The educational resources of Dutchess County are diverse and highly regarded. The county is home to several world-class institutions of higher learning that attract students from around the world. These include Vassar College, Bard College, The Culinary Institute of America and Marist College. In addition, the county’s community college, Dutchess Community College, is among the finest two-year colleges in New York State.
Vocational and technical centers in Dutchess County join the county’s award-winning secondary schools in preparing students for rewarding, meaningful jobs and careers, while offering life-long learning opportunities that increase both job success and personal satisfaction.
Career and technical educational opportunities offered in Dutchess County include for-credit and credit-free coursework offered by Dutchess Community College as well as training and courses offered by Dutchess County BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services). BOCES offers a truly broad spectrum of trade-focused and technically focused coursework. This includes RSES (Refrigeration Services Engineers Society) technical courses and courses to specific certifications (for example, the North American Technician Excellence Certification [NATE]).
Dutchess County proudly prepares its youth for college, university, and careers through public elementary and high schools that have achieved national recognition for their excellence. For example, the Arlington Central School District in Poughkeepsie was awarded a coveted Gold rating (highest-level ranking) in Expansion Management’s 15th Annual Education Quotient ratings of 2,800 secondary school districts nationwide (December 2005). The same ratings awarded the Wappingers Central School District a Blue rating (second-highest level). In 2007 Expansion Magazine named the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown MSA as a Best Mid-Sized Metro, based on the quality of its schools. Poughkeepsie ranked #12 in the 15 highest-ranked mid-sized metros. Recognized as a basis for economic-development success, Dutchess County’s educational resources continue to provide the foundation for life-long individual achievement while strengthening Dutchess County’s strong leadership position in business and industry.
View data for Educational Resources