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Willow Ridge Elementary School

Q: Is Willow Ridge Elementary School a good school?

Willow Ridge Elementary School ranks 1560 th of 2445 New York elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1560^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,445 New York Elementary Schools

Better than 36% of New York elementary schools

Summary

Willow Ridge Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Amherst, New York, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 394 students. The school is part of the Sweet Home Central School District, which is ranked 597 out of 874 school districts in New York and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Willow Ridge Elementary School has consistently ranked in the lower half of New York elementary schools, with a ranking between 1010 and 1560 out of around 2,400 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on state assessments is generally below the district and state averages, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math around 40-60%, compared to the district's 46-56% and the state's 54-60%. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as Asian students, Special Education students, and Low Socioeconomic Status students, who rank in the bottom 25-30% of New York elementary schools in these categories.

Despite the relatively high per-student spending of $25,903 in 2023-2024, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages, Willow Ridge's academic performance remains below the district and state averages. This suggests that the resources may not be effectively utilized or targeted to the areas of greatest need. The school and district may benefit from a closer examination of how resources are allocated and how they can be better leveraged to improve student outcomes, as well as implementing more targeted and comprehensive strategies to support student learning and ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

427

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,295

Per pupil spending ?

31.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

480 Willow Ridge Dr
Amherst, NY 14228-3057

(716) 250-1575

District: Sweet Home Central School District

Students who attend Willow Ridge Elementary School usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.7%

African American:

20.6%

Asian:

11.9%

See top rated New York elementary schools

Compare Willow Ridge Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 74th percentile in 2015 → 36th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New York average (46% vs 55% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 38 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg51%

New York avg55%

1,560^th of 2,445

New York public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 38 pts since 2015

From top 26% (2015) to bottom 36% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New York Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Sweet Home Central School District

597^th of 874Sweet Home 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	36.8	1560 of 2445	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.6	1520 of 2445	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.2	1010 of 2439	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.1	1394 of 2434	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.1	1119 of 2201	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.1	1030 of 2413	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.7	1004 of 2395	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.6	956 of 2386	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.3	844 of 2366	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	71.9	612 of 2352	74.0%	★★★★☆
2014	70.4	623 of 2345	73.4%	★★★★☆
2013	82.2	331 of 2325	85.8%	★★★★☆
2012	76.4	496 of 2320	78.6%	★★★★☆
2011	66.0	815 of 2286	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	76.6	469 of 2263	79.3%	★★★★☆
2009	77.6	385 of 2257	82.9%	★★★★☆
2008	73.1	613 of 2227	72.5%	★★★★☆
2007	79.9	327 of 2219	85.3%	★★★★☆
2006	83.2	204 of 2206	90.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	36.2	589 of 928	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.8	563 of 927	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.7	388 of 857	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.7	643 of 936	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.7	187 of 427	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.5	500 of 891	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.4	749 of 948	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	6.8	655 of 696	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	41.0	408 of 605	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.0	515 of 671	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	2.9	420 of 430	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	41.9	1412 of 2409	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.9	1417 of 2413	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	71.2	614 of 2403	74.4%	★★★★☆
2022	59.5	911 of 2401	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.9	1092 of 1955	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.4	1089 of 2357	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.7	1134 of 2338	51.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	31.1	1490 of 2098	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.6	1951 of 2078	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	40.9	1149 of 2041	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.8	1069 of 2099	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.3	1000 of 1678	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.9	1256 of 2032	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.4	1208 of 2045	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	32.3	1681 of 2407	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.3	1550 of 2411	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.4	1536 of 2400	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.7	1890 of 2400	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	47.4	1033 of 1961	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.5	992 of 2358	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.7	853 of 2340	63.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	19.3	1946 of 2134	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.1	2049 of 2110	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.1	1864 of 2016	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	37.8	912 of 1402	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.9	950 of 1392	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.8	742 of 1337	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.5	1003 of 1399	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	45.8	709 of 1224	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.4	621 of 1338	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.9	576 of 1408	59.1%	★★★☆☆

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)41st percentile+5 vs school

African American (2025)37th percentile~ school

White (2025)35th percentile~ school

Male (2025)30th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)29th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2025)9th percentile-27 vs school

Asian (2025)6th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs New York (2024-2025) ?

Science60%+15 vs state

Math45%-12 vs state

English Language Arts43%-11 vs state

5.0

1 rating

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Schools Near Willow Ridge 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
Willow Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	480 Willow Ridge Dr	Amherst	14228	Erie County	Sweet Home Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 250-1575	427	36	12.0	31.1%	208 (48.7%)	88 (20.6%)	42 (9.8%)	51 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.9%)	36.8	1560^th of 2445 public elementary schools	36.2%		37.6	1520^th of 2445 public elementary schools	37.8%	40	38.9	36.4	58.3	38.2	37.9	62.0	60.4	98.6	99.2	99.7	99.7	99.7	98.9	99.2	98.6	$23,295	$1,299	$21,995
Glendale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Glendale Dr	Tonawanda	14150	Erie County	Sweet Home Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 250-1500	443	36	12.4	32.5%	231 (52.1%)	105 (23.7%)	49 (11.1%)	27 (6.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.5%)	39.1	1499^th of 2445 public elementary schools	38.7%		39	1482^nd of 2445 public elementary schools	39.4%	17	51.7	52.5	46.2	50.0	55.9	44.0	37.7	99.5	99.5	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.7	100.0	99.7	$25,708	$1,087	$24,621
Heritage Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2545 Sweet Home Rd	Amherst	14228	Erie County	Sweet Home Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 250-1525	452	35	13.1	33.4%	211 (46.7%)	84 (18.6%)	58 (12.8%)	72 (15.9%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.1%)	35.2	1614^th of 2445 public elementary schools	34.0%		42.8	1362^nd of 2445 public elementary schools	44.3%	252	45.6	58.0	43.2	46.4	66.0	35.6	34.7	99.4	100.0	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.4	$22,105	$881	$21,224
Heim Elementary School	Public	K-4	155 Heim Rd	Williamsville	14221	Erie County	Williamsville Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 626-8686	661	55	11.9	21.0%	510 (77.2%)	19 (2.9%)	19 (2.9%)	73 (11.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (5.7%)	68.3	730^th of 2445 public elementary schools	70.1%		82.6	371^st of 2445 public elementary schools	84.8%	359	65.7	58.7		70.2	72.7			99.7	99.8	99.8	99.8	100.0	99.8	100.0	99.8	$18,055	$654	$17,401
Maplemere Elementary School	Public	K-5	236 E Maplemere Rd	Amherst	14221	Erie County	Sweet Home Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 250-1550	488	41	12.0	44.9%	276 (56.6%)	53 (10.9%)	29 (5.9%)	108 (22.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.5%)	59.4	948^th of 2445 public elementary schools	61.2%		65.3	775^th of 2445 public elementary schools	68.3%	173	48.4	73.9	64.6	50.0	68.1	63.9	55.6	98.6	99.8	99.5	99.5	99.5	98.8	99.1	99.5	$23,971	$621	$23,350
Thomas A Edison Elementary School	Public	K-4	236 Grayton Rd	Tonawanda	14150	Erie County	Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District	No	No	No	No	(716) 874-8416	609	46	13.1	35.1%	473 (77.7%)	22 (3.6%)	50 (8.2%)	24 (3.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.1%)	57.3	1008^th of 2445 public elementary schools	58.8%		50.3	1163^rd of 2445 public elementary schools	52.4%	155	57.5	56.3		70.8	57.3			99.7	99.7	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.7	100.0	100.0	$23,302	$1,303	$22,000
Spruce School	Public	K-6	195 Spruce St	North Tonawanda	14120	Niagara County	North Tonawanda City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 807-3850	336	32	10.5	60.1%	252 (75.0%)	16 (4.8%)	35 (10.4%)	8 (2.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.8%)								(n/a)	35.8			43.2				99.4	100.0	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	100.0	99.7	$22,391	$1,073	$21,318
Ben Franklin Elementary School	Public	K-4	500 Parkhurst Blvd	Buffalo	14223	Erie County	Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 874-8415	460	44	10.4	50.7%	270 (58.7%)	58 (12.6%)	58 (12.6%)	19 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (11.7%)	32.5	1699^th of 2445 public elementary schools	30.5%		27.1	1841^st of 2445 public elementary schools	24.7%	142	43.8	43.3		50.0	50.0			99.2	99.2	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.2	99.4	99.8	$25,412	$1,586	$23,826
Maple West Elementary School	Public	K-4	851 Maple Rd	Williamsville	14221	Erie County	Williamsville Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 626-8840	670	54	12.3	19.4%	500 (74.6%)	18 (2.7%)	35 (5.2%)	85 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (4.8%)	73	613^th of 2445 public elementary schools	74.9%		84	338^th of 2445 public elementary schools	86.2%	275	65.3	69.1		71.4	72.4			99.5	99.7	99.8	99.8	100.0	99.7	99.7	99.8	$20,721	$666	$20,055
Windermere Blvd School	Public	PK, KG-5	291 Windermere Blvd	Amherst	14226	Erie County	Amherst Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(716) 362-4100	738	65	11.3	44.7%	327 (44.3%)	179 (24.3%)	62 (8.4%)	116 (15.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (7.3%)	53.6	1104^th of 2445 public elementary schools	54.8%		49.5	1186^th of 2445 public elementary schools	51.5%	82	55.4	58.0	55.5	66.4	57.0	52.5	49.1	99.4	99.6	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.6	99.7	99.7	$21,897	$1,832	$20,065

Frequently Asked Questions about Willow Ridge Elementary School

How many students attend Willow Ridge Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 427 students attended Willow Ridge Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Willow Ridge Elementary School attend?

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

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

Is Willow Ridge Elementary School a good school?

Willow Ridge Elementary School ranks 1560^th of 2445 New York elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Willow Ridge Elementary School in?

Sweet Home Central School District

What is the racial makeup of Willow Ridge Elementary School?

Students at Willow Ridge Elementary School are 49% White, 21% African American, 12% Asian, 10% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

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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.