Suffern Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Suffern Central School District

Suffern Central School District spans parts of Rockland County with schools serving the villages of Suffern, Montebello, Sloatsburg, and surrounding towns. The district operates four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.

The district has undergone a significant structural reorganization. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Viola Elementary closed for instruction, and the remaining four elementary schools shifted to a grade-banding model. Sloatsburg and Richard P. Connor now serve pre-K through second grade, while Montebello Road and Cherry Lane serve grades three through five as paired sister schools. This change responded to a declining elementary enrollment as families increasingly chose private and religious schools in the area. The reorganization directly affects where children attend school, when they transition between buildings, bus routes, and how families with multiple children navigate sibling placement.

On academics, state testing results show mixed performance across the tested grades. In elementary grades (three through five), proficiency rates in math and English language arts hover around the mid-range, with roughly half of students meeting the state standard. Science proficiency in fifth grade falls somewhat lower. Performance weakens notably in middle grades. Eighth-grade math proficiency drops significantly, and eighth-grade science proficiency is similarly low. Participation rates also decline in these grades, suggesting that some students may not have taken the full suite of assessments. The district's overall proficiency index falls below the midpoint among Rockland County districts, positioning Suffern below the median performance of its neighboring districts.

Chronic absenteeism stands at an elevated level; the district ranks in the bottom quartile among county districts on this metric. This may reflect broader attendance challenges or enrollment shifts affecting engagement patterns, though the district provides no disclosed reason for this standing.

The student population is diverse. About half of students are Hispanic, roughly one-third are White, and the remainder includes Black students, Asian students, and other groups. No data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility or English learner enrollment was available, limiting insight into economic and linguistic composition.

The district's per-pupil spending is in the upper range among Rockland County districts, reflecting higher resource allocation than most peers in the county. Voters have consistently approved the district's annual budgets, including the most recent proposals. The district reports maintaining its tax levy at or below the state cap, which appeals to families weighing predictable property-tax trends in a housing market where home values are moderate to moderately high and rental costs remain substantial relative to household income.

Curricularlly, Suffern Central has adopted elementary literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading district-wide and offers a 50/50 two-way dual language program in English and Spanish starting in kindergarten. The district's 2025-26 budget extends this bilingual program to additional grade levels, signaling a sustained commitment to bilingual education as a program option families can weigh when choosing the district.

High school data, including graduation rates and course offerings, was not available in the provided information. A parent or resident evaluating Suffern Central would benefit from gathering more detail on high school pathways, AP course breadth, and outcomes, as well as seeking clarification from the district on the causes and plans around the middle-grades academic performance dip and elevated absenteeism.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

3,974

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 43%

Black 10%

White 35%

Asian 7%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

69%

—

Gr 3

32%

68%

Gr 4

31%

72%

Gr 5

39%

69%

Gr 6

26%

52%

Gr 7

34%

56%

Gr 8

38%

56%

Math

Gr EOC

58%

—

Gr 3

32%

67%

Gr 4

34%

69%

Gr 5

33%

70%

Gr 6

44%

75%

Gr 7

40%

59%

Gr 8

16%

18%

Science

Gr EOC

57%

—

Gr 5

28%

60%

Gr 8

26%

22%

Social studies

Gr EOC

82%

—

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

CHERRY LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

RICHARD P CONNOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MONTEBELLO ROAD SCHOOL

SLOATSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SUFFERN MIDDLE SCHOOL

SUFFERN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

VIOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

45%

Grade 3

49%

Grade 4

50%

Grade 5

60%

Grade 6

50%

Grade 7

17%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

46%

Grade 3

49%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

39%

Grade 6

46%

Grade 7

48%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

42%

Grade 5

25%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$690,070

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$360K to $1.3M

vs. state typical1.35x

vs. national typical1.87x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
10901	Montebello	$783K	+1.9%	51.1%
10974	Sloatsburg	$545K	+1.9%	18.2%
10980	Stony Point	$645K	+2.9%	14.2%
10926	Harriman	$360K	+0.5%	6.1%
10931	Hillburn	$497K	+3.2%	6.1%
10952	Monsey	$1.1M	+0.2%	4.0%
10970	Pomona	$725K	+4.1%	0.3%
10987	Tuxedo Park	$1.3M	+9.9%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,325/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
10901	Montebello	$3,325	—	51.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,482/mo

Home price / national median income8.2x

Annual rent / national median income47.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$158/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.