Sylvan Avenue Elementary School, Bayport NY

Original Research by School Decision on Sylvan Avenue Elementary School

Sylvan Avenue Elementary serves grades pre-kindergarten through fifth in the Bayport-Blue Point district on Long Island's South Shore. The school draws from a small, family-oriented suburban hamlet where housing is predominantly owner-occupied single-family homes and the community ties back to maritime roots. The enrollment is modest, with a student body that is largely white and reflects the broader character of the neighborhood, along with a smaller share of Hispanic students and even smaller populations of other backgrounds.

The school's recent test results across mathematics, English language arts, and science show solid proficiency across third, fourth, and fifth grades, with reading outcomes notably strong in grade four. Math and ELA proficiency sit in the mid-to-high range across the grade band tested. Science proficiency in fifth grade is lower, around the middle range, which parents may want to understand further in context of how the school approaches science instruction at that level. For most measured grades and subjects, proficiency rates outpace the midpoint among Suffolk County districts, positioning the school in the top quartile countywide on overall proficiency.

A light note on data interpretation: participation rates in testing vary notably by grade, with some grades showing participation around or under half of enrolled students. This can reflect absences, exemptions, or other factors on test days. Parents interested in understanding what drives those participation patterns or how the school manages testing logistics are worth asking about directly.

Economically, a modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a relatively affluent student population. The school's resource profile and staffing data were not available in the reviewed materials, so insight into class sizes, specialist availability, and facilities would benefit from a school visit or conversation with administration.

The broader district context carries one material recent shift. In May 2026, voters rejected the proposed school budget after it exceeded the state tax cap, prompting the board to revise and reschedule the vote. The initially proposed budget would have required state override approval, and when it failed, the district lowered its ask. This fiscal pressure is worth monitoring. A parent should ask whether pending budget constraints might affect programs, staffing, or services in the near term.

Bayport itself is a built-out, quiet residential hamlet without major new development underway. It remains car-dependent, with most daily commerce along Montauk Highway and limited transit except the LIRR station in nearby Sayville about two miles away. The housing market is strong and appreciating, with homes in the range typical of established suburban Long Island neighborhoods. The community centers on parks, waterfront access, and school life rather than a downtown core. For a family seeking a small, established elementary school in a stable residential setting with solid academic outcomes in reading and math, Sylvan Avenue fits that profile. The science results and budget dynamics are real considerations worth exploring further with the school and district.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 378%

School 78% · District 64% · ▲ 14 pts above district

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

Grade 479%

School 79% · District 68% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 577%

School 77% · District 73% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 377%

School 77% · District 65% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Grade 488%

School 88% · District 70% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 574%

School 74% · District 70% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Science

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 58% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Social studies

Grade 597%

School 97% · district not reported

▲ 6 pts above state median · even with county median

This schoolBAYPORT-BLUE POINT UNION FREE 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-income86%Higher-income74%12 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income71%Higher-income80%9 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income67%Higher-income85%18 pp gap