The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mount Pleasant-cottage Union Free School District
Mount Pleasant-Cottage Union Free School District is a special education district serving students in kindergarten through grade twelve with emotional, behavioral, cognitive disabilities, and autism across two schools: Mount Pleasant-Cottage School and Edenwald School. This is not a residential district enrolling neighborhood students; rather, it serves placed students referred through the state system.
The district's enrollment is small. Grades K through 2 have no students currently. Elementary grades 3 through 5 account for a very small number of students, while enrollment grows in middle and high school grades. A substantial share of students identify as Black, with smaller populations identifying as Hispanic, White, Asian, or multiracial. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data and counts of students with IEPs and English learners were not available.
State testing results for the current year show proficiency data suppressed for grades 3 through 5 due to small tested counts. In grades 6 and 7, zero students reached proficiency in math. In grade 8, zero students reached proficiency in math or English language arts. In grade 6, zero students reached proficiency in English language arts. Science testing at grade 5 was suppressed due to small count; at grade 8, zero students reached proficiency. Across reported grades and subjects, the pattern reflects a district where students are arriving with significant academic gaps. Participation rates in testing are notably low across grades, ranging from the low to mid-range, which a parent may want to look into further with the school.
The district's defining recent change is the launch of a New York State-approved Career and Technical Education program in Culinary Arts, housed in a dedicated on-campus kitchen. Students can earn an industry credential and dual college credit through Westchester Community College while completing high school requirements. The district has since expanded vocational offerings to include Cosmetology, Graphic Design, and Technology. For a special education population, credentialed career pathways represent a concrete exit option beyond traditional diploma or IEP completion.
Among Westchester County's districts, Mount Pleasant-Cottage's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. The district reports a chronic absenteeism rate at the very high end of the county range. Per-pupil current spending is substantially higher than the county median, reflecting the intensive support and specialized staffing required to serve this population.
A parent considering this district should understand it as a placed special education setting with tailored programming and vocational pathways, not a general enrollment school. The recent investment in CTE and the expansion of career-focused courses signal an institutional effort to prepare students for post-secondary work and independent living. The low state test proficiency reflects the baseline academic need of the students the district serves.
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