Sag Harbor Union Free School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Sag Harbor Union Free School District

Sag Harbor Union Free School District serves a small community on Long Island's East End, encompassing the villages of Sag Harbor, Sagaponack, Bridgehampton, and East Hampton. The district operates two schools: an elementary school (pre-K through grade 5) and a combined middle-high school (grades 6 through 12) that serves as the sole secondary institution for families in the area.

The district's enrollment sits at just under a thousand students across all grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic population and smaller Asian and Black populations represented. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch participation and English learner enrollment were not available, so a reader seeking to understand the full economic or linguistic diversity of the district may want to contact the schools directly.

Academically, the elementary grades show solid performance on New York State testing in math and English language arts. In grades 3 through 5, proficiency rates cluster in the mid-range: roughly two-thirds of students meet proficiency in math in grades 3, 5, and 6, with grade 4 performing somewhat higher. In English language arts, grade 5 stands out with particularly strong proficiency, while grades 3 and 4 sit at approximately 57 to 59 percent proficiency. Grade 5 science proficiency is in the low-to-mid range. Across these early grades, participation rates are generally strong, with most cohorts near or above 90 percent of students tested.

Performance shifts considerably in the high school span. Grade 7 and 8 English language arts proficiency remains in the low-to-mid 70s, but grade 8 mathematics and science present a concerning picture. Math proficiency in grade 8 drops to approximately 39 percent, and science proficiency falls to roughly 18 percent. Participation in those tests is also markedly lower in grade 8, at around 35 percent for math and 26 percent for science. This pattern suggests either structural changes in how students are assessed or placed at that level, or genuine challenges in student performance in those grades. A parent of a middle schooler would want to understand this directly from the district.

Overall, the district's proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Suffolk County's districts, a meaningful distinction. However, chronic absenteeism runs higher than the county median at roughly 25 percent, which merits attention. Per-pupil spending is in the upper range for the county, reflecting the area's affluent property base.

The housing market surrounding the district is notably expensive. Median home values in the district's zip codes exceed several million dollars, with some neighborhoods substantially higher. Rental markets are also steep, with median rents in the mid-range touching five figures monthly. Mortgage affordability relative to median household income presents a real constraint for many families, though the local economic context shows stable employment and income above national norms. The real estate market has been showing modest softness in recent months, with pending listings down significantly from a year ago, though active listings have risen slightly.

A major development for the district is a facilities bond approved in January 2026. The referendum will fund substantial upgrades to Pierson Middle-High School, including a new science laboratory with wet lab capabilities, a new gymnasium and fitness center, conversion of the existing gym into music and robotics instructional space, and locker room renovations. This represents a meaningful long-term capital investment in the district's only secondary school and will carry a modest monthly cost impact on property tax bills over the bond's life.

The district's structure as a small, K-12 system in a wealthy coastal community creates a particular context: families are investing heavily in property and staying put, the student population is relatively stable and economically advantaged, and the schools serve both as neighborhood anchors and gateways to high school for a cohesive peer group. The strength in elementary literacy and the higher county-level proficiency position suggest competent instruction in the primary grades, though the middle and high school transition warrants closer examination by families considering the district.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

948

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 23%

Black 2%

White 72%

Asian 3%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

52%

—

Gr 3

21%

71%

Gr 4

33%

67%

Gr 5

69%

86%

Gr 6

29%

80%

Gr 7

35%

86%

Gr 8

50%

76%

Math

Gr EOC

71%

—

Gr 3

45%

75%

Gr 4

31%

91%

Gr 5

36%

72%

Gr 6

24%

81%

Gr 7

28%

82%

Gr 8

29%

44%

Science

Gr EOC

100%

—

Gr 5

46%

68%

Gr 8

25%

Social studies

Gr EOC

88%

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

PIERSON MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

SAG HARBOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

67%

Grade 3

75%

Grade 4

65%

Grade 5

67%

Grade 6

68%

Grade 7

39%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

57%

Grade 3

59%

Grade 4

83%

Grade 5

70%

Grade 6

73%

Grade 7

71%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

64%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$2.80M

Year-over-year change+5.1%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1.9M to $6.5M

vs. state typical5.49x

vs. national typical7.61x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
11963	Sag Harbor	$2.3M	+5.0%	88.5%
11962	Sagaponack	$6.5M	+6.4%	10.6%
11932	Bridgehampton	$4.6M	+5.5%	0.9%
11937	East Hampton	$1.9M	-2.9%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$45,184/mo

Year-over-year change+21.2%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$39,305 to $94,722/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
11963	Sag Harbor	$44,667	+21.2%	88.5%
11932	Bridgehampton	$94,722	—	0.9%
11937	East Hampton	$39,305	+9.1%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$14,143/mo

Home price / national median income33.5x

Annual rent / national median income647.6%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$31,040/mo

Market Activity: Suffolk County

Median listing price$949,000

Median listing price YoY+2.0%

Median price per sq ft$507

Median price per sq ft YoY+2.2%

Median days on market47.0 days

Median days on market YoY-12.2%

Active listings3,712

Active listings YoY-0.7%

New listings2,016

New listings YoY+3.7%

Pending listings2,047

Pending listings YoY-34.2%

Hotness: median listing price$987,500

Hotness: median listing price YoY+4.0%

Supply score59.3

Supply score YoY+50.5%

Demand score36.0

Demand score YoY+26.3%

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.