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Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.

  1. Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.

    Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.

  2. Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.

    Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.

  3. Direct Employment and Local Spending Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.

    Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.

  4. Reducing Long-Term Public Costs Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.

    Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.

  5. Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.

    Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.

Conclusion

The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.

The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.

Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
 
Cambridge Central School District
Kinderhook Central School District (Ichabod Crane)  
New Lebanon Central School District  
Wynantskill Union Free School District  
Mechanicville City School District  
Berlin Central School District  
Hoosic Valley Central School District  
Schodack Central School District  
Hoosick Falls Central School District  
Rensselaer City School District  
Brunswick Central School District (Brittonkill)  
Lansingburgh Central School District  
Averill Park Central School District  
Troy City School District  
East Greenbush Central School District  
Grade Span of Agency
Number of Schools
Total Classroom Teachers
Student/Teachers

    Prekindergarten
    Kindergarten
    Grade 1
    Grade 2
    Grade 3
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
PK thru 12 Students
Ungraded Students
Adult Education and Other Students
Special Ed IEP Students
Total Students

White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Native American
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Undefined or Multiple Races

Prekindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten Teachers
Elementary Teachers
Secondary Teachers
Ungraded Class Teachers
Total FTE Teachers

Elementary School Counselors
Secondary School Counselors
School Counselors
Total Counselors

School Administrators
School Administrative Support Staff
Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff
Student Support Services Staff
Librarians/media specialists
Library/Media Support Staff
School Psychologists
Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides
Total School Staff

LEA Administrators
LEA Administrative Support Staff
Total LEA Staff

All Other Support Staff
Total Other Staff
PK-12
7
361
11.78

0
285
326
319
309
324
308
289
348
340
310
323
306
291
4,078
55
0
119
4,252

3,087
188
322
297
6
5
224

0
22
193
139
7
361

0
0
11
11

14
0
3
38
7
3
8
119
189

5
47
55

151
151
PK-12
7
365
10.31

65
247
261
294
245
254
238
243
259
255
316
304
289
291
3,561
118
0
83
3,762

1,376
1,042
47
736
4
9
462

3
24
184
148
6
365

0
0
18
18

13
0
29
47
3
0
9
83
154

6
41
77

90
90
KG-12
5
185
14.60

0
168
167
184
164
202
198
209
206
197
202
217
249
220
2,583
31
0
86
2,700

2,383
27
15
87
1
1
93

0
12
85
88
0
185

0
0
9
9

8
1
11
23
0
5
6
86
129

13
18
42

113
113
PK-12
4
213
10.16

99
136
152
122
137
144
165
143
146
154
210
172
136
154
2,070
39
0
55
2,164

1,072
422
17
328
3
2
262

7
17
102
87
0
213

0
0
9
9

6
0
3
10
0
1
4
55
75

2
22
27

50
50
PK-12
2
88
13.01

45
70
76
83
58
79
81
78
68
93
96
90
86
93
1,096
13
0
36
1,145

984
12
10
52
1
1
49

0
5
40
42
1
88

0
0
4
4

3
0
1
9
1
2
2
36
52

4
14
19

36
36
PK-12
2
82
12.59

46
71
85
71
79
69
69
65
82
65
87
67
59
71
986
19
0
28
1,033

464
143
123
144
1
0
130

0
4
35
43
0
82

0
0
0
0

2
0
0
0
0
1
0
28
31

0
7
7

27
27
PK-12
3
94
11.70

52
64
65
76
67
88
67
78
87
72
94
90
78
61
1,039
19
0
42
1,100

960
9
1
38
3
2
45

0
5
37
52
0
94

0
0
0
0

4
0
1
0
0
0
1
42
47

3
14
18

40
40
KG-12
2
78
11.83

0
49
71
69
58
66
71
61
67
75
78
71
64
65
865
6
0
52
923

810
6
8
28
0
0
18

0
8
26
42
2
78

0
0
3
3

4
0
0
11
2
0
3
52
71

4
16
20

34
34
KG-12
2
88
9.97

0
61
63
66
68
69
71
69
54
65
66
60
64
57
833
9
0
35
877

794
6
1
24
0
0
17

0
6
45
37
0
88

0
0
3
3

2
0
1
6
0
0
2
35
45

2
11
14

39
39
PK-12
2
84
7.92

0
49
53
36
44
51
49
43
50
48
61
49
41
59
633
6
0
26
665

607
3
0
7
0
0
22

0
6
40
37
1
84

0
0
4
4

3
1
1
4
1
2
2
26
39

2
16
19

43
43
PK-12
2
99
14.17

32
108
95
87
96
99
96
98
102
107
111
112
97
107
1,347
16
0
40
1,403

1,221
25
8
60
0
2
47

0
6
43
50
0
99

0
0
3
3

2
0
0
4
0
1
2
40
49

3
17
20

37
37
PK-08
1
20
15.97

18
31
19
25
35
35
49
30
40
28
0
0
0
0
310
3
0
6
319

287
1
4
5
0
0
16

0
2
14
4
0
20

0
0
1
1

1
0
1
1
0
0
0
6
8

1
6
8

19
19
PK-12
2
49
8.80

18
31
33
34
26
34
24
20
42
35
32
26
25
30
410
3
0
18
431

361
7
10
9
0
0
26

0
3
23
22
1
49

0
0
0
0

3
0
1
0
1
0
3
18
25

0
8
9

19
19
KG-12
3
166
10.48

8
91
125
132
115
117
119
160
123
121
128
150
155
138
1,682
19
0
39
1,740

1,340
33
14
236
1
0
77

0
8
83
73
2
166

0
0
0
0

5
0
2
8
2
4
5
39
63

4
25
31

72
72
PK-12
2
94
8.63

0
53
56
69
63
43
61
47
61
65
70
65
55
63
771
9
0
31
811

704
22
8
29
12
3
1

0
5
42
47
0
94

0
0
3
3

3
0
1
6
0
2
2
31
44

4
13
18

40
40


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus

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