Best public schools in Westchester County? (Yonkers, New Rochelle: top schools, income, taxes)

[babybluepumpkin]

Hi,
We are relocating to either CT, NY or NJ. I am wondering what towns have the best public schools in Westchester county. Also, would love a nice walkable downtown. Please help!
Thanks!

[BXGEAR]

Northern Eastern Yonkers, Fleetwood Mt. Vernon, Ardsley, Hartsdale, Scarsdale, Greenburgh, Pelham, Larchmont, Rye

Avoid most of Yonkers, Mt. Vernon, and New Rochelle

[mead]

I would have to think that Scarsdale and Bronxville are the best in Westchester. They are on their own level.

Most of the rest of Westchester is pretty good. I'd be wary of Mt. Vernon, White Plains, New Rochelle, Port Chester, or Yonkers (for high school, most grade schools in Eastern Yonkers are pretty nice).

[dma1250]

I'd suggest Croton, Chappaqua, Katonah, Pleasantville, and Yorktown. Those schools are all great and the areas are nice.

[Nick1918]

This link might help.....it has average SAT scores for all public school districts in westchester. Although, the SAT might say more about the income/educational level of the parents in those school districts rather than excellent teaching.

http://www.hvedc.com/documents/High_School_Rankings.pdf

[dma1250]

As someone involved in education, I think that chart (above post) is very useful--class size and per pupil spending are important factors in determining the quality of the school. SAT scores, and all test scores, don't really tell you much about the quality of the teaching. Indeed, be wary of schools with top scores because chances are they spend all their time teaching to the test.

[lgsdss]

do they have something like that for elementary schools?

[lgsdss]

Originally Posted by Nick1918

This link might help.....it has average SAT scores for all public school districts in westchester. Although, the SAT might say more about the income/educational level of the parents in those school districts rather than excellent teaching.

http://www.hvedc.com/documents/High_School_Rankings.pdf

Originally Posted by lgsdss

do they have something like that for elementary schools?

we are looking for our first home- love scarsdale and larchmont.. any other ideas?

[LisaZ]

The top schools consistently are in Bronxville, Scarsdale-Edgemont, Chappaqua, Rye Brook, Rye, Larchmont, Katonah (John Jay), Harrison (but there are a lot of problems with drinking etc. -more than the others), Armonk, Irvington. Beware of the top lists. Take a look at greatschools.net. They are pretty accurate. Downtown wise, the nicest are Bronxville, Scarsdale, Rye, Chappaqua, Larchmont. Katonah is nice but more country feel and further up. Armonk and Rye Brook don't have much downtown. Irvington I am not in alot so not too familiar with it. Check out the taxes also, because I am not sure where you are from but the taxes in these towns are high.

[lgsdss]

thanks- that was helpful.
i'm worried about the towns being a bit snobbish- do you find that?