Brewster Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Brewster Central School District

Brewster Central School District serves a mixed-income community in Putnam County where housing has appreciated steadily and the enrollment spans pre-K through grade twelve. The district's state assessment results show proficiency rates that sit in the bottom quartile when compared with other Putnam County districts. Across elementary and middle grades in English language arts and math, proficiency hovers around the half-mark, with some grades tracking slightly above or below that range. Grade eight math performance is notably weaker, with meaningful drops in both proficiency and participation. Science results are similarly modest. A parent reviewing these numbers should understand that performance is not keeping pace with peer districts in the county, and may want to discuss with the school what supports exist for students who are not yet proficient.

The district serves a student body that is majority Hispanic, with substantial White enrollment and smaller Asian and Black populations. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent cannot gauge from this profile alone what portion of families qualify for meal assistance. English learner enrollment and special education identification rates are also not reported here, though the curriculum section notes that the district maintains dual language tracks alongside monolingual programs.

Attendance is a concern. The district's chronic absenteeism rate places it in the bottom quartile among county districts, meaning a higher share of students are missing school regularly. This often correlates with academic performance and is worth exploring with the school directly.

On the structural and curricular side, Brewster has undertaken substantial recent changes. Elementary literacy instruction shifted to ARC Core, a structured reading program with separate monolingual and bilingual pathways; math uses Math in Focus for K-5; science employs Project Lead the Way. These are concrete shifts in how foundational skills are taught. A new graduation requirement beginning in 2025-26 mandates a student-driven "Success Project" capstone that ties to a stated Brewster Profile of a Graduate. This means families with high schoolers need to understand that the diploma pathway now includes this additional element.

Infrastructure is also in motion. Voters approved a substantial capital project in March 2023 covering district-wide repairs, a new turf field, security upgrades, and new spaces at both the intermediate and high schools, including a cafetorium, fitness center, and STEAM lab. This multi-year construction will be visible and active as families move through the schools.

On the tax side, the 2025-26 budget proposed a restrained levy increase well below the state cap, aided by gains in state and federal aid. For families weighing property-tax burden, housing values in the district's zip codes have appreciated modestly year-over-year and sit above the state benchmark, making Brewster an area where home prices reflect regional demand.

The district operates four schools: Brewster High School, Henry H Wells Middle School, John F Kennedy Elementary, and C.V. Starr Intermediate School. No data on graduation rate, Advanced Placement breadth, career pathways, or specific program offerings beyond the curriculum changes noted above was available in this profile. A parent seeking to understand high school trajectory, dual-credit options, or specialized programs would benefit from visiting the high school website directly.

The district's current academic standing and chronic absenteeism rate suggest this is an environment where targeted academic support and engagement strategies are needed. The curricular overhauls and capital improvements signal an organization investing in change, but results have not yet shifted to match peer performance within the county.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,988

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 51%

Black 2%

White 41%

Asian 2%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

64%

—

Gr 3

33%

63%

Gr 4

31%

63%

Gr 5

35%

62%

Gr 6

19%

55%

Gr 7

34%

49%

Gr 8

38%

57%

Math

Gr EOC

93%

—

Gr 3

33%

66%

Gr 4

40%

57%

Gr 5

32%

66%

Gr 6

31%

50%

Gr 7

47%

62%

Gr 8

35%

37%

Science

Gr EOC

100%

—

Gr 5

20%

50%

Gr 8

42%

61%

Social studies

Gr EOC

59%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

BREWSTER HIGH SCHOOL

HENRY H WELLS MIDDLE SCHOOL

JOHN F KENNEDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

C V STARR INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

51%

Grade 3

49%

Grade 4

53%

Grade 5

43%

Grade 6

55%

Grade 7

36%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

48%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 6

43%

Grade 7

49%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

38%

Grade 5

52%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$508,640

Year-over-year change+3.7%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$467K to $519K

vs. state typical1.00x

vs. national typical1.38x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
10509	Brewster	$519K	+3.7%	77.1%
12563	Patterson	$467K	+3.5%	17.9%
10512	Carmel	$503K	+3.9%	5.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,650/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
10512	Carmel	$2,650	—	5.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,567/mo

Home price / national median income6.1x

Annual rent / national median income38.0%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$83/mo

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.