Priorities that affect children are important to residents of the Mid-Hudson region. More than four in ten Mid-Hudson Valley households have at least one child under the age of eighteen. Although residents are most concerned about the quality of public schools in their community, many also think after-school activities, child care, and early education are important issues to address.
Improving the quality of the public schools is among the top priorities for residents in the Mid-Hudson region. This concern now ranks fourth, overall, among Mid-Hudson Valley residents, representing a slight shift in priorities from 2002 when it was the number two goal. This change in ranking reflects a heightened interest in other issues as opposed to a decline in residents’ concern for education. The average score for improving the quality of the public schools has remained steady at 7.8 out of 10 the same average rating it received in 2002. Read more
Overall, Mid-Hudson Valley residents are positive about the quality of schools in their community although just one in ten considers them to be excellent. At the other extreme, only 8% of residents describe the quality of their public schools as poor. Read more
When it comes to the resources expended on public education, the majority of Mid-Hudson Valley residents are satisfied with the amount their community allocates toward improving public schools. Read more
When asked about providing more after-school activities for children and teenagers, Mid-Hudson Valley residents generally do not rank these activities as highly as they do the need to improve the quality of public schools. Read more
Overall, residents of the Mid-Hudson Valley are divided about the quality of recreational activities available to local children and teenagers. Half of all residents rate them positively, and 46% rate them as only fair or poor. Read more
Mid-Hudson Valley residents divide over whether their community allocates the right amount of resources toward recreational activities for children and teenagers. 47% feel not enough is being spent while 45% think the amount of funding is about right. Read more
Although many Mid-Hudson Valley residents consider providing more affordable, quality child care to be an important priority for the community, this issue does not rank as highly as many other concerns. It receives an average score of just 6.9 out of 10. It is generally not among residents’ top ten priorities. Still, a considerable proportion of the population thinks it is a very high priority with 27% rating it as a 10. Read more
52% of Mid-Hudson Valley residents have a positive impression of the quality of child care or early education programs offered in their community. 35% of residents think these services are either fair or poor, and 13% do not have an opinion on the matter. Read more
Half of all Mid-Hudson Valley residents believe their community directs enough money toward child care and early education programs compared with 34% who think too little is being spent. 14% do not have any opinion on the matter. Read more
Even though one out of every three residents does not deal with tuition costs at all, for those who do, paying or saving for private school or college is a considerable burden. Among Mid-Hudson Valley residents as a whole, 33% describe tuition costs as placing a strain on their finances including nearly one in five residents who report that it places a great deal of financial pressure on their family budget. Read more
While concern for public education and services for children resonates most among residents with children in their households, these issues are important for residents throughout the Mid-Hudson region.
Residents are especially
concerned with providing children with a quality public education.
Overall,
they feel positively about the caliber of local public schools, and many think
community spending in this area is about right.
After-school activities are also important to many Mid-Hudson Valley residents although, as a whole, residents have differing opinions about the quality of the activities available to children and teenagers. Those residents with lower household income tend to be less satisfied with what is available than other residents.
Affordable, quality child care is an important priority for many residents especially those who are likely to need it the most: parents with young children and parents with low income.
