The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in Social studies. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Theodore R Durgee Junior High School
Theodore R Durgee Junior High School serves grades eight and nine in Baldwinsville, a mixed-use riverfront village about twelve miles northwest of Syracuse in Onondaga County. The school enrolls roughly mid-sized cohorts across both grade levels and is part of the Baldwinsville Central School District.
**Academic Performance**
State testing results show uneven outcomes across subjects. In English language arts, proficiency is solidly above half of all eighth graders tested. Mathematics proficiency is considerably lower, with fewer than a quarter of tested students meeting the state standard. Science proficiency sits in the middle range. English language arts participation is strong and broadly representative, while participation in mathematics and science testing is much lower, which is notable and may reflect the school's approach to testing or curriculum placement. A parent may want to look into whether all eighth and ninth graders are expected to take state assessments in math and science, and if not, why. Social studies data is from an older year and no longer tracks current performance in that subject.
Compared to other districts in Onondaga County, Durgee's overall proficiency index—the mean across tested subjects and grades—sits below the midpoint among county schools. This positions the school at a lower tier academically relative to its neighbors, a factor families weighing enrollment should weigh carefully.
**Student Population and Support**
About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a moderate level of economic need. The student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic, multiracial, Asian, and Black students each representing smaller shares. Specific counts of students with individualized education plans and English learners were not available in the data provided.
**Community and Growth Context**
Baldwinsville sits on a growth trajectory. The Micron semiconductor facility under development in nearby Clay is expected to draw thousands of workers and drive housing demand across the region. New subdivisions including Highland Meadows and Sun Meadows, plus the larger Radisson planned community one mile east, are adding housing stock. Home values in the area have shown recent volatility but remain in a moderate range for the region. Rental costs align with local income. The town centers on a historic downtown along the Seneca River and maintains a small-town feel despite suburban character.
**District Changes Ahead**
The district is undergoing substantial change. Voters approved a large capital improvement project in December 2024 that will reshape the physical buildings across all eight schools and reconfigure grade levels. Under the new plan, seventh grade will move to Durgee's main campus starting in 2028, alongside the existing eighth and ninth grades. The district is also studying a shift in school start and end times to align with research on adolescent sleep. These transitions are phased in over several years but will alter the student composition, daily schedule, and building use that families will experience. Families considering the district should understand these upcoming changes.
**Fit and Considerations**
This is a junior high serving a suburban community with moderate economic diversity and strong growth nearby. The academic profile—particularly the gap between language arts and mathematics performance—warrants direct conversation with the school about curriculum, support services, and testing practices. For families moving into Baldwinsville or the broader Baldwinsville district zone, the pending grade reconfiguration and capital project should factor into the long-term planning of where their child will attend school and what the building environment will be like in coming years.
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