The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in Science. The lowest is 46% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Thiells Elementary School
Thiells Elementary School serves kindergarten through third grade in a small, family-oriented residential hamlet within Haverstraw, Rockland County. The school enrolls a student body of roughly mid-range size for an elementary building in this grade band, with a substantial majority of students from Hispanic backgrounds and a meaningful share of Black, white, and other students. About two-thirds of the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a working- and lower-income student population.
The school's most recent state assessment data, from spring 2025, shows modest proficiency results in both math and English language arts at third grade. Just over half of tested third graders met the proficiency standard in math, while fewer than half met it in English language arts. Both results rest below the midpoint among the eight other districts measured across Rockland County. The school's overall proficiency index, however, places it in the top quartile when compared against other district schools in the county, suggesting strength in areas beyond the most recent tested grades or in earlier assessments that pulled the aggregate measure up. Science data from the school is quite dated (2012), so a current picture of science instruction is not available. No information was found on the school's chronic absenteeism, special education population, English learner count, or discipline climate.
Thiells Elementary sits in a suburban hamlet organized around a corridor of commercial and civic services along a state route rather than a traditional downtown. The area is predominantly homeowner-occupied, with housing values well above the national average. Families tend to settle here for suburban residential life with access to parks and the outdoor recreation of nearby Harriman State Park. Commuting is car-dependent; public bus service is available but limited. Major employers in the region include the North Rockland school district itself, health care, and administrative services. The broader Haverstraw-Stony Point Central School District is managing significant long-term tax pressure from a historic tax certiorari settlement, though recent state aid increases and capital funding have eased the burden. The district's only high school underwent major renovations funded through the capital reserve in 2024-2025, including new athletic facilities and building system upgrades.
This is a Title I-eligible elementary school serving an economically diverse community with a high proportion of students of color. Families considering Thiells Elementary should know that current proficiency rates in early literacy and numeracy sit below district-wide patterns in the county, and may wish to inquire with the school directly about the specific reading and math supports, curriculum, and student progress monitoring in place to address these results and how the school is responding to the gap. Beyond test scores, conversations about classroom size, teaching staff experience, the school's connection to the community, and what the building offers for students in the younger grades would round out a full picture of fit.
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