The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in Math. The lowest is 65% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Southlawn School
Southlawn School is a small elementary school serving kindergarten through third grade in Rochester, part of the West Irondequoit Central School District. The school enrolls roughly equal numbers across its four grades, with a student body that is majority white and includes a substantial share of Hispanic and Black students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need in the school's catchment area.
In the most recent state testing data available, third-grade students in math reached proficiency at a rate that places Southlawn in the top quartile among schools tested in Monroe County, a notably strong result. Performance in English language arts at third grade was slightly lower but still solid. The math assessment showed meaningful numbers of students scoring at the highest performance levels. Participation in testing was high, with most eligible students assessed. Because Southlawn serves only the early elementary grades, there is no state data for higher grades, no graduation rate, and no longitudinal trend information available.
The school sits within West Irondequoit Central School District, which serves the towns of Irondequoit and East Rochester. The district is actively modernizing its facilities. Voters recently approved the Promise Project 2027, a capital improvement plan that will expand early-childhood classrooms and add new athletic facilities, with no tax impact to residents. The district also completed its first phase of improvements, the R.I.S.E. Project, which added new playgrounds at middle schools. For the 2025-26 school year, the district achieved a significant budget milestone: state foundation aid became its largest revenue source for the first time, reducing dependence on local property taxes. The district has authorized a capital reserve to fund future improvements without impacting the tax levy, signaling a shift in how long-term facility work will be financed.
The Rochester housing market where Southlawn is located has shown movement in recent months, with median listing prices rising and inventory activity increasing. Renting in the area runs modestly below the national affordability benchmark, while buying is below the New York state benchmark. Employment in the region centers on healthcare, higher education, and manufacturing, anchored by employers like the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Carestream Health. Rochester itself is in the midst of downtown revitalization after decades of population decline, with new adaptive-reuse housing and state-funded affordable housing projects changing the urban landscape. The city's character blends historic neighborhoods, an Olmsted-designed park system, and expanding walkable commercial districts, particularly in areas like the East End, which has seen population growth in recent years.
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