Best School Districts In The Hudson Valley Ranked In New 2026 Study

HUDSON VALLEY — The Scarsdale Union Free School District has once again been ranked as the best in the Hudson Valley in Niche's 2026 Best Schools and Districts rankings released Monday.

The Scarsdale school system was among 596 New York school districts that earned a mention in Niche's ranking of more than 11,000 school districts nationwide.

Niche gave the Scarsdale Union Free School District a letter grade of A+. Grades in specific categories were:

• Academics: A+
• Teachers: A+
• Clubs and activities: A
• Sports: A-
• Resources and facilities: A+
• Diversity: B+
• College prep: A+
• Administration: A+
• Food: A+

The school district, which has 4,724 students in K-12, has a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Based on state test scores, 89 percent of students are at least proficient in math, while 85 percent are at least proficient in reading.

The Scarsdale Union Free School District also received high marks from students, parents and teachers.

For more information, read the full report on the Scarsdale Union Free School District.

The top 30 school districts in the Hudson Valley and the letter grades assigned by Niche:

1. Scarsdale Union Free School District, A+
2. Chappaqua Central School District, A+
3. Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District, A+
4. Pelham Union Free School District, A+
5. Edgemont Union Free School District, A+
6. Rye City School District, A+
7. Mamaroneck Union Free School District, A+
8. Ardsley Union Free School District, A+
9. Harrison Central School District, A+
10. Byram Hills Central School District, A+
11. South Orangetown Central School District, A+
12. Rye Neck Union Free School District, A+
13. Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District, A+
14. Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District, A+
15. Yorktown Central School District, A+
16. Nanuet Union Free School District, A
17. Bronxville Union Free School District, A
18. Spackenkill Union Free School District, A
19. Eastchester Union Free School District, A
20. Pleasantville Union Free School District, A
21. Suffern Central School District , A
22. Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free School District, A
23. Mount Pleasant Central School District, A
24. Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District, A
25. Cornwall Central School District, A
26. Nyack Union Free School District, A
27. Croton-Harmon Union Free School District, A
28. Clarkstown Central School District, A
29. Haldane Central School District, A
30. Irvington Union Free School District, A

The top five school districts nationwide are concentrated in two states, Illinois and New York. They are:

1. Glenbrook High School District 225 (Illinois)
2. Syosset Central School District (New York)
3. Roslyn Union Free School District (New York)
4. New Trier Township High School District No. 203 (Illinois)
5. Township High School District No. 113 (Illinois)

The Niche rankings differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that they also include input from students, parents and teachers, as well as quantitative data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources, programs, athletics and facilities. School-reported statistics such as enrollment, graduation rates, and test performance are also considered.

"Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make," Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said. "Our K-12 rankings bring together rigorous data and real experiences from students, parents and educators. This gives families the clarity to choose schools where their children can succeed academically, thrive socially, and build a strong foundation for their future."