Gowanda Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Gowanda Central School District

Gowanda Central School District serves the rural towns of Collins, Gowanda, Irving, Lawtons, Perrysburg, and South Dayton in southwestern New York. The district operates three buildings: an elementary school (pre-K through grade 5), a middle school (grades 6 through 8), and a high school (grades 9 through 12).

Enrollment is modest, with the bulk of students in elementary and middle grades. The population leans heavily white, with a meaningful share identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native; students of Hispanic origin represent a smaller share. The district data did not include free-or-reduced-price lunch rates or counts of students in special education or English learner programs, so the full economic and support-needs picture is incomplete. A parent may want to ask the district directly about these populations.

The most recent state test results show academic performance that trails county averages across tested grades and subjects. In elementary grades (3 through 5), roughly half of students in grades 3 and 4 achieve proficiency in math, but that drops sharply by grade 5 to below half. English language arts proficiency starts around half in grade 3 but falls to around two-fifths by grades 4 and 5. In middle school, the pattern intensifies: only around a third of sixth-graders meet math proficiency, and fewer than one-third do so in English language arts. By eighth grade, roughly four in ten students meet the math standard, and fewer than a quarter meet the ELA standard. Science results in grades 5 and 8 are also below half. Overall, the district's proficiency rate sits below the midpoint among Cattaraugus County's districts. Chronic absenteeism, at a high rate, places the district in the bottom quartile among its county peers. A graduation rate for the high school was not provided in the data.

The district's per-pupil spending is in the middle-to-upper range among county districts, suggesting resources are not necessarily the binding constraint.

Housing values in the district's service areas are modest, with a weighted median in the low-to-mid range and prices generally flat or appreciating modestly year-over-year. Mortgage affordability is reasonable relative to national benchmarks. The local economy shows stable but unremarkable employment and household income.

Two recent developments matter for families considering the district. In December 2025, voters approved a capital project funded through reserves and state aid that brings new athletic fields, library and auditorium upgrades, roof work, and lead remediation to both campuses with no tax increase. However, a December 2024 state audit found the district had overtaxed residents and mismanaged reserves for several years; the district responded with a corrective action plan and reduced surplus balances. This shift in financial management affects how school taxes will be set going forward and reflects governance questions that have since been addressed.

For families moving to or staying in this region, Gowanda offers a traditional public school experience serving all grades in a close-knit rural setting. Academic performance and attendance are areas a parent should monitor closely and discuss with school leadership. The district's improved capital facilities and corrected financial oversight provide some structural foundation going ahead.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,093

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 4%

Black 0%

White 62%

Two+ 11%

Am. Indian / AK Native 23%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

75%

—

Gr 3

39%

74%

Gr 4

44%

46%

Gr 5

31%

59%

Gr 6

31%

35%

Gr 7

17%

48%

Gr 8

23%

26%

Math

Gr EOC

55%

—

Gr 3

53%

56%

Gr 4

58%

63%

Gr 5

41%

59%

Gr 6

22%

39%

Gr 7

31%

67%

Gr 8

38%

50%

Science

Gr EOC

—

Gr 5

25%

54%

Gr 8

42%

32%

Social studies

Gr EOC

76%

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

GOWANDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GOWANDA HIGH SCHOOL

GOWANDA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

54%

Grade 3

61%

Grade 4

47%

Grade 5

29%

Grade 6

44%

Grade 7

44%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

41%

Grade 5

33%

Grade 6

28%

Grade 7

24%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

36%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$180,657

Year-over-year change+5.6%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$144K to $274K

vs. state typical0.35x

vs. national typical0.49x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
14070	Gowanda	$158K	+4.7%	44.5%
14129	Perrysburg	$187K	+7.2%	30.0%
14034	Collins	$217K	+5.9%	8.8%
14081	Irving	$228K	+6.0%	5.6%
14138	South Dayton	$144K	+2.6%	4.6%
14091	Lawtons	$274K	+4.8%	4.5%
14719	Cattaraugus	$163K	+7.0%	0.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$912/mo

Home price / national median income2.2x

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.