Burr Intermediate School, Commack NY

Original Research by School Decision on Burr Intermediate School

Burr Intermediate School serves grades three through five in Commack, a large, established residential suburb in central Suffolk County on Long Island. The school is part of the Commack Union Free School District, which has maintained fiscal stability through controlled tax levy growth while preserving core programs and class sizes.

The enrollment is steady at around mid-range for its grade span, with a student body that is predominantly white, reflecting the broader Commack neighborhood demographics. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available.

In state testing, the school shows a mixed academic picture. Math proficiency is relatively consistent across grades three through five, sitting at roughly mid-to-high range in reading for proficiency. English language arts results are notably more variable: third grade performs solidly, fourth grade dips noticeably below the other grades and subjects, and fifth grade rebounds. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the only grade tested, is solid. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Suffolk County, indicating performance above the median for the region. A parent may want to discuss with the school what fourth-grade English language arts instruction looks like and whether additional support is available, given that dip.

Participation rates on state assessments are concerning and declining. In third grade, roughly two-thirds of enrolled students participated in math and English language arts testing. By fourth grade, participation drops to about two-thirds in math and similar in English language arts. By fifth grade, participation falls to roughly half in both math and English language arts, and about half in science. This pattern suggests that a substantial share of students are not sitting for state assessments, which could indicate opt-outs, scheduling practices, or other factors a parent may want to look into further with the school.

The housing market in Commack trends toward mid-to-upper-range suburban values. Homes are typically established single-family houses on tree-lined streets, and the community has been built out for decades rather than experiencing rapid new development. Recent construction has focused on rental communities for older adults rather than new single-family subdivisions. This is a car-oriented suburb without walkable neighborhoods or a town center; daily errands and school commutes require a vehicle. The area has no Long Island Rail Road station.

The school sits in a neighborhood where the Commack Public Library serves as a civic anchor, and parks and recreational trails dot the hamlet. Commercial activity concentrates along major corridors like Jericho Turnpike and Veterans Memorial Highway rather than clustering in a single downtown. Employment in the area centers on healthcare, education, retail, and service businesses rather than a single major employer, though the Gurwin Healthcare System and the school district itself are among the largest local employers.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 379%

School 79% · District 70% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 477%

School 77% · District 72% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 577%

School 77% · District 76% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 368%

School 68% · District 57% · ▲ 11 pts above district

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

Grade 456%

School 56% · District 58% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 572%

School 72% · District 63% · ▲ 9 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 574%

School 74% · District 69% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 599%

School 99% · district not reported

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

This schoolCOMMACK 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-income46%Higher-income72%26 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income56%Higher-income56%0 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income56%Higher-income74%18 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income57%Higher-income83%27 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income77%Higher-income77%0 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income75%Higher-income77%2 pp gap