About the Community

The Pine Plains Central School District is located in the historic and scenic Mid-Hudson Valley between the Catskill and Berkshire mountain ranges. Residents enjoy scenic, rural living while having access to cultural and recreational opportunities in New York City, Upstate New York and New England.

                The Pine Plains Central School District communities have an estimated population of 9,000 residents. The nine communities comprising the District are supported by a number of dairy farms, horse farms, and small businesses. Many residents commute to employment in Kingston, Poughkeepsie and Westchester County. 

                There are seven major colleges within a one hour drive.  These educational institutions also offer a variety of activities to community residents.  These colleges and universities include Bard, Marist, Vassar, Williams, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Albany, Dutchess and Columbia Greene Community Colleges.

                Pine Plains and the surrounding communities are safe and friendly environments to raise a family.  Housing is reasonably affordable.  Quality health care and major hospitals are readily accessible to area residents. Diverse houses of worship are located within the nine communities that comprise the Pine Plains Central School District.

About the District

The Pine Plains Central School District covers 140 square miles and includes the towns of Pine Plains, Stanford, and parts of the towns of Ancram, Clermont, Clinton, Gallatin, Livingston, Milan and Northeast.  Approximately twenty percent of the District’s population is located in Columbia County and eighty percent in Dutchess County.  The majority of the residents reside in the Towns of Pine Plains and Stanford.

                Pine Plains is approximately 28 miles northeast of Poughkeepsie, 60 miles south of Albany, and 10 miles west of the Massachusetts and Connecticut borders. It is a two-hour drive to New York City. Amtrak is 30 minutes away in Rhinecliff, and MetroNorth is 20 minutes away in Wassaic.

                The District serves approximately 1,174 students in grades K-12. The Stissing Mountain High School has an enrollment of 399 students, and 270 attend grades 6-8 in the Middle School. The two elementary schools, Cold Spring Elementary and Seymour Smith Elementary, consist of a total enrollment of 505 students. The District enjoys strong community support and involvement

Pine Plains is particularly proud of the following Middle School High School Programs:

• China Exchange Program-six week intensive immersion experience for Pine Plains students and students attending high school in Nanjing, China
• FFA Fall Agricultural Festival-highlights the unique agriculture program in the District and the area’s agricultural heritage.
• Annual School Musical-major community event involving drama students, volunteers and professionals

Additional Highlights:

• 91% of the Class of 2008 went on to higher education
• Honors Courses are available in English, Global Studies, and American History
• Advanced Placement Courses offered in Calculus, Chemistry, European History, and Biology
• Character Education Program
• Several teachers selected and honored for membership in New York State Association for Teaching and Learning

• Dutchess County
  Link to the Dutchess County Government Website.