Woodward Parkway Elementary School, Farmingdale NY

Original Research by School Decision on Woodward Parkway Elementary School

Woodward Parkway Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Farmingdale, a walkable, revitalizing village on Long Island's North Shore. The school enrolls a mixed-income, ethnically diverse student body; about a third of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment reflects a broad cross-section of white, Hispanic, Asian, Black, and multiracial students. The community around it is in transition, with strong momentum in downtown housing, new mixed-use developments near the LIRR station, and sustained investment in public spaces and civic life.

Academically, the school's state test results show uneven performance. In math, grade 4 stands out with proficiency rates above the school's average. Third grade math sits around the low-to-middle range for the school, while fifth grade math runs slightly lower. English language arts mirrors that pattern: fourth grade leads the school, while third and fifth grades trail. Science results in fifth grade, the only grade tested, show proficiency notably lower than ELA or math. When measured across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency index positions it below the midpoint among Nassau County districts. The performance gap between fourth grade and grades three and five deserves attention; a parent may want to ask the school whether fourth-grade instruction or curriculum differs, and what targeted support exists for students in the lower-performing grades.

Test participation rates show a concerning pattern. In grades 3 and 4, roughly nine in ten students participated in ELA and math testing. In grade 5, participation dropped notably: seven in ten students took math, ELA, and science. A parent should clarify with the school whether this reflects exemptions, absences, or other factors, as lower participation can limit how well test results represent student learning.

The school is a regular public elementary, not a charter or magnet. It sits on a suburban campus within the Farmingdale Union Free School District rather than in the revitalized downtown, though the LIRR station and Main Street are accessible by car or bus. Enrollment appears steady at roughly mid-sized for the elementary band. No data on special education enrollment, English learner support, discipline, or staff composition was available; these are areas a parent may want to investigate directly with the school.

The district has signaled fiscal stability. Voters approved a capital bond in January 2025 for roof replacements and electrical upgrades across all buildings, with work expected to begin in the 2025-26 school year. However, they rejected a separate proposal to fund career and technical education and arts facilities, so the elementary school should not expect major new program facilities in the immediate term. Annual budgets have passed consistently with modest growth in spending and tax levies.

Housing in Farmingdale is actively changing. Home values are moderate to upper-moderate for Nassau County, and the market shows supply increasing alongside transit-oriented new apartments and renovations near the station. Rents are rising. Mortgage terms and prices run above national norms but align with Long Island's broader market. For a family weighing whether to settle in Farmingdale, the combination of walkable downtown amenities, LIRR access, and sustained housing development offers appeal; the elementary school's mixed proficiency results and grade-5 participation gaps suggest the need for clear conversations with teachers and administrators about your child's specific needs before enrolling.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 61% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 471%

School 71% · District 69% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 558%

School 58% · District 62% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 50% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 468%

School 68% · District 60% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 557%

School 57% · District 68% · ▼ 11 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 55% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 598%

School 98% · district not reported

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

This schoolFARMINGDALE 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-income30%Higher-income54%24 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income44%Higher-income81%37 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income38%Higher-income67%30 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income35%Higher-income71%36 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income46%Higher-income85%40 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income45%Higher-income65%20 pp gap