The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Science. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Roanoke Avenue School
Roanoke Avenue School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Riverhead, a town that blends a revitalized downtown, agriculture, and wine country on the East End of Long Island. The school enrolls a diverse student body, with a substantial majority of students identifying as Hispanic, alongside meaningful shares of white and Black students. Just over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the school's role in a working-class community.
The school's recent test results present a clear picture. In math proficiency, students scored in the low-to-mid range across both third and fourth grade. In English language arts, results were similar, with roughly a quarter of students meeting proficiency in both grades. A science result from a few years back showed fourth graders performing substantially better on that assessment. Across the district as a whole, Roanoke Avenue's proficiency sits well below the median for schools in Suffolk County, positioning it among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the county by this measure. For a parent evaluating this school, these numbers matter: they suggest that the pathway through early grades here leans toward foundational challenge rather than acceleration, and they warrant a direct conversation with teachers and administrators about how the school addresses reading and math growth, particularly given the recent staffing reductions the district undertook.
The broader Riverhead Central School District context shapes what families should know. In 2024-25, the district eliminated a substantial number of teaching positions, with the deepest cuts falling on elementary schools, including academic intervention specialists, guidance counselors, and teaching assistants. This was driven by the expiration of temporary federal COVID relief funding and represents a lasting reduction in instructional support—precisely the kind of resource that tends to matter most in elementary grades. The district also nearly dismantled its dual language program before partially restoring it after parent pressure, creating uncertainty around this offering for families who rely on bilingual instruction.
The district has faced two recent failed bond votes (one for major repairs and renovations) and voter resistance to rising property taxes. Meanwhile, the Riverhead area itself is in active revitalization: downtown improvements, a major town square project, and healthcare expansion are underway, and housing is part of that growth arc. The median home value in the Riverhead zip code sits solidly above the state benchmark, and rental rates reflect a moderately tight housing market. For a family considering moving to Riverhead for schools, the economic picture is one of steady but restrained community investment in schools alongside rising housing costs and property taxes.
Roanoke Avenue serves a student population that reflects Riverhead's working, immigrant-rooted community. The school's academic trajectory, as shown in state testing, indicates students are not meeting state proficiency at high rates in foundational subjects. This is not uncommon in schools serving high proportions of students from lower-income households, and it does not by itself predict outcomes—effective schools in similar settings exist across the state. However, it does signal that families choosing this school should look closely at what targeted support exists, how the recent staffing reductions have landed on classroom instruction, and what the school's reading and math interventions look like. The science result suggests the school may have particular strength in that area, worth exploring with staff. A parent would benefit from visiting, observing classrooms, and asking directly how the school plans to move proficiency upward given the resource constraints the district faces.
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