Madrid-waddington Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Madrid-waddington Central School District

Madrid-Waddington Central School District serves a small, rural community across an expanse of St. Lawrence County that includes the towns of Madrid and Waddington and surrounding areas. The district enrolls students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve across two buildings: an elementary school and a combined junior-senior high school. The overall enrollment is modest for a rural district, and the student body is predominantly white, with a very small representation of Hispanic students and even smaller numbers of other groups.

On the most recent state assessments, the district's proficiency results show a mixed picture across elementary and middle grades. In math, third and fourth graders performed somewhat above a median baseline, but performance dropped significantly by fifth grade and remained low through seventh grade before recovering somewhat in eighth grade. English language arts results followed a similar pattern, with third and fourth graders showing modest proficiency but fifth and eighth graders struggling more visibly. Science proficiency was stronger in fifth grade than in eighth, where participation was also notably lower. Across all tested grades, the district's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint among St. Lawrence County's districts. This pattern suggests the district may benefit from examining curriculum continuity and instructional strategies in the upper elementary and middle school transition years.

One of the district's genuine strengths is chronic absenteeism, which ranks in the top quartile among county districts, indicating strong engagement and attendance culture. Per-pupil spending falls in the lower half of the county's middle range, suggesting the district operates with tighter resources than some neighboring systems.

In fall 2025, the district opened a distinctive pathway for juniors and seniors: a two-year Drone and Computer Technologies program offered through SUNY Canton that allows students to earn more than thirty college credits before graduation at no cost. The coursework spans unmanned aerial systems, 3D printing, artificial intelligence literacy, cybersecurity, GIS mapping, and drone coding, with direct pathways into SUNY Canton degree programs in cybersecurity, data science, mechanical engineering, and game design. The program is also open to students from neighboring districts, making it a rare regional opportunity and a meaningful differentiator for families considering the school's high school experience.

In October 2023, district voters approved a capital improvement project with no tax levy increase, funded through a combination of existing reserves and state aid. The work addressed longstanding maintenance and modernization needs across both school buildings: roofing, kitchen and cafeteria upgrades, HVAC systems, windows and doors, elementary lockers, a new athletic track, and bus garage improvements. Voters also established two new long-term reserve funds for future capital and transportation needs, signaling a commitment to planned, sustainable facility stewardship. For families considering the district, this means relatively new or recently renewed buildings and infrastructure without a recent tax burden.

The district operates in a rural real estate market characterized by modest home values, though the area has seen modest appreciation in recent years. The housing market shows tight supply with moderate demand. The broader economic context includes stable but modest household incomes relative to national benchmarks, and mortgage rates and unemployment figures typical of the current national environment.

For families prioritizing strong test performance and robust offerings at the high school level, Madrid-Waddington's middling proficiency results and limited course breadth data may warrant closer comparison with other county options. For families drawn to small-school community feel, the chance for students to earn college credits in a growing technical field, upgraded facilities, and demonstrated fiscal discipline, the district presents a coherent pathway worth exploring further with the schools directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

627

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 0%

White 96%

Asian 0%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

94%

—

Gr 3

28%

56%

Gr 4

35%

52%

Gr 5

33%

37%

Gr 6

32%

56%

Gr 7

38%

45%

Gr 8

21%

43%

Math

Gr EOC

90%

—

Gr 3

38%

63%

Gr 4

53%

69%

Gr 5

23%

37%

Gr 6

26%

62%

Gr 7

25%

48%

Gr 8

46%

67%

Science

Gr EOC

33%

—

Gr 5

52%

63%

Gr 8

41%

45%

Social studies

Gr EOC

84%

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

MADRID-WADDINGTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

MADRID-WADDINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

51%

Grade 3

63%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

47%

Grade 6

40%

Grade 7

57%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

42%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

36%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

42%

Grade 7

33%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

59%

Grade 5

43%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$154,464

Year-over-year change+4.3%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$117K to $187K

vs. state typical0.30x

vs. national typical0.42x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
13660	Madrid	$148K	+4.6%	46.4%
13658	Lisbon	$160K	+5.1%	16.0%
13694	Waddington	$177K	+3.5%	15.1%
13621	Chase Mills	$129K	+3.8%	13.3%
13617	Canton	$187K	+3.0%	5.2%
13676	Potsdam	$178K	+6.7%	3.1%
13662	Massena	$118K	+1.8%	0.4%
13667	Norfolk	$117K	-2.4%	0.4%
13668	Norwood	$140K	+8.4%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,108/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
13676	Potsdam	$1,108	—	3.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$779/mo

Home price / national median income1.8x

Annual rent / national median income15.9%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$328/mo

Market Activity: St. Lawrence County

Median listing price$189,000

Median listing price YoY-0.5%

Median price per sq ft$117

Median days on market110.5 days

Median days on market YoY+52.4%

Active listings336

Active listings YoY+17.5%

New listings128

New listings YoY+14.3%

Pending listings157

Pending listings YoY-2.5%

Hotness: median listing price$179,975

Hotness: median listing price YoY-4.1%

Supply score0.8

Supply score YoY-92.5%

Demand score44.3

Demand score YoY-5.2%

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.