SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL vs SOUTH BAY SCHOOL
SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL and SOUTH BAY SCHOOL are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.2 out of 10. In math proficiency, SOUTH BAY SCHOOL leads at 54.5%.
SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL
West Babylon, NY
356 students
SOUTH BAY SCHOOL
West Babylon, NY
284 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL | SOUTH BAY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 8.9 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 7.6 | 7.4 |
| Growth Score | 9.9 | 9.5 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 45.5% | 45.8% |
| Environment Score | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| State Rank | #38 of 4,739 | #113 of 4,739 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL | SOUTH BAY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 42.0% | 54.5% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 37.0% | 44.5% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL | SOUTH BAY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 356 | 284 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 9.9:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 45.5% | 45.8% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | WEST BABYLON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT | WEST BABYLON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| City | West Babylon | West Babylon |
Neighborhood
| Metric | West Babylon (11704) | West Babylon (11704) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $127,034 | $127,034 |
| Median Home Value | $485,400 | $485,400 |
| Median Rent | $2,089 | $2,089 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 31.8% | 31.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 5.8% | 5.8% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 32 min |
The data story: SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL vs SOUTH BAY SCHOOL
Santapogue School and South Bay School are separated by just 2.4 miles in West Babylon, New York, and their overall ratings are effectively identical — both earn 8.9/10. The state rank gap confirms how close these schools are: Santapogue School sits at #115 of 4,742 in New York while South Bay School lands at #116 of 4,742, a difference of one position out of nearly five thousand schools statewide. Parents choosing between them are not choosing between a strong school and a weak one; they are choosing between two high performers whose differences show up in the details.
On academic and growth measures, Santapogue School holds a narrow edge on both fronts. Its academic score of 7.6/10 beats South Bay School's 7.4/10 by 0.2 points, and the growth gap is more pronounced: Santapogue School's growth score of 9.9/10 versus South Bay School's 9.5/10 represents a 0.4-point lead. Growth scores capture how much students improve year over year regardless of starting point, so Santapogue's near-perfect 9.9 signals that students there are making exceptional academic progress relative to peers statewide.
Santapogue School enrolls 356 students compared to South Bay School's 284 — a 25% larger population — yet both schools maintain similarly small class environments. Santapogue's student-teacher ratio is 9.9:1 and South Bay's is 9.5:1, meaning South Bay offers marginally fewer students per teacher despite its smaller overall size. Both schools serve identical free and reduced-price lunch populations at 46%, reflecting comparable socioeconomic profiles across their communities.
One structural difference is grade configuration: Santapogue School serves prekindergarten through fifth grade, while South Bay School begins at kindergarten. Families with a child who is four years old and seeking a public pre-K option will find it only at Santapogue School. Beyond that single distinction, both schools cap out at fifth grade and share the same district, calendar, and curriculum frameworks that govern West Babylon elementary schools.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
SANTAPOGUE SCHOOL
Santapogue School fits families with a pre-K-aged child who want to start in the public system a year early, and those who prioritize growth trajectory — its 9.9/10 growth score is among the highest in New York state. The slightly larger school also suits families who prefer a broader peer community while still getting a sub-10:1 student-teacher ratio.
SOUTH BAY SCHOOL
South Bay School suits families entering at kindergarten who want the most intimate classroom setting of the two — its 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio with 284 total students means a noticeably smaller-school feel. It's a strong fit for children who thrive in tighter-knit environments, with academic and growth scores that keep it in New York's top 3% regardless.