The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Math. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on East Moriches Elementary School
East Moriches Elementary School is a public school serving prekindergarten through grade five in a small, water-oriented hamlet on the south shore of Long Island. The school sits directly on Montauk Highway, the main road through the community, alongside a modest downtown area with local shops and waterfront dining.
The school's student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and a very small number of Asian, Black, and other students. About a quarter of the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The overall enrollment is modest and typical for a rural elementary school serving this grade range.
In math proficiency, the school's third-graders performed at a solid level, and fourth-graders performed notably stronger, with results well above the median for Suffolk County elementary schools when considering the school's overall proficiency average across tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, third-grade results were lower than in math, and fourth-grade results sat between the two grade levels' math performance. Science testing data was not available in the most recent reported year. State assessment results show variability across subjects and grades, which is common in small schools where individual cohorts can fluctuate year to year.
The school belongs to the East Moriches Union Free School District, which serves only kindergarten through grade eight. The district has no high school of its own; students transition to regional high schools in Center Moriches, Eastport-South Manor, or Westhampton Beach after grade eight, with the district paying tuition included in the local tax levy. This structure gives families some choice but ties high school attendance and its costs directly to the property tax bill.
The community has been stable and modestly growing, with newer single-family construction and waterfront development adding to the housing stock. The median home price in the area is high and has been appreciating, placing the school within an affluent residential market. The hamlet itself is car-dependent and quiet, organized around Montauk Highway with limited walkability to downtown amenities. Residents have access to bay-adjacent parks, marinas, and fishing; the former local railroad station closed years ago, so commuting to jobs elsewhere typically requires driving. Employment in the hamlet is concentrated among small contractors, professional services, marinas, and local food businesses rather than any single large employer.
The district recently completed facility upgrades voters approved in 2022, including a new security vestibule at the elementary school, air conditioning improvements across both buildings, and a renovated cafeteria. The school operates with a modest and stable tax-levy increase approved by voters, staying within the state cap. A parent evaluating this school should view it as a small, community-embedded elementary building serving a predominantly white, higher-income residential area with solid math performance and variable English language arts results. The transition to middle and high school outside the district is part of the family's longer-term planning.
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