Yonkers City School District

The Yonkers City School District in New York serves a diverse population of students across 40 schools, including 30 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 7 high schools, and 1 alternative school. While the district faces significant performance gaps, with some of the highest-poverty schools struggling to get even 20% of students proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math, a few standout schools are excelling and providing a model for success.

The Pearls Hawthorne School is ranked in the top 5% of New York elementary schools, with over 80% of students proficient or better in ELA and Math. Similarly, the Patricia A Dichiaro School and Casimir Pulaski School are also high-performing elementary schools, ranking in the top 15% and 20% in New York, respectively. These schools demonstrate that with the right resources and strategies, students in the Yonkers district can achieve exceptional academic outcomes.

The Yonkers Montessori Academy stands out as an alternative school serving grades PK-12 with the highest graduation rate (84.3%) and lowest dropout rate (4.9%) among the high schools in the district. Its students also perform well on Regents exams, suggesting that specialized programs and school choice can be effective in supporting student success. However, the district's middle and high schools generally struggle more, with lower proficiency rates and graduation/dropout metrics, indicating a need to focus on supporting students as they transition between school levels.