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Birchwood Elementary School

Q: Is Birchwood Elementary School a good school?

Birchwood Elementary School ranks 279 th of 2445 New York elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

279^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,445 New York Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of New York elementary schools

Summary

Birchwood Elementary School is a public elementary school in Schenectady, New York, serving 388 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Niskayuna Central School District, which is ranked 141 out of 874 school districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Birchwood Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math proficiency on the New York State Assessments. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Birchwood's 5th-grade ELA proficiency rate was 81.69%, compared to 66.94% for the district and 56.61% for the state. The school also performs exceptionally well for certain student subgroups, ranking 90th out of 696 New York elementary schools for Asian students and 292nd out of 1,402 for White students in ELA proficiency. Birchwood has maintained a high statewide ranking, consistently placing in the top 15% of New York elementary schools over the past 10 years.

Interestingly, Hillside School, another high-performing school in the Niskayuna Central School District, has a slightly higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (23.62%) compared to Birchwood's range of 16.75% to 20.1% over the past few years. This suggests the district as a whole is providing a strong educational environment for its students, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

376

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,968

Per pupil spending ?

15.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

897 Birchwood Ln
Schenectady, NY 12309-5317

(518) 344-2910

District: Niskayuna Central School District

Students who attend Birchwood Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Iroquois Middle School
High:	Niskayuna High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.3%

Asian:

19.1%

Hispanic:

7.2%

See top rated New York elementary schools

Compare Birchwood Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2015 → 89th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New York average (77% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of New York elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Niskayuna Central School District

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school77%

District avg70%

New York avg55%

279^th of 2,445

New York public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From top 6% (2015) to top 11% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New York Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5Elementary Schools in the Niskayuna Central School District

141^st of 874Niskayuna Central School District among New York districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	86.0	279 of 2445	88.6%	★★★★☆
2024	81.9	392 of 2445	84.0%	★★★★☆
2023	80.1	434 of 2439	82.2%	★★★★☆
2022	84.8	316 of 2434	87.0%	★★★★☆
2021	85.4	238 of 2201	89.2%	★★★★☆
2019	84.1	335 of 2413	86.1%	★★★★☆
2018	85.2	264 of 2395	89.0%	★★★★☆
2017	79.5	402 of 2386	83.2%	★★★★☆
2016	85.3	263 of 2366	88.9%	★★★★☆
2015	90.2	141 of 2352	94.0%	★★★★★
2014	79.1	401 of 2345	82.9%	★★★★☆
2013	82.7	315 of 2325	86.5%	★★★★☆
2012	82.1	319 of 2320	86.3%	★★★★☆
2011	81.2	339 of 2286	85.2%	★★★★☆
2010	80.9	321 of 2263	85.8%	★★★★☆
2009	63.0	994 of 2257	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	71.5	665 of 2227	70.1%	★★★★☆
2007	71.0	701 of 2219	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	81.4	276 of 2206	87.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	80.6	90 of 696	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	72.3	172 of 662	74.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.2	208 of 605	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.9	191 of 671	71.5%	★★★★☆
2021	57.0	216 of 430	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.8	191 of 548	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	80.0	82 of 601	86.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	89.5	184 of 2409	92.4%	★★★★★
2024	80.5	392 of 2413	83.8%	★★★★☆
2023	87.5	247 of 2403	89.7%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	280 of 2401	88.3%	★★★★☆
2021	82.3	259 of 1955	86.8%	★★★★☆
2019	86.2	258 of 2357	89.1%	★★★★☆
2018	86.4	204 of 2338	91.3%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2022	55.3	587 of 1503	60.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	46.2	1031 of 2098	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.3	764 of 2078	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.8	513 of 2041	74.9%	★★★★☆
2022	77.5	313 of 2099	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	79.2	212 of 1678	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	48.3	929 of 2032	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.1	695 of 2045	66.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	79.1	409 of 2407	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.8	417 of 2411	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	69.8	652 of 2400	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	82.0	339 of 2400	85.9%	★★★★☆
2021	82.9	243 of 1961	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	77.5	458 of 2358	80.6%	★★★★☆
2018	79.5	379 of 2340	83.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2024	55.6	675 of 2110	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.7	957 of 2016	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.5	616 of 2031	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.2	246 of 1044	76.4%	★★★★☆
2019	78.2	198 of 1859	89.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	76.2	292 of 1402	79.2%	★★★★☆
2024	67.2	422 of 1392	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.3	467 of 1337	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.8	307 of 1399	78.1%	★★★★☆
2021	80.2	190 of 1224	84.5%	★★★★☆
2019	72.0	367 of 1338	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	70.4	378 of 1408	73.2%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2025)92nd percentile+4 vs school

Asian (2025)87th percentile~ school

Male (2025)83rd percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)79th percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2024)68th percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2022)61st percentile-26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)51st percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs New York (2024-2025) ?

Math83%+25 vs state

English Language Arts76%+21 vs state

Science66%+21 vs state

★

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Schools Near Birchwood Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NY State Assessments English Language Arts (2025)			NY State Assessments Math (2025)			NY State Assessments Science (2025)	% Completely Immunized (2020)	% Polio (2020)	% Measles (2020)	% Mumps (2020)	% Rubella (2020)	% Diphtheria (2020)	% Hepatitis B (2020)	% Varicella (2020)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NY State Assessments English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NY State Assessments English Language Arts 4th Grade	NY State Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	NY State Assessments Math 3rd Grade	NY State Assessments Math 4th Grade	NY State Assessments Math 5th Grade	NY State Assessments Science 5th Grade	% Completely Immunized All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Diphtheria All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Birchwood Elementary School	Public	K-5	897 Birchwood Ln	Schenectady	12309	Schenectady County	Niskayuna Central School District	No	No	No	No	(518) 344-2910	376	34	11.0	15.4%	238 (63.3%)	10 (2.7%)	27 (7.2%)	72 (19.1%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.9%)	86	279^th of 2445 public elementary schools	88.6%		81.9	392^nd of 2445 public elementary schools	84.0%	113	73.8	71.4	81.7	85.7	80.7	82.2	65.8	98.2	98.7	99.5	99.5	99.5	98.7	98.9	99.5	$21,968	$320	$21,648
Veeder Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	25 Veeder Dr	Albany	12205	Albany County	South Colonie Central School District	No	No	No	No	(518) 869-4661	503	34	14.9	37.8%	305 (60.6%)	44 (8.7%)	50 (9.9%)	64 (12.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.6%)	63	868^th of 2445 public elementary schools	64.5%		47.1	1232^nd of 2445 public elementary schools	49.6%	364	59.0	49.0		69.3	81.3			100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	$20,955	$565	$20,389
Rosendale School	Public	K-5	2445 Rosendale Rd	Schenectady	12309	Schenectady County	Niskayuna Central School District	No	No	No	No	(518) 377-3123	376	36	10.5	17.6%	255 (67.8%)	16 (4.3%)	25 (6.6%)	55 (14.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.1%)	84.9	304^th of 2445 public elementary schools	87.6%		87.2	271^st of 2445 public elementary schools	88.9%	33	87.0	80.9	70.3	87.3	87.5	68.5	64.4	99.2	100.0	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.5	99.5	$24,695	$398	$24,297
Saddlewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	100 Loralee Dr	Albany	12205	Albany County	South Colonie Central School District	No	No	No	No	(518) 456-2608	351	23	15.0	36.8%	224 (63.8%)	27 (7.7%)	24 (6.8%)	53 (15.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.3%)	75.3	544^th of 2445 public elementary schools	77.8%		70.6	625^th of 2445 public elementary schools	74.4%	81	67.9	66.2		78.6	72.3			100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	$22,633	$641	$21,993
Woodlawn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3311 Wells Ave	Schenectady	12304	Schenectady County	Schenectady City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(518) 370-8280	502	36	14.1	81.3%	118 (23.5%)	77 (15.3%)	113 (22.5%)	143 (28.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	49 (9.8%)	10.9	2284^th of 2445 public elementary schools	6.6%		18.9	2091^st of 2445 public elementary schools	14.5%	193	26.3	20.2	26.9	42.5	25.0	26.6	24.7	98.4	99.5	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.1	99.5	98.6	$28,498	$3,699	$24,799
Paige Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	104 Elliott Ave	Schenectady	12304	Schenectady County	Schenectady City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(518) 881-3520	468	39	11.9	74.4%	87 (18.6%)	80 (17.1%)	97 (20.7%)	138 (29.5%)	3 (0.6%)	5 (1.1%)	58 (12.4%)	16.8	2155^th of 2445 public elementary schools	11.9%		18.9	2096^th of 2445 public elementary schools	14.3%	59	26.0	50.0	41.1	29.7	36.1	16.2	28.4	98.4	99.8	99.8	99.8	99.8	99.3	100.0	98.9	$30,250	$4,099	$26,150
Forts Ferry School	Public	K-5	95 Forts Ferry Rd	Latham	12110	Albany County	North Colonie Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(518) 785-9203	423	38	11.1	38.1%	229 (54.1%)	32 (7.6%)	37 (8.7%)	96 (22.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.4%)	71.4	646^th of 2445 public elementary schools	73.6%		60.6	894^th of 2445 public elementary schools	63.4%	248	60.3	69.1	74.6	69.6	75.0	62.9	53.2	98.9	99.2	99.8	99.8	99.8	99.6	99.2	99.2	$23,517	$1,619	$21,897
Hillside School	Public	K-5	1100 Cornelius Ave	Schenectady	12309	Schenectady County	Niskayuna Central School District	No	No	No	No	(518) 377-1856	383	39	9.7	25.3%	247 (64.5%)	23 (6.0%)	30 (7.8%)	47 (12.3%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.6%)	72.9	620^th of 2445 public elementary schools	74.6%		78.9	452^nd of 2445 public elementary schools	81.5%	168	68.1	75.9	64.1	68.1	75.5	62.8	61.5	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	$24,161	$553	$23,607
Forest Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	100 Forest Dr	Albany	12205	Albany County	South Colonie Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(518) 869-3006	311	29	10.7	44.7%	168 (54.0%)	30 (9.6%)	31 (10.0%)	51 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (10.0%)	53	1129^th of 2445 public elementary schools	53.8%		51.3	1138^th of 2445 public elementary schools	53.5%	9	55.1	53.3		57.1	67.4			98.1	98.9	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.6	99.3	98.5	$29,081	$1,441	$27,639
Pinewood Elementary School	Public	3-5	901 Kings Rd	Schenectady	12303	Schenectady County	Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(518) 356-8430	591	49	12.0	44.3%	412 (69.7%)	34 (5.8%)	53 (9.0%)	20 (3.4%)	11 (1.9%)	7 (1.2%)	54 (9.1%)	45.3	1320^th of 2445 public elementary schools	46.0%		52	1114^th of 2445 public elementary schools	54.4%	206	48.9	45.2	53.4	62.2	58.0	49.4	46.2	99.5	100.0	99.5	99.5	99.5	100.0	100.0	100.0	$22,068	$1,050	$21,018

Frequently Asked Questions about Birchwood Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Birchwood Elementary School?

Students at Birchwood Elementary School are 63% White, 19% Asian, 7% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% African American.

How many students attend Birchwood Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 376 students attended Birchwood Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Birchwood Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Birchwood Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Iroquois Middle School
High : Niskayuna High School

Is Birchwood Elementary School a good school?

Birchwood Elementary School ranks 279^th of 2445 New York elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Birchwood Elementary School in?

Niskayuna Central School District

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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.