Very Good
#1135 of 4,742 schools in NY
Top 24% in state
Birchwood Elementary School
Elementary School · Niskayuna Central School District · Schenectady, NY
A Niskayuna Central School District elementary school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.
897 BIRCHWOOD LN, Schenectady, NY 12309
- Math 76% proficient (2022)
- Reading 61% proficient (2022)
- 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Birchwood Elementary School score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NY average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 24 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 68% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 76% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from NY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
16.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Birchwood Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 21Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,803/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Schenectady), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$119,830
Median home value
$301,100
Median rent
$1,472/mo
College educated
59%
Homeownership
82.7%
Poverty rate
4.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 12309; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veeder Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–4 | 1.7 mi | 484 | Compare → |
| Annur Islamic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–11 | 2.2 mi | 160 | Compare → |
| Rosendale SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | K–5 | 2.2 mi | 374 | Compare → |
| Albany-schoharie-schenectady-saratoga BocesEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | K–12 | 2.6 mi | 302 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Niskayuna Central School District
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #3 of 8
- District spending per student
- $19,046NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Birchwood Elementary School is listed in NISKAYUNA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Birchwood Elementary School
Birchwood Elementary School is a public elementary school in Schenectady, NY, part of Niskayuna Central School District, serving approximately 388 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,135 of 4,742 schools in NY. State assessment records show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Birchwood Elementary School
What grades does Birchwood Elementary School serve?
Birchwood Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Birchwood Elementary School?
Birchwood Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 388 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birchwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Birchwood Elementary School is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Birchwood Elementary School rank in NY?
Birchwood Elementary School ranks #1,135 of 4,742 schools in NY.
What is Birchwood Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Birchwood Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Birchwood Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Birchwood Elementary School has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Birchwood Elementary School a charter school?
No, Birchwood Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Birchwood Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Birchwood Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Birchwood Elementary School?
16.8% of students at Birchwood Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 388
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Schenectady County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.7%
- Phone
- (518) 344-2910
- Area population (ZIP 12309)
- 32,996
- Area average commute
- 20.6 min
- Area median age
- 41.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 12309; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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