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Willow Ridge Elementary School

Summary:

Willow Ridge Elementary School is a public elementary school in Amherst, New York, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 358 students. The school is part of the Sweet Home Central School District, which is ranked 538 out of 865 school districts in New York and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Willow Ridge Elementary School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the years, dropping from a high of 612 out of 2,352 New York elementary schools in 2014-2015 to 1,520 out of 2,445 in 2023-2024. The school's SchoolDigger rating has also decreased from 4 stars out of 5 in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 to 2 stars out of 5 in the current school year. While female students have generally performed better than male students, the school has struggled the most with its special education and low socioeconomic status student populations, ranking in the bottom 10% of New York elementary schools for these subgroups.

Willow Ridge Elementary School's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math on the New York State Assessments are generally lower than the district and state averages, particularly in 3rd and 5th grades. However, the school's 4th-grade ELA and Math proficiency rates are closer to or above the district and state averages, suggesting potential strengths in the upper elementary grades. Interestingly, Maplemere Elementary School, another Sweet Home Central School District school, consistently outperforms Willow Ridge Elementary School on state assessments and has a higher statewide ranking.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 480 Willow Ridge Dr
       Amherst, NY  14228-3057

(716) 250-1575

District: Sweet Home Central School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1520th of 2,445 New York Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,657 Help


Students who attend Willow Ridge Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Sweet Home Middle School
High:    Sweet Home Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio:  9.9 Help
Number of students:  358

Racial breakdown:

White:
59.2%
African American:
16.8%
Asian:
12.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  38% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Willow Ridge Elementary School ranks worse than 62.2% of elementary schools in New York. It also ranks last among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Sweet Home Central School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.56. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Willow Ridge Elementary School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Sweet Home Central School District. Student population at Willow Ridge Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (59.2%), African American (16.8%), Asian (12.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 38% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Willow Ridge Elementary School is 9.9, which is the lowest among 4 elementary schools in the Sweet Home Central School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Willow Ridge Elementary School employs 36 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Willow Ridge Elementary School is $18,657, which is the highest among 4 elementary schools in the Sweet Home Central School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Willow Ridge Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Willow Ridge Elementary School 1520th of 2445 New York public elementary schools. (See Willow Ridge Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


Sweet Home Central School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Sweet Home Central School District 538th of 865 New York school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Willow Ridge Elementary School?

Rank History for Willow Ridge Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 83.23 204th 2206 90.8%
2007 79.95 327th 2219 85.3%
2008 73.07 613th 2227 72.5%
2009 77.59 385th 2257 82.9%
2010 76.62 469th 2263 79.3%
2011 65.99 815th 2286 64.3%
2012 76.36 496th 2320 78.6%
2013 82.25 331st 2325 85.8%
2014 70.39 623rd 2345 73.4%
2015 71.92 612th 2352 74.0%
2016 62.25 844th 2366 64.3%
2017 58.59 956th 2386 59.9%
2018 57.65 1004th 2395 58.1%
2019 55.11 1030th 2413 57.3%
2021 48.12 1119th 2201 49.2%
2022 42.08 1394th 2434 42.7%
2023 56.23 1010th 2439 58.6%
2024 37.56 1520th 2445 37.8%
See the entire list of New York Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 20.08 1864th 2016 7.5%
2024 17.14 2049th 2110 2.9%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.41 1208th 2045 40.9%
2019 37.86 1256th 2032 38.2%
2021 41.32 1000th 1678 40.4%
2022 44.83 1069th 2099 49.1%
2023 40.91 1149th 2041 43.7%
2024 14.64 1951st 2078 6.1%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.74 1134th 2338 51.5%
2019 52.42 1089th 2357 53.8%
2021 44.87 1092nd 1955 44.1%
2022 59.52 911th 2401 62.1%
2023 71.25 614th 2403 74.4%
2024 40.87 1417th 2413 41.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.66 853rd 2340 63.5%
2019 55.51 992nd 2358 57.9%
2021 47.39 1033rd 1961 47.3%
2022 25.70 1890th 2400 21.3%
2023 36.44 1536th 2400 36.0%
2024 36.27 1550th 2411 35.7%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 2.92 420th 430 2.3%
2022 30.98 515th 671 23.2%
2023 41.00 408th 605 32.6%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.41 749th 948 21.0%
2019 40.50 500th 891 43.9%
2021 49.72 187th 427 56.2%
2022 32.74 643rd 936 31.3%
2023 49.70 388th 857 54.7%
2024 37.79 563rd 927 39.3%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Willow Ridge Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.86 576th 1408 59.1%
2019 53.42 621st 1338 53.6%
2021 45.75 709th 1224 42.1%
2022 32.45 1003rd 1399 28.3%
2023 46.80 742nd 1337 44.5%
2024 34.92 950th 1392 31.8%
See the entire list of Best New York Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: NY State Education Department, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Willow Ridge Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: NY State Education Department

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

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0%

0%

  

Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Willow Ridge Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 454 17 20 8 0 n/a n/a 0 499
1990 460 18 21 7 0 n/a n/a 0 506
1991 481 20 21 4 0 n/a n/a 0 526
1992 460 32 25 3 0 n/a n/a 0 520
1993 482 29 36 7 0 n/a n/a 0 554
1994 470 29 24 5 0 n/a n/a 0 528
1995 465 32 27 10 3 n/a n/a 0 537
1996 465 32 27 10 3 n/a n/a 0 537
1997 445 27 27 8 0 n/a n/a 0 507
1998 425 29 37 8 0 n/a n/a 0 499
1999 419 37 30 11 0 n/a n/a 0 497
2000 404 41 22 8 0 n/a n/a 0 475
2001 392 42 13 13 1 n/a n/a 0 461
2002 375 58 28 10 0 n/a n/a 0 471
2003 375 58 28 10 0 n/a n/a 0 471
2004 355 52 24 6 1 n/a n/a 0 438
2005 321 44 24 2 0 n/a n/a 0 391
2006 301 45 20 2 0 n/a n/a 0 368
2007 284 51 17 5 0 n/a n/a 0 357
2008 250 54 13 4 2 n/a n/a 0 323
2009 261 63 12 6 0 n/a n/a 0 342
2010 234 60 11 8 0 n/a n/a 0 313
2011 242 61 10 11 1 0 0 0 325
2012 242 65 16 18 1 2 0 0 344
2013 228 57 13 11 1 1 4 0 315
2014 235 61 15 13 1 0 5 0 330
2015 223 54 12 9 2 0 6 0 306
2016 241 51 11 15 0 0 5 0 323
2017 226 55 9 26 0 1 11 0 328
2018 221 57 9 17 1 0 23 0 328
2019 210 67 10 13 1 0 20 0 321
2020 218 64 37 7 2 0 30 0 358
2021 217 65 41 14 2 0 28 0 367
2022 215 70 40 13 2 0 28 0 368
2023 212 60 44 10 1 0 31 0 358

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Willow Ridge Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 499 33.9 14.7 n/a
1990 506 31.9 15.8 n/a
1991 526 32.9 15.9 n/a
1992 520 33.4 15.5 n/a
1993 554 31.2 17.8 n/a
1994 528 31.2 16.9 9.5
1995 537 32.1 16.7 10.4
1996 537 32.1 16.7 10.4
1997 507 32.2 15.7 12.2
1998 499 32.0 15.6 11.8
1999 497 33.2 15.0 11.9
2000 475 33.2 14.3 21.1
2001 461 34.0 13.6 18.2
2002 471 34.2 13.8 21.2
2003 471 34.2 13.8 21.2
2004 438 n/a n/a n/a
2005 391 31.6 12.4 23.5
2006 368 30.0 12.3 24.5
2007 357 26.3 13.6 26.1
2008 323 25.2 12.8 25.7
2009 342 25.6 13.4 24.3
2010 313 27.2 11.5 29.4
2011 325 28.0 11.5 29.2
2012 344 25.0 13.7 27.6
2013 315 27.0 11.6 33.3
2014 330 27.0 12.2 29.4
2015 306 25.0 12.2 30.4
2016 323 22.0 14.6 33.1
2017 328 22.0 14.8 41.2
2018 328 24.0 13.6 43.3
2019 321 25.0 12.8 39.9
2020 358 23.0 15.5 43.6
2021 367 34.6 10.5 37.6
2022 368 29.0 12.6 37.5
2023 358 36.0 9.9 38

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Willow Ridge Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 499 33.9 14.7 n/a
1990 506 31.9 15.8 n/a
1991 526 32.9 15.9 n/a
1992 520 33.4 15.5 n/a
1993 554 31.2 17.8 n/a
1994 528 31.2 16.9 9.5
1995 537 32.1 16.7 10.4
1996 537 32.1 16.7 10.4
1997 507 32.2 15.7 12.2
1998 499 32.0 15.6 11.8
1999 497 33.2 15.0 11.9
2000 475 33.2 14.3 21.1
2001 461 34.0 13.6 18.2
2002 471 34.2 13.8 21.2
2003 471 34.2 13.8 21.2
2004 438 n/a n/a n/a
2005 391 31.6 12.4 23.5
2006 368 30.0 12.3 24.5
2007 357 26.3 13.6 26.1
2008 323 25.2 12.8 25.7
2009 342 25.6 13.4 24.3
2010 313 27.2 11.5 29.4
2011 325 28.0 11.5 29.2
2012 344 25.0 13.7 27.6
2013 315 27.0 11.6 33.3
2014 330 27.0 12.2 29.4
2015 306 25.0 12.2 30.4
2016 323 22.0 14.6 33.1
2017 328 22.0 14.8 41.2
2018 328 24.0 13.6 43.3
2019 321 25.0 12.8 39.9
2020 358 23.0 15.5 43.6
2021 367 34.6 10.5 37.6
2022 368 29.0 12.6 37.5
2023 358 36.0 9.9 38

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Immunization Rates

Willow Ridge Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricella
201399.1%0.6%0.0%99.4%99.4%99.4%99.4%99.4%99.1%99.4%
201498.8%0.3%0.0%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%98.8%99.7%
201599.7%0.3%0.0%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%
201698.7%0.3%0.0%99.4%99.1%99.1%99.1%99.4%99.4%98.7%
201799.1%0.6%0.3%99.1%99.1%99.1%99.1%99.1%99.1%99.1%
201899.4%0.6%0.0%99.4%99.4%99.4%99.4%99.4%99.4%99.4%
201998.8%0.0%0.0%98.8%98.8%98.8%98.8%98.8%98.8%98.8%
202098.6%0.0%99.2%99.7%99.7%99.7%98.9%99.2%98.6%

Data source: New York State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Willow Ridge Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $249 (1.6%) $15,782 (98.4%) $16,031
2020 $234 (1.6%) $14,488 (98.4%) $14,722
2021 $873 (5.6%) $14,606 (94.4%) $15,479
2022 $1,072 (6.3%) $15,852 (93.7%) $16,924
2023 $1,334 (7.2%) $17,323 (92.8%) $18,657

Data source: New York Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Willow Ridge Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 1030th of 2413 Elementary schoolsRanks 1010th of 2439 Elementary schools
 1.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Willow Ridge Elementary School)5844.9
 13.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sweet Home Central School District)4846.6
 1.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New York)5244.9
 7.1%
3rd Grade Math (Willow Ridge Elementary School)6147.9
 13.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Sweet Home Central School District)4852.2
 4.2%
   3rd Grade Math (New York)5453.7
 0.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Willow Ridge Elementary School)4458.8
 14.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Sweet Home Central School District)4955.1
 6.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New York)4848.8
 0.8%
4th Grade Math (Willow Ridge Elementary School)5553.9
 1.2%
   4th Grade Math (Sweet Home Central School District)5660.6
 4.6%
   4th Grade Math (New York)5053.9
 3.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Willow Ridge Elementary School)4655.1
 9.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Sweet Home Central School District)3550.4
 15.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New York)3845.1
 7.1%
5th Grade Math (Willow Ridge Elementary School)4050.9
 10.9%
   5th Grade Math (Sweet Home Central School District)4044.4
 4.3%
   5th Grade Math (New York)4649.7
 3.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students321358
 11.5%
African American6760
 10.4%
American Indian11
Asian1044
 340%
Hispanic1310
 23.1%
Pacific Islander00
White210212
 1%
Two or More Races2031
 55%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients39.9%38%
 1.9%

Schools Near Willow Ridge Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Willow Ridge Elementary School

Students at Willow Ridge Elementary School are 59% White, 17% African American, 12% Asian, 9% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

Students who attend Willow Ridge Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sweet Home Middle School
High : Sweet Home Senior High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 358 students attended Willow Ridge Elementary School.

Willow Ridge Elementary School ranks 1520th of 2445 New York elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the WNYC and the New York State Department of Health and the NY State Education Department.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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