Best public schools in Westchester County? (New York, New Rochelle: school districts, kindergarten, teachers)

[vpcats]

Hello

I never post here but I am a former NYer. I got curious and started reading this thread.

I used to live in New Rochelle. Moved out of NY 11 years ago. What happened to New Rochelle? I've seen some comments about avoiding it.

My son went to New Rochelle HS. Graduated top 10% of his class. Had good grades and high SATs and went to a top of the line, private university and got a engineering degree.

Has everything changed so much?

BTW...his two half-brothers went to school in Scarsdale. One is in some college in CT now and the other is still in HS. Sorry to say......New Rochelle did a better job.

[Kathleenh54]

Originally Posted by BK2Westchester

Hey all- My daughter is STRUGGLING through high school right now and i'm at wits end. She is not a BAD person, in fact she is very sweet and caring. She just seems to associate with the wrong people and does not prioritze well. She's only lived with me for 2 years after having been brought up by her mother (ghetto fab- long gone).. long story... she started going downhill and I demanded she move in with me.

anyhow, back to schools- Can anyone recommend a school in Westchester for high school students that have fallen way back? This school should also be in a GOOD AREA. I will rent or buy depending on prices. My current landlord won't raise my rent because he does not want to see me go but I must. We are quiet, friendly, helpful neighbors. I have one cat.

I'm trying to do whatever I can for her and will sacrifice convenience.

My thinking is to move her far away from her friends (queens, ny) and to get her in a school that can actually help.

If anyone has any ideas it would be appreciated.

signed- desperate dad!

My whole family is from Eastchester. It's a nice, boring, middle class community with very nice schools. It's not Scarsdale or Bronxville and many of us regard that as a good thing. I'd recommend you take a looksee.

[Kathleenh54]

Originally Posted by vpcats

Hello

I never post here but I am a former NYer. I got curious and started reading this thread.

I used to live in New Rochelle. Moved out of NY 11 years ago. What happened to New Rochelle? I've seen some comments about avoiding it.

My son went to New Rochelle HS. Graduated top 10% of his class. Had good grades and high SATs and went to a top of the line, private university and got a engineering degree.

Has everything changed so much?

BTW...his two half-brothers went to school in Scarsdale. One is in some college in CT now and the other is still in HS. Sorry to say......New Rochelle did a better job.

New Rochelle actually has a great high school, from what I've been told. People equate 'bad schools' with a diverse student population, seems like. NR, Mt. Vernon, White Plains and Yonkers have a lot of minority students. Many of them are low-income and resources are diverted from programs to meet some of their needs. Schools without an underprivileged class don't have to spend money on remedial courses, ESL, or expensive special ed programs. They can spend the money on a foreign language program or enrichment courses and they do. The communities are only too happy to tax themselves to pay for this and reflects the values of the town.

[honeymooner]

Many upscale towns are known for their snobbiness. Scarsdale is one of them. Rye is another. Bronxville also has a rep.

New money creates the sense of entitlement. Many village schools are very competitive. Not only do outrageous taxes pay for the "outstanding" education - many parents also shell out $$ for extra tutors for that edge.

Larchmont is a very nice village with a beautiful park on the sound (Manor Park), good restaurants and some live music. The village atmosphere is a bit diffuse because there are two areas of village.

Briarcliff has no village. Pleasantville is another sweet village with some verve.

Croton on Hudson is nice as is many other rivertowns. Katonah is nice but also a bit like Bronxville.

In CT you should check out Ridgefield which might be exactly what you are looking for. Nice village feel. Beautiful homes, things to do - like live music etc. Drawback is that it is not near the Sound or the River.

[ghguy]

OK, time for some facts!!!

Below is a list of all Westchester high schools and their rank according to the most recent SAT scores available. Get ready, because there are some surprises:

Rank, School, SAT Score

1 Irvington 1282
2 Horace Greeley (Chappaqua) 1259
3 Scarsdale 1256
4 Edgemont (Scarsdale) 1245
5 Blind Brook (Rye) 1230
6 Bronxville 1214
7 Byram Hills (Armonk) 1198
8 Mamaroneck 1194
9 Hastings-on-Hudson 1191
10 Katonah-Lewisboro 1180
11 Rye City (Rye)1179
12 Briarcliff Manor 1175
13 Croton-Harmon 1171
14 Pleasantville 1170
15 Ardsley 1165
16 Rye Neck(Mamaroneck) 1155
17 Somers 1143
18 New Rochelle1128
19 Dobbs Ferry 1126
20 Pelham 1126
21 Yorktown 1115
22 Alexander Hamilton (Elmsford) 1100
23 Fox Lane (Bedford) 1096
24 Hendrick Hudson (Montrose) 1087
25 Eastchester 1074
26 North Salem Central 1072
27 Harrison Central 1071
28 Lakeland Central Walter Panas (Cortlandt Manor) 1060
29 Shrub Oak Lakeland 1052
30 Ossining 1051
31 Mount Pleasant Westlake (Thornwood)1050
32 Valhalla1031
33 Tuckahoe 1027
34 White Plains City 1023
35 Sleepy Hollow 1011
36 Yonkers HS 985
37 Port Chester-Rye 929
38 Greenburgh Central Woodlands (Hartsdale) 920
39 Peekskill 918
40 Yonkers-Saunders 890
41 Mount Vernon 838
42 Yonkers-Gorton 815
43 Yonkers-Lincoln 807
44 Yonkers-Roosevelt 794

[princessmommy]

don't get confused, Scarsdale schools aren't taht great.... most of the residents have their kids enrolled in private!

[Special Eddy]

it always depends upon what you are looking for. I love New Rochelle's schools. Its public schools are great. It is a diverse community and allowed my daughter to be prepared for life at Cornell and in law school and now in life. It has a sense of community and believes that every child can learn - from AP classes to its outstanding special education programs.

[mosaicmom]

Hi...I have a daughter who is in 1st grade who is bored again this year. She is currently going to a Pelham elementary school. Does anyone know of any school within Westchester County that has AP or Gifted Programs starting early in elementary?
I have been looking at Scarsdale, Edgemont, and Ardsley.
I don't know if these schools will give my daughter a challenge or not?
Help as I am new to Westchester County!!

[sallyg]

Originally Posted by ghguy

OK, time for some facts!!!

Below is a list of all Westchester high schools and their rank according to the most recent SAT scores available. Get ready, because there are some surprises:

Rank, School, SAT Score

1 Irvington 1282
2 Horace Greeley (Chappaqua) 1259
3 Scarsdale 1256
4 Edgemont (Scarsdale) 1245
5 Blind Brook (Rye) 1230
6 Bronxville 1214
7 Byram Hills (Armonk) 1198
8 Mamaroneck 1194
9 Hastings-on-Hudson 1191
10 Katonah-Lewisboro 1180
11 Rye City (Rye)1179
12 Briarcliff Manor 1175
13 Croton-Harmon 1171
14 Pleasantville 1170
15 Ardsley 1165
16 Rye Neck(Mamaroneck) 1155
17 Somers 1143
18 New Rochelle1128
19 Dobbs Ferry 1126
20 Pelham 1126
21 Yorktown 1115
22 Alexander Hamilton (Elmsford) 1100
23 Fox Lane (Bedford) 1096
24 Hendrick Hudson (Montrose) 1087
25 Eastchester 1074
26 North Salem Central 1072
27 Harrison Central 1071
28 Lakeland Central Walter Panas (Cortlandt Manor) 1060
29 Shrub Oak Lakeland 1052
30 Ossining 1051
31 Mount Pleasant Westlake (Thornwood)1050
32 Valhalla1031
33 Tuckahoe 1027
34 White Plains City 1023
35 Sleepy Hollow 1011
36 Yonkers HS 985
37 Port Chester-Rye 929
38 Greenburgh Central Woodlands (Hartsdale) 920
39 Peekskill 918
40 Yonkers-Saunders 890
41 Mount Vernon 838
42 Yonkers-Gorton 815
43 Yonkers-Lincoln 807
44 Yonkers-Roosevelt 794

Wow- you never hear too much about Irvington schools- always how great SAT scores are in Scarsdale and Bxville- but what do ya know!

Also- suprised about Bedford schools- so low. Does anyone know anything about Bedford schools?

[jyyanks]

Mosaic mom - these 2 articles might help

Responding to Academic Achievers as School Budgets Tighten - New York Times

BRAIN DRAIN! Are Westchester Schools Leaving Behind Their Brightest Students? (NY Metro Parents Magazine)