Penfield Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Penfield Central School District

Penfield Central School District is a mid-sized district in Monroe County that serves kindergarten through twelfth grade across an economically stable, moderately prosperous exurban zone centered on Penfield and extending into parts of Rochester, Fairport, Macedon, and Webster. The district enrolls a diverse student body with a White majority alongside meaningful populations of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, limiting visibility into poverty concentration.

Academic performance across the district is solidly above the middle band among Monroe County's districts. On New York state assessments, proficiency rates in math and English language arts cluster in the mid-to-high range across grades three through eight. Third-grade math and ELA sit at the lower end of that band, around two-thirds of students meeting proficiency. Fourth and fifth grades show stronger results, with fourth-grade math above three-quarters proficient and fifth-grade ELA in the same range. Sixth-grade math and ELA hold steady in the mid-to-upper 60s. Seventh-grade results dip slightly but remain above 60 percent. Eighth grade shows a notable shift: while ELA stays strong at around seven in ten students proficient, math proficiency drops to under 60 percent. Science testing occurs only in grades five and eight; fifth-grade science sits at roughly two-thirds proficient, and eighth-grade science at just under 70 percent. Participation rates in math and ELA assessment decline from the 80s and 90s in elementary to the 40s in eighth-grade science and math, which may reflect exemptions or exclusions related to advanced placement, special education, or English learner status. The overall proficiency index places the district in the top quartile among its county peers.

The district operates six schools: four elementary buildings (Cobbles, Harris Hill, Indian Landing, Scribner Road), Bay Trail Middle School, and Penfield Senior High School. No high school graduation rate was available, so college and career readiness outcomes cannot be assessed from the data provided.

Chronic absenteeism in the district sits at a low rate relative to county standards, also placing it in the top quartile. This suggests consistent daily attendance and engagement across the student body.

The housing market served by this district reflects moderate to upper-middle affluence. Median home values across the district's zipcode contributors range substantially, with Penfield proper and surrounding areas anchoring the midpoint and Rochester neighborhoods falling lower. Home values have appreciated modestly over the year measured. Rental rates similarly cluster in the mid-range for the region. The housing market shows elevated inventory and pending listings year-over-year, indicating stronger supply than the prior year.

The district faces a rising expense trajectory. Voters approved a capital project in December 2025 that funds district-wide facility upgrades including a dedicated STEM addition and roof replacement at the high school, an auditorium renovation at the middle school, and building improvements across all elementary schools, financed through capital reserves and state aid with no additional tax impact. Separately, the 2026-27 budget has grown to more than historical levels, reflecting salary increases, rising health insurance premiums, and operational costs. Voters approved this budget in May 2026 with a modest tax levy increase within the state's tax cap. The rising levy trajectory over recent years is a material factor for homeowners weighing the cost of residence in the district.

At the organizational level, Bay Trail Middle School is transitioning from its long-standing house model—which kept students in the same cohort with the same core teachers across their three years—to grade-level teams beginning in fall 2026. This represents a meaningful structural change in how students will be grouped and supported in day-to-day school life. Families with younger children will experience a different organizational model than the one that has anchored the middle school for years past.

The district's data footprint is otherwise lean. Graduation rates, program breadth, special education and English learner enrollment counts, AP and advanced coursework access, discipline patterns, and per-pupil spending relative to state benchmarks are all absent from the payload. State testing data for grade nine and above is not available because New York does not administer standardized assessments in those grades. A parent seeking a fuller picture of high school pathways, college placement, or advanced and career-technical offerings would need to consult the district website and schools directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,680

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 5%

White 81%

Asian 3%

Two+ 5%

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

80%

—

Gr 3

41%

72%

Gr 4

41%

79%

Gr 5

49%

82%

Gr 6

46%

70%

Gr 7

44%

70%

Gr 8

61%

74%

Math

Gr EOC

67%

—

Gr 3

41%

76%

Gr 4

47%

86%

Gr 5

43%

82%

Gr 6

60%

81%

Gr 7

58%

75%

Gr 8

38%

62%

Science

Gr EOC

47%

—

Gr 5

35%

71%

Gr 8

53%

72%

Social studies

Gr EOC

75%

—

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

BAY TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOOL

COBBLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HARRIS HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

INDIAN LANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

SCRIBNER ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

69%

Grade 3

78%

Grade 4

74%

Grade 5

77%

Grade 6

71%

Grade 7

57%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

66%

Grade 3

71%

Grade 4

75%

Grade 5

65%

Grade 6

65%

Grade 7

72%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

64%

Grade 5

68%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$380,852

Year-over-year change+4.8%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$205K to $404K

vs. state typical0.75x

vs. national typical1.03x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
14526	Penfield	$396K	+4.8%	41.0%
14625	Rochester	$377K	+4.8%	22.9%
14450	Fairport	$404K	+4.5%	18.5%
14502	Macedon	$327K	+5.8%	12.4%
14610	Rochester	$334K	+2.8%	4.1%
14609	Rochester	$205K	+2.5%	0.7%
14580	Webster	$393K	+4.8%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,666/mo

Year-over-year change+1.7%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$1,466 to $1,981/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
14526	Penfield	$1,613	—	41.0%
14450	Fairport	$1,717	+0.9%	18.5%
14610	Rochester	$1,981	+4.9%	4.1%
14609	Rochester	$1,466	+4.6%	0.7%
14580	Webster	$1,751	+1.8%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,922/mo

Home price / national median income4.5x

Annual rent / national median income23.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$256/mo

Market Activity: Monroe County

Median listing price$319,900

Median listing price YoY+14.3%

Median price per sq ft$185

Median price per sq ft YoY+10.8%

Median days on market23.0 days

Median days on market YoY+3.4%

Active listings538

Active listings YoY+17.7%

New listings800

New listings YoY+5.8%

Pending listings1,430

Pending listings YoY+16.5%

Hotness: median listing price$294,175

Hotness: median listing price YoY+9.0%

Supply score98.8

Supply score YoY+0.1%

Demand score96.7

Demand score YoY-1.5%

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.