Pearl River Union Free School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Pearl River Union Free School District

Pearl River Union Free School District serves a community in Rockland County spanning several towns including Pearl River, Orangeburg, Nanuet, and West Nyack. The district enrolls a student population across thirteen schools from kindergarten through grade twelve, with enrollment distributed relatively evenly across the grade band.

The district's student body reflects the regional demographics: a majority white enrollment, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and smaller Asian and Black populations. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available in the district records, so the economic composition of the enrollment cannot be determined from the data provided.

On state assessments, Pearl River's performance shows strength in the elementary grades and a notable drop-off in middle school, particularly in math and science. In grade three through four, proficiency rates in math reach the high range, with grade four showing stronger results than grade three. English language arts proficiency in the elementary years sits in the mid-to-high range. By grade five, math proficiency declines to the mid-range, while ELA holds steady. Grade six performance in both subjects remains stable at similar levels.

The critical point comes in grade seven and eight. Grade seven ELA proficiency falls notably, and grade eight presents a significant challenge: math proficiency drops to less than half, and science proficiency is similarly low. The testing participation rate in grade eight also drops sharply compared to earlier grades, which may reflect scheduling or testing logistics rather than performance. A parent may want to look into this transition period with the school directly to understand whether these results reflect curriculum design, scheduling changes, or other factors affecting the middle school experience.

Science proficiency at grade five sits in the mid-range, and by grade eight it falls to below half. The district's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Rockland County's districts, reflecting solid elementary performance that carries the average upward despite the middle school dip.

The district reports chronic absenteeism at a level that places it in the top quartile of the county, meaning attendance is relatively strong. Per-pupil spending sits in the upper-middle range compared to neighboring districts.

The housing market in the Pearl River area reflects suburban Rockland County: median home values are in the mid to upper range for the region, with recent year-over-year growth. Rental rates are available for one zip code in the district boundary. The estimated cost of homeownership based on current mortgage rates would require a household income to sustain, and renting would claim a significant portion of a median-income household's budget by conventional affordability standards.

The district has undertaken two parent-relevant initiatives in recent years. In May 2026, voters approved a capital improvements bond funding elementary playground upgrades, renovations to the middle school library and science facilities, and high school infrastructure work including locker rooms, gym floors, and athletic field improvements, with construction scheduled from summer 2027 through fall 2029. Additionally, Pearl River High School implemented a rotating-drop bell schedule beginning in the 2025-26 school year, restructuring the daily schedule into seven class periods with community lunch, allowing students to drop one class in the morning and afternoon on a rotating basis rather than attending all eight scheduled periods daily. This represents a shift in how students experience the school day.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,296

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 21%

Black 2%

White 71%

Asian 3%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

81%

—

Gr 3

40%

73%

Gr 4

43%

77%

Gr 5

38%

74%

Gr 6

58%

68%

Gr 7

32%

63%

Gr 8

36%

69%

Math

Gr EOC

—

Gr 3

48%

82%

Gr 4

69%

80%

Gr 5

27%

71%

Gr 6

50%

79%

Gr 7

48%

79%

Gr 8

14%

48%

Science

Gr EOC

68%

—

Gr 5

31%

63%

Gr 8

26%

48%

Social studies

Gr EOC

81%

—

Schools in this District

5 schools are officially reported under this district.

EVANS PARK SCHOOL

FRANKLIN AVENUE SCHOOL

PEARL RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

PEARL RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

LINCOLN AVENUE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

72%

Grade 3

78%

Grade 4

64%

Grade 5

73%

Grade 6

74%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

70%

Grade 4

68%

Grade 5

66%

Grade 6

58%

Grade 7

62%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

58%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$721,318

Year-over-year change+5.3%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$626K to $786K

vs. state typical1.41x

vs. national typical1.96x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
10965	Pearl River	$705K	+5.9%	55.9%
10962	Orangeburg	$738K	+5.0%	34.5%
10994	West Nyack	$786K	+3.4%	7.4%
10954	Nanuet	$626K	+1.8%	1.8%
10983	Tappan	$732K	+5.0%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,955/mo

Year-over-year change+0.3%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
10954	Nanuet	$2,955	+0.3%	1.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,640/mo

Home price / national median income8.6x

Annual rent / national median income42.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$685/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.