Harrison Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Harrison Central School District

Harrison Central School District spans six schools serving kindergarten through twelfth grade across Harrison, Purchase, and surrounding communities in Westchester County. The district's enrollment has grown substantially in recent years, particularly as new residential development has drawn families to the area and some households have chosen to commute to New York City from these towns. Current enrollment sits at a mid-sized level for its region, distributed fairly evenly across grades.

The district's academic performance shows solid grounding across elementary and middle grades. In math, proficiency rates in the lower elementary range in the high 60s to low 70s, with a notable strengthening in grade 6, where three-quarters of students meet proficiency. English language arts proficiency ranges from the mid-60s to low 70s across the tested grades, with a dip in grade 7 where about six in ten students test proficient. Science results for grades 5 and 8 fall in the mid-to-high 70s. In the context of other Westchester County districts, Harrison's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint, a meaningful position in a county that includes both high-performing and under-resourced districts.

A notable anomaly appears in the grade 8 math data, where testing participation drops to just two percent with minimal proficiency among the few students tested. This likely reflects a data issue or administrative change in testing rather than actual performance, and a parent should inquire with the district directly for clarity on what happened in that grade.

Chronic absenteeism at the district runs slightly below the county median, suggesting attendance is stable, though just outside the better-performing range.

The district has experienced rapid change driven by growth. In fall 2023, voters approved a major facilities bond to expand instructional space and upgrade infrastructure across all six schools, with construction underway and completion targeted for 2027. This initiative will add new classrooms, secure entrances, and athletics and arts spaces. The bond reflects real enrollment pressures that had outpaced demographic forecasts.

For the 2024-25 budget, the district proposed a tax levy exceeding the New York State tax cap for the first time in its history, requiring voter approval. This marks a shift from the district's long track record of staying within the cap and signals that property taxes are under upward pressure as enrollment and operational costs rise. The housing market in the district's towns is substantial and expensive; home values in the weighted median range suggest high property wealth, though rental costs have also climbed. The median listing price in the county has been softening slightly, and inventory has grown, suggesting a buyer-tilted market compared to conditions a year earlier.

The district operates in a community of substantial means, with a median household income well above national levels and an economy showing steady employment. This economic foundation has historically supported strong school funding, and it continues to do so, though the recent budget votes signal that growth and inflation are now straining the financial model.

For families considering the district, the key variables are clear: solid proficiency in elementary and middle grades, a growth trajectory that brings both investment (new facilities) and cost (rising property taxes), and a community of affluent families across several towns. The district maintains its programs and class sizes without the cuts seen in some neighboring districts, but that stability now depends on voters accepting higher taxes.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

3,760

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 21%

Black 3%

White 59%

Asian 14%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

77%

—

Gr 3

49%

69%

Gr 4

57%

73%

Gr 5

48%

78%

Gr 6

64%

74%

Gr 7

55%

63%

Gr 8

55%

70%

Math

Gr EOC

94%

—

Gr 3

40%

80%

Gr 4

59%

83%

Gr 5

60%

78%

Gr 6

64%

89%

Gr 7

74%

82%

Science

Gr EOC

82%

—

Gr 5

59%

79%

Gr 8

66%

80%

Social studies

Gr EOC

86%

—

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

HARRISON AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL

LOUIS M KLEIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

PARSONS MEMORIAL SCHOOL

PURCHASE SCHOOL

SAMUEL J PRESTON SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

72%

Grade 3

79%

Grade 4

74%

Grade 5

85%

Grade 6

80%

Grade 7

14%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

65%

Grade 3

71%

Grade 4

72%

Grade 5

72%

Grade 6

62%

Grade 7

67%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

75%

Grade 5

77%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$1.74M

Year-over-year change+6.6%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$870K to $2.2M

vs. state typical3.41x

vs. national typical4.73x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
10577	Purchase	$2.2M	+7.6%	39.5%
10528	Harrison	$1.4M	+8.2%	22.3%
10604	White Plains	$912K	+2.0%	21.7%
10580	Rye	$2.2M	+8.3%	15.6%
10605	White Plains	$981K	+3.4%	0.6%
10573	Port Chester	$870K	+7.6%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$4,321/mo

Year-over-year change+8.9%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$2,589 to $4,960/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
10528	Harrison	$4,858	+11.8%	22.3%
10604	White Plains	$3,368	+5.8%	21.7%
10580	Rye	$4,960	—	15.6%
10605	White Plains	$3,123	+14.7%	0.6%
10573	Port Chester	$2,589	-3.5%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$8,795/mo

Home price / national median income20.8x

Annual rent / national median income61.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$4,474/mo

Market Activity: Westchester County

Median listing price$750,000

Median listing price YoY-5.7%

Median price per sq ft$419

Median price per sq ft YoY+1.9%

Median days on market30.5 days

Median days on market YoY-12.9%

Active listings1,539

Active listings YoY-2.0%

New listings1,108

New listings YoY-8.3%

Pending listings236

Pending listings YoY-88.6%

Hotness: median listing price$712,500

Hotness: median listing price YoY-3.2%

Supply score94.1

Supply score YoY+11.3%

Demand score70.5

Demand score YoY+35.4%

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.