Best Schools in Valley Stream, New York
17 schools · 13 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Valley Stream?
Use this page to compare every school in Valley Stream by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Valley Stream Central High School
High · Valley Stream Central High School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
William L Buck School
Elementary · Valley Stream 24 Union Free School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ogden Elementary School
Elementary · Hewlett-woodmere Union Free School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Valley Stream for 2026 are Valley Stream Central High School (9.2/10), William L Buck School (8.0/10), and Ogden Elementary School (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
17
14 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$627,600
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
17
14 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$627,600
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 44% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Valley Stream schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Valley Stream
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (16 of 17). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley Stream Central High School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | William L Buck School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Ogden Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Valley Stream South High School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Robert W Carbonaro School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Clearstream Avenue School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Forest Road School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Alden Terrace School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Wheeler Avenue School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Hamza Academy | 7.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.2/10
- Median household income
- $137,103
- Median home value
- $627,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 43%
- Avg commute
- 40 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 83%
63% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Valley Stream compares
New York rank
#108 of 475
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.0
above New York avg (6.2)
Median household income
$137k
147% of New York median
Schools in this city
16
About Schools in Valley Stream, New York
Valley Stream, New York puts 14 ranked public schools in front of parents, with an average score of 7.7 out of 10 across the district. That average sits comfortably above the midpoint, and the distribution reinforces it: 9 of 14 schools — 64% — score 7 or higher, signaling a consistently strong floor rather than a landscape propped up by one or two outliers.
At the top, William L. Buck School leads all 14 ranked schools with a 9.0 out of 10, making it the highest-performing elementary option in the city. Wheeler Avenue School and Valley Stream Central High School both score 8.7, giving families strong choices at both the elementary and high school levels without having to treat the two as a trade-off. James A. Dever School and Robert W. Carbonaro School round out the top five at 8.4 each, adding two more elementary options that clear the high-performer threshold.
The elementary tier is where Valley Stream's strength is most concentrated. Four of the five top-ranked schools are elementary campuses, which matters most for families with younger children entering the system now. Valley Stream Central High School's 8.7 score is the key data point for parents planning further out — it suggests the district sustains performance as students advance rather than peaking early and fading.
For parents comparing Valley Stream against neighboring communities, the 64% share of schools scoring 7 or above is the number worth anchoring on. A majority above that threshold means quality is distributed across the district, not concentrated in a single zone. Families who can't access the top-rated buildings due to attendance boundaries still have real options. The practical takeaway: Valley Stream rewards research at the individual school level, but even secondary choices here tend to outperform what many comparable suburban districts offer across the board.
Elementary Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 310 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 309 students · 2nd–5th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 386 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 384 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.7 |
| 5 | 336 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.6 |
| 6 | 400 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.2 |
| 7 | 608 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.2 |
| 8 | 358 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.9 |
| 9 | 585 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.7 |
| 10 | 746 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.4 |
Show all 13 elementary schools in Valley Stream
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 973 students · 7th–9th | 6.1 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,120 students · 10th–12th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 1,247 students · 7th–12th | 7.8 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivdu Long Island
Private
19 students · UG–UG | — |
Schools in Valley Stream
Valley Stream, New York · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$137,103
Median Home Value
$627,600
Median Rent
$2,025/mo
Population
65,296
College Educated
43%
Homeownership
83%
Avg Commute
40 min
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Community Profile
Valley Stream has a median household income of $137,103. It is a well-educated community where 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $627,600, with a median rent of $2,025/month. The local poverty rate of 4.8% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 40 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 13
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
School Districts (6)
ELMONT UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
6 schools · 3,382 students
VALLEY STREAM 13 UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
4 schools · 2,052 students
VALLEY STREAM 24 UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
3 schools · 1,096 students
VALLEY STREAM 30 UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
3 schools · 1,477 students
VALLEY STREAM CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
4 schools · 4,736 students
HEWLETT-WOODMERE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
5 schools · 2,810 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Valley Stream, New York
How many schools are in Valley Stream, New York?
Valley Stream has 17 schools, including 14 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Valley Stream, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Valley Stream is 7.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Valley Stream, New York?
The top-ranked school in Valley Stream on MySchoolScout is Valley Stream Central High School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Valley Stream, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Valley Stream on MySchoolScout is William L Buck School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Valley Stream, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Valley Stream on MySchoolScout is Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School with a composite score of 6.1/10.
What is the best high school in Valley Stream, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Valley Stream on MySchoolScout is Valley Stream Central High School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
How many school districts serve Valley Stream, New York?
Valley Stream is served by 6 school districts: Elmont Union Free School District, Valley Stream 13 Union Free School District, Valley Stream 24 Union Free School District, Valley Stream 30 Union Free School District, Valley Stream Central High School District, Hewlett-woodmere Union Free School District.
What is the education level in Valley Stream, New York?
According to Census data, 43% of adults in Valley Stream have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Valley Stream, New York?
The median household income in Valley Stream is approximately $137,103 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Valley Stream, New York?
Yes, Valley Stream has 3 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is Hamza Academy with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Valley Stream, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Valley Stream is 10.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Valley Stream, New York?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New York State Education Dept., and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.