South Grove Elementary School, Syosset NY

Original Research by School Decision on South Grove Elementary School

South Grove Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Syosset, a long-established residential suburb on Nassau County's North Shore. The school sits in an affluent community where median home values are high, households are well-to-do, and resident surveys consistently cite school quality as a defining asset. The student body is notably diverse, with a majority Asian American enrollment alongside students from white, Hispanic, and multiracial backgrounds. About a modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the neighborhood's economic profile.

The school's recent state test results show math as the clearer strength. Fourth-grade math proficiency sits in the very high range, and fifth-grade math is strong as well. Third-grade math is solid. English language arts results are mixed by grade. Fourth-grade ELA is very high, but third and fifth-grade ELA proficiency rates are notably lower, suggesting either a dip in reading performance at those grade levels or a change in what the assessments measure between grades. Fifth-grade science proficiency is in a reasonable range. Overall, South Grove's proficiency index places it in the top tier when compared to other elementary schools within Nassau County districts.

Enrollment sits at around the mid-sized range for this grade band, with all grade levels represented and relatively balanced class sizes. Kindergarten is somewhat smaller, while grades two through five carry fuller rosters. State testing data on special education and English learner populations were not available in the records provided, so a parent may want to look into those details directly with the school if they are relevant to their child.

The school is part of the Syosset Central School District, which serves a cluster of communities. In October 2024 district voters approved a major facilities bond that will fund roofing, science classroom and library renovations, locker room and pool upgrades, HVAC work, and classroom additions at multiple elementary schools including South Grove. Debt service from those bonds will spread across a long-term period and affects the district tax bill families carry forward. Additionally, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year the district enacted New York's statewide distraction-free schools law, banning personal internet-enabled devices (smartphones, smartwatches, tablets) throughout the entire school day, including lunch, recess, and study periods, while district-issued Chromebooks remain in use.

Syosset itself is a car-dependent residential area roughly a half hour to an hour from Manhattan by regional rail. The community is tree-lined and family-oriented, with parks, a well-resourced public library, and an LIRR station that serves commuters. The neighborhood has a small walkable downtown core around Jackson Avenue near the station, but daily life outside that core requires a vehicle. Housing market data shows median listing prices in the area have been appreciating modestly, with active inventory and supply available, though pending sales have declined year-over-year, signaling a shift in buyer demand.

South Grove appears positioned as a solidly performing elementary school in an affluent, stable residential setting where school investment and family engagement are high. Families choosing this school are likely prioritizing proximity to home, the neighborhood character, and the district's reputation. The school's test results support that reputation in math, though ELA performance invites closer examination at the third and fifth-grade levels.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 381%

School 81% · District 85% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 496%

School 96% · District 90% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 591%

School 91% · District 93% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 373%

School 73% · District 74% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 494%

School 94% · District 83% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 41 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 577%

School 77% · District 80% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Science

Grade 577%

School 77% · District 76% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 5100%

School 100% · district not reported

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

This schoolSYOSSET CENTRAL 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-income50%Higher-income80%30 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income100%Higher-income93%7 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income62%Higher-income83%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income55%Higher-income88%33 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income88%Higher-income97%9 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income91%Higher-income92%1 pp gap