Alden Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Alden Central School District

Alden Central School District, located in Erie County, New York, serves students from kindergarten through grade twelve across four buildings: a primary school, an intermediate school, a middle school, and a high school. The district enrolls roughly fifteen hundred students, with a student body that is predominantly white, reflecting the demographics of the towns it covers including Alden, Akron, Corfu, Darien Center, and surrounding areas in western Erie County.

The district's academic performance shows mixed results across tested grade levels. In elementary grades, math proficiency is above the midpoint, with third graders performing in the upper range and fourth graders close behind, though proficiency dips in fifth grade and continues lower in sixth grade. English language arts follows a similar pattern, starting stronger in third grade but declining through the middle grades, with a notably sharp drop in seventh grade. By eighth grade, performance rebounds somewhat. Science testing, available only in fifth and eighth grades, shows modest proficiency rates in both. Participation rates in state assessments vary meaningfully, particularly in seventh and eighth grade where participation drops notably below the full cohort, which a parent may want to look into further with the school.

Among Erie County's fifty-two districts, Alden's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint, a respectable position that reflects the uneven grade-by-grade picture. The district stands out in chronic absenteeism, ranking in the top quartile county-wide with a substantially lower rate than the county median. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle-to-upper range for the county, suggesting moderate resource investment relative to peers.

The housing market in the district's towns shows modest valuations, with weighted home values around the mid-three-hundred thousands. Rental costs for the limited rental inventory in the area sit in the mid-seventeen hundreds monthly. The region's real estate market has cooled relative to last year, with median listing prices down and more homes on the market, creating a buyer-friendly environment. Affordability metrics suggest homes require a price-to-income ratio typical for the region, making homeownership reasonably accessible to middle-income households.

Two developments signal the district's direction. In December 2024, voters approved a substantial capital improvement project funded through a combination of state building aid and existing district reserves with no additional local tax burden. The work includes roof replacements at the primary and high schools, playground upgrades, library and cafeteria renovations, and districtwide building system upgrades, with construction beginning in summer 2025. This reflects a commitment to physical infrastructure that families considering the district should factor into their long-term view.

Separately, Alden High School has expanded its career and technical education offerings significantly through a program called Bulldog Manufacturing, focusing on welding, machining, CAD/CAM, and robotics. Local manufacturing firms, including Moog, have invested equipment and expertise to support this pathway, creating genuine workforce connections for students interested in skilled trades. For families with teenagers considering post-secondary options beyond traditional four-year college, this pathway represents a substantive, industry-backed offering.

Data on graduation rates and special populations such as English learners and students with disabilities was not available, limiting a fuller picture of how the district serves its full range of students. The district's performance across grades is uneven enough that families should engage directly with the school on how supports are structured for students who struggle in the middle grades and how acceleration or enrichment works for those moving ahead.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,485

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 2%

Black 1%

White 94%

Asian 1%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

86%

—

Gr 3

34%

71%

Gr 4

35%

56%

Gr 5

48%

72%

Gr 6

39%

47%

Gr 7

22%

36%

Gr 8

60%

65%

Math

Gr EOC

100%

—

Gr 3

45%

80%

Gr 4

65%

69%

Gr 5

29%

64%

Gr 6

44%

53%

Gr 7

57%

67%

Gr 8

83%

84%

Science

Gr EOC

—

Gr 5

26%

60%

Gr 8

67%

50%

Social studies

Gr EOC

85%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

ALDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

ALDEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

ALDEN PRIMARY AT TOWNLINE

ALDEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

66%

Grade 3

68%

Grade 4

56%

Grade 5

51%

Grade 6

64%

Grade 7

84%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

56%

Grade 3

51%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

45%

Grade 6

32%

Grade 7

65%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

52%

Grade 5

53%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$327,229

Year-over-year change+5.7%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$266K to $507K

vs. state typical0.64x

vs. national typical0.89x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
14004	Alden	$324K	+5.8%	75.4%
14040	Darien Center	$296K	+5.4%	8.8%
14086	Lancaster	$377K	+4.6%	5.8%
14001	Akron	$309K	+4.8%	3.6%
14036	Corfu	$266K	+6.1%	1.9%
14052	East Aurora	$435K	+5.3%	1.8%
14102	Marilla	$389K	+7.1%	1.5%
14059	Elma	$420K	+6.5%	0.9%
14031	Clarence	$507K	+6.8%	0.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,728/mo

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,596 to $2,150/mo

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
14086	Lancaster	$1,596	—	5.8%
14052	East Aurora	$2,150	—	1.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,651/mo

Home price / national median income3.9x

Annual rent / national median income24.8%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$76/mo

Market Activity: Erie County

Median listing price$279,900

Median listing price YoY-9.7%

Median price per sq ft$192

Median price per sq ft YoY-4.5%

Median days on market34.5 days

Median days on market YoY-2.8%

Active listings943

Active listings YoY+19.2%

New listings1,032

New listings YoY+18.4%

Pending listings1,529

Pending listings YoY+9.4%

Hotness: median listing price$274,925

Hotness: median listing price YoY-5.2%

Supply score89.0

Supply score YoY+6.7%

Demand score82.0

Demand score YoY-7.9%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$510,449 (+5.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.