Harry E Elden Elementary School, Baldwinsville NY

Original Research by School Decision on Harry E Elden Elementary School

Harry E Elden Elementary School serves pre-K through fifth grade in Baldwinsville, a mixed-use village about a short distance northwest of Syracuse along the Seneca River. The school enrolls a school-sized cohort of students across roughly eight grade bands, with a student body that is predominantly white, though the school includes students of color including Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial populations. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The state's most recent testing data shows uneven performance. In math, fourth-grade students outpaced third and fifth graders: fourth-grade proficiency was notably higher, while third and fifth grades both showed proficiency below midpoint. In English language arts, fourth and fifth graders performed better than third graders, with fourth and fifth grades reaching just above midpoint. Science proficiency in fifth grade fell below midpoint. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index placed it below the midpoint among Onondaga County's districts. These numbers suggest academic support is a factor to evaluate further with the school, particularly in math and science as students progress through the upper elementary grades.

School participation in state testing was strong; only a small share of students in tested grades were absent from assessments. The data on special populations such as English learners and students with IEPs is not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about its support structures for these students.

Baldwinsville itself is experiencing growth tied to major development in the region, including the planned Micron semiconductor facility nearby, which is expected to draw workers and increase housing demand. The community is walkable around its historic downtown at the Seneca River, with shops, dining, parks, and a calendar of events. Housing stock is largely older, built in the first half of the twentieth century, though newer subdivisions are being added; the nearby Radisson planned community, about one mile away and also served by Baldwinsville Central School District, continues to grow with new construction and apartments. Home values are moderate for the region and have risen year-over-year.

The Baldwinsville Central School District approved a substantial capital improvement project in December 2024, the largest in district history. The project will reshape grade configurations: elementary buildings will eventually serve only pre-K through third grade, while a separate intermediate building (currently Ray Middle School) will serve fourth through sixth grade. This reconfiguration begins in the 2028 school year, phased over time. The project includes facility upgrades, safety enhancements, and infrastructure work across all eight school buildings in the district. The district is also studying a shift in school start and end times, tied to research on adolescent sleep, which would take effect in 2028 alongside the grade reconfiguration. A parent considering this school should be aware that the grade structure and daily schedules are in transition and would benefit from discussing the timeline and specifics directly with the school.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 346%

School 46% · District 59% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 468%

School 68% · District 61% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 56% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 60%

School 0% · District 57% · ▼ 57 pts below district

▼ 45 pts below state median · ▼ 41 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 53% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 456%

School 56% · District 62% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 557%

School 57% · District 64% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 60%

School 0% · District 57% · ▼ 57 pts below district

▼ 46 pts below state median · ▼ 38 pts below county median

Science

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 54% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 595%

School 95% · district not reported

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

This schoolBALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income35%Higher-income51%16 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income44%Higher-income62%18 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income37%Higher-income69%32 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income32%Higher-income55%23 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income48%Higher-income77%30 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income30%Higher-income59%30 pp gap