It is governed by a seven-member elected school board and is financed by property taxes levied within the district.

Cornwall has three elementary schools, all educating students from kindergarten through fourth grade.

Cornwall's school, located on Willow Avenue outside downtown Cornwall near the hamlet of Firthcliffe, is now Willow Avenue Elementary School after educating sixth and seventh graders for the later 20th century.

It was built in 1968 due west of what is now Cornwall Central Middle School, located along Main Street just south of Route 218 outside the village.

By the end of the century, growing population due to increased development in the district and larger families led to overcrowding, and after much contention a new Cornwall Central High School was built in the western section of the district, along NY 94.