The Ellenville Central School District is on a promising path, making significant strides in academic achievement! While challenges remain, our commitment to excellence is evident in the gains shown in our New York State (NYS) Grades 3–8 assessment data. As shown below, nearly every grade level showed growth, with Grade 3 English Language Arts (ELA) reflecting the greatest increase—rising by 18 percentage points—and Grade 6 Math following with a 15 percentage point increase. This is significant year-to-year growth, and we are really proud of our students, educators, and families for the hard work that has gone into making this possible.

Overall proficiency rates on the NYS English Language Arts (ELA) assessment across all grade levels have increased by eight percentage points, rising from 21% in 2023 to 29% in 2024. The following chart compares ELA proficiency rates across each grade level from 2023 to 2024.

Similarly, our overall Math assessment scores also saw an eight-point year-over-year  increase, from 22% in 2023 to 30% in 2024.

These achievements reflect the hard work of our students, educators, families, and community as a whole for their support and investment in our schools. Specific contributing factors include:

• Commitment to small class sizes in the elementary school.

• New Math curriculum and consistent implementation of an ELA curriculum for Grades K–6.  

• 80-minute instructional blocks for Math and ELA, with an additional 40-minute writing block several times a week for Grades K–6.

• A 40-minute block providing extra support in reading and writing for Grades K–6.

• Expanded Academic Intervention Services (AIS):
  Our AIS program continues to evolve, offering:

  • Small group and center-based learning in Math and ELA for Grades K–6.

  • Computer-aided instruction via IXL Learning for tailored Math and ELA support for Grades K–12.

  • Push-in and pull-out reading support is provided by certified literacy teachers during intervention blocks for Grades K–6.

  • AIS English classes are incorporated into the master schedule for Grades 7 & 8.

  • Extended Day support including Math Fact Bootcamp and Reading Intervention in Grades K–6, as well as programming for Math and ELA support in Grades 7–8.

  • Summer School programs

    • Boost Academy Summer School (Grades K - 6)

    • Academic Summer School (Grades 7 - 8)

• Professional development opportunities available to all teachers include:

  • Math and ELA curriculum implementation

  • Personalized learning strategies

  • Collaborative planning sessions

  • Support for students’ social-emotional needs

In recent years, we’ve also strengthened our leadership support. Three years ago, we added a Literacy and Instructional Supervisor position in our elementary school to oversee instructional initiatives. This year, we expanded this role to the junior/senior high school and created teacher-leader roles in both buildings. These leaders work closely with central administration to ensure teachers and students have the resources they need to drive improvements.

Two years ago, we reintroduced and expanded pre-kindergarten to a full-day program now serving three classes totaling 54 students. This early learning foundation sets our youngest scholars on a path toward long-term success. Additionally, we have implemented additional instructional programs in the early grade levels to help support students with reading acquisition. We are confident that the investments made to improve the literacy skills of our students will expand to improved outcomes in other subject areas. 

While there is still work ahead, we are proud to share that we’ve made the most growth out of all Ulster County schools. The average growth for ELA across the county declined by one percentage point and for Math increased by two percentage points.  As stated above, Ellenville’s overall proficiency increased by eight percentage points in ELA and Math. 

It’s important to compare Ellenville to other NYS schools that have similar demographic data points. By measuring achievement against other students who walk in similar shoes in their daily lives as our students, we can really explore what is most effective and ensure our goals are fair, achievable, and impactful for every student we serve. Ellenville Central School District Proficiency Rates in 2023-2024 for both English Language Arts and Math are ranked at or above other NYS schools that have similar demographic markers (including Monticello, Poughkeepsie, Liberty, Fallsburg, and Hannibal. Ellenville CSD ranks highest among these similar districts in ELA proficiency and is tied for highest in Math Proficiency.

The Ellenville Central School District is proud of these achievements, and we remain dedicated to building on this momentum. We recognize that there is still work ahead, but these results reflect the possibilities before us.