| Principal. | No. of H. S. Pupils. | |
|---|---|---|
| N. Y. Military Academy, Cornwall-on-the-Hudson | Sebastian C. Jones | 67 |
| Garr Institute, Goshen | Rose Sanders | 27 |
| Ursuline Academic School, Middletown | Mother M. Lucy | 17 |
| St. Mary's Academy, Newburgh | 11 |
The three cities, Newburgh, Middletown and Port Jervis, with 40 per cent. of the population of the county, furnished 52 per cent, of the average attendance and nearly 65 per cent, of the high school pupils. The school systems of these cities are well organized and the schools are thoroughly graded, and rank high among the schools of the State.
The Newburgh Schools—The school system of the city of Newburgh was established in 1852 by special act of the legislature, before the general free school law was passed. At that time, sixteen teachers were employed and about 500 pupils were enrolled. By 1865, when Newburgh became a city, and had a population of 13,905, the average attendance had increased to nearly 1,200, and thirty-one teachers were employed. Since that time, the growth in population has been gradual and the schools have more than kept pace with that growth.
New buildings have been erected from time to time to provide room for the constantly increasing enrollment, until there are now seven buildings with sittings for more than 4,000 pupils. These buildings are all fully equipped with the modern improvements and all the appliances needed for the most efficient school work.
There are 109 teachers employed and the enrollment for 1906 was 4,230.
The city is doing more in the line of manual training than is done in any other part of the county. A five years' course is given the boys who reach the higher grammar grades and the girls, from the third to the sixth year, are taught to sew.
The following superintendents have had charge of the schools of the city since 1852:
| Nathaniel Jones | 1852-57 |
| Hugh Banks | 1857-59 |
| Dr. R. V. K. Montfort | 1859-63 |
| E. M. Ruttenber | 1863-64 |
| Hiram A. Jones | 1864-72 |
| Dr. R. V. K. Montfort | 1872-83 |
| John Miller | 1883-87 |
| Dr. R. V. K. Montfort | 1887-1900 |
| James M. Crane | 1900 |
The Middletown Schools—The school system of the city of Middletown was organized under a special act of the legislature passed in 1867. At that time, about 500 pupils were enrolled in all the schools. The schools have grown with the growth of the city, making necessary the erection of new buildings at frequent intervals.
There are now eight school buildings, all built of brick, well distributed for the convenience of the pupils attending and excellently adapted to the needs of the city. The new high school building is the finest and most costly school building in the county. Sixty-two teachers were employed in 1906, and the number of pupils enrolled was 2,557.