better than 69%
Towns in Cattaraugus County (32)Better than 44%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,453 test results and a graduating class of 155 could put Olean anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 86% of Olean’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,453 in math, 1,452 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–34 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B+
4–123 schoolsDepends on your addressD to B+

Parts of Olean (6% of its land) are served by Allegany-Limestone Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Olean

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

Olean City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,833 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 9.9 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$25,189NY $34,607 · FY2024
C
Portville Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 979 students, up 1% since 2020–21 · 12.9 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$21,452NY $34,607 · FY2024
A−
Hinsdale Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 1 schools · 349 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 8.5 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$30,020NY $34,607 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Olean City School District37%
State average 48.9% · 786 students tested
Math · PK–12, Olean City School District40%
State average 46.5% · 828 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Portville Central School District63%
State average 48.9% · 492 students tested
Math · PK–12, Portville Central School District56%
State average 46.5% · 468 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Hinsdale Central School District62%
State average 48.9% · 174 students tested
Math · PK–12, Hinsdale Central School District57%
State average 46.5% · 157 students tested

Olean vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OleanBOlean City PK–12 · Portville Central PK–12 · Hinsdale Central PK–12
Olean (city)COlean City
PortvilleA−Portville Central
HinsdaleA−Hinsdale Central
AlleganyB+Allegany-Limestone Central

Every school in Olean

7 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 Oleanin other towns
Portville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Portville
B
534 students13:1Rate it →
Hinsdale Central School
Grades PK–12 · Hinsdale
B+
349 students9:1Rate it →
East View Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–3
C+
347 students10:1Rate it →
Washington West Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–3
C−
284 students9:1Rate it →
Olean Intermediate-Middle School
Middle · Grades 3–8
D
534 students8:1Rate it →
Portville Junior-Senior High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Portville
B+
445 students13:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Oleanrun by other districts or the state
Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming Boces
Grades K–12
Special Education
452 students3:1Rate it →

Questions about Olean’s schools

Are Olean’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of New York: the public schools Olean children attend outscore 55% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Olean in?

Olean City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,833 students in 4 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Olean are served by Allegany-Limestone Central.

What is Olean’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Olean spend per student?

$25,189 in Olean City School District, $21,452 in Portville Central School District and $30,020 in Hinsdale Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Olean families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Olean → 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.