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Southold Free Library facade (view from Main Street)Photo: Kosboot · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Southold · Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District, Southold Union Free School District

Southold’s public schools outscore 72% of New York districts

59% of students in Southold’s public schools are proficient in math, above the New York average (46%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Southold, 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.

#178of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 80% 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
57%
▲ 8 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
59%
▲ 12 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 3–7 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$39.5K
▲ 14% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free
Students per teacher
8.1
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
9
1,618 students on the public path
In brief

Southold’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 629 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Southold’s, its schools beat 67%, lower than their 72% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 59% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free spends $39,490 per student and Southold Union Free $47,149, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Peconic Community School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

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 Southold’s grade

A− Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 72% of New York school districts, #178 of 755 New York towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New York average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 72%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (629)Better than 67%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 742 test results and a graduating class of 109 could put Southold anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 80% of Southold’s students in the tested grades sat them (746 in math, 737 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

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

Southold runs its own schools through grade 12 (Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District). From grade K, students attend the Southold Union Free School District. Parts of Southold (16%, 9%, 8% and 2% of its land) are served by Oysterponds Union Free, Greenport Union Free, Fishers Island Union Free and New Suffolk Common instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Southold

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

Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School DistrictGrades K–12 · 2 schools · 981 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 8.3 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$39,490NY $34,607 · FY2024
A−
Southold Union Free School DistrictGrades K–12 · 2 schools · 637 students, down 16% since 2020–21 · 8.0 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$47,149NY $34,607 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · K–12, Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District61%
State average 48.9% · 478 students tested
Math · K–12, Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District66%
State average 46.5% · 461 students tested
Reading · K–12, Southold Union Free School District50%
State average 48.9% · 259 students tested
Math · K–12, Southold Union Free School District47%
State average 46.5% · 285 students tested

Southold vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SoutholdB+Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free K–12 · Southold Union Free K–12
East HamptonB+East Hampton Union Free PK–12 · Montauk Union Free PK–8
Shelter IslandC+Shelter Island Union Free
RiverheadC−Riverhead Central
SouthamptonBSouthampton Union Free

Groton, CT, Stonington, CT and Westerly, RI border Southold but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Southold

9 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 Southoldby address
Mattituck-Cutchogue Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Cutchogue
B
457 students8:1Rate it →
Southold Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–6
C+
304 students8:1Rate it →
Mattituck Junior-Senior High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Mattituck
B+
524 students9:1Rate it →
Southold Junior-Senior High School
High · Grades 7–12
C+
333 students8:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Southoldrun by other districts or the state
Fishers Island School
Grades PK–12 · Fishers Island
A−
56 students4:1Rate it →
Greenport Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Greenport
B−
327 students12:1Rate it →
Greenport High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Greenport
B−
358 students10:1Rate it →
Oysterponds Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Orient
B−
86 students7:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Peconic Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Cutchogue
Private · Nonsectarian
97 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Southold’s schools

Are Southold’s schools good?

By New York’s own tests, yes: the public schools Southold children attend outscore 72% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #178 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 67%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Southold in?

Two districts: Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District runs grades K–12, and Southold Union Free School District runs grades K–12.

What is Southold’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Southold spend per student?

$39,490 in Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District and $47,149 in Southold Union Free School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Southold?

Yes: Peconic Community School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 97 students).

Parents talk

What Southold families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Southold → 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.