The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Greenburgh-north Castle Union Free School District
Greenburgh-North Castle Union Free School District is a Special Act School District, which means it does not serve a geographic enrollment area. Instead, it is a placement district for students with significant learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, autism, multiple disabilities, and intellectual challenges referred by their home school districts across the region. The district operates four academies and serves students in both day and residential programs, with grade coverage spanning from fifth grade through twelfth grade, and in some programs, ages five through twenty-two.
This is not a district a family moves into to access general K-12 education. Rather, it is where students are placed when their home district determines they need specialized programming and intensive support that the district cannot provide. A parent would encounter Greenburgh-North Castle through the Committee on Special Education in their child's home district, which would evaluate whether placement here fits the child's needs.
The district comprises four schools: Greenburgh Academy, Reach Academy, Clark Academy, and Kaplan Career Academy. Kaplan, which offers career preparation and vocational pathways alongside academics, recently relocated to a larger facility, a move that publicly reported sources indicate will allow the school to expand enrollment and extend its age range to serve younger and older students than before. For families whose children require the residential and therapeutic components that Kaplan or the other academies offer, the expanded space and capacity represent meaningful stability for long-term placement.
State testing data for the district is not available in usable form. The district reported zero tested students in eighth-grade math and English language arts in the year tested, and earlier social-studies data is suppressed for privacy reasons given very small numbers. Enrollment data shows one student recorded in the district at the time of reporting, a figure that does not reflect the true operational picture; special act schools often serve multiple students at any given time, and the data may reflect a lag or reporting anomaly. For a district of this type and mission, traditional state assessment proficiency rates are not the primary measure of success. Progress in functional academics, life skills, behavioral and emotional regulation, transition planning toward employment or post-secondary placement, and successful community integration are the outcomes that matter.
Chronic absenteeism is reported at a rate well above the median among Westchester County's districts, which is typical of special-education placements where students may face attendance barriers related to their disabilities, medical needs, or the intensity of their programs. The district's publicized admissions information emphasizes individualized education plans and the range of supports available, including both day and residential options. Families considering a placement here would need to assess the specific program structure, staffing, therapeutic services, and post-secondary transition planning at each academy.
For parents navigating a referral to Greenburgh-North Castle, the key questions involve whether the particular academy's program design, location, and service array match the child's learning profile and family circumstances, especially if residential placement is being considered. The recent expansion of Kaplan suggests the district is investing in capacity, but prospective families should contact the district directly through its admissions office to understand current enrollment, program availability, and the referral process from their home district's Committee on Special Education.
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