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Schools in Darien · Alexander Central School District, Pembroke Central School District

Darien’s public schools outscore 72% of New York districts

53% of students in Darien’s public schools are proficient in math, above the New York average (46%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Darien, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#178of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
53%
▲ 4 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 7 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 8–13 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.7K
▼ 26% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Pembroke Central
Students per teacher
9.0
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,360 students on the public path
In brief

Darien’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1071 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Darien’s, its schools beat 86%, higher than their 72% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 53% and math 53% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Alexander Central spends $26,311 per student and Pembroke Central $25,714, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Darien’s grade

B+ Test scoresA Graduation

B+: better than 72% of New York school districts, #178 of 755 New York towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New York average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 72%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1071)Better than 86%
Towns in Genesee County (13)Better than 77%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 797 test results and a graduating class of 77 could put Darien anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 90% of Darien’s students in the tested grades sat them (836 in math, 759 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Darien, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–62 schoolsDepends on your addressB−
7–122 schoolsDepends on your addressC to B−

Darien runs its own schools through grade 12 (Alexander Central School District). From grade K, students attend the Pembroke Central School District, shared with Batavia, Corfu and Pembroke. Its school is in Alexander. Parts of Darien (16% and 6% of its land) are served by Alden Central and Attica Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Darien

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Alexander Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 729 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 8.7 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$26,311NY $34,607 · FY2024
B+
Pembroke Central School DistrictGrades K–12 · 3 schools · 875 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 9.2 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$25,714NY $34,607 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Alexander Central School District47%
State average 48.9% · 346 students tested
Math · PK–12, Alexander Central School District43%
State average 46.5% · 379 students tested
Reading · K–12, Pembroke Central School District58%
State average 48.9% · 413 students tested
Math · K–12, Pembroke Central School District62%
State average 46.5% · 457 students tested

Darien vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New York towns that share Darien’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DarienB+Alexander Central PK–12 · Pembroke Central K–12
PembrokeA−Pembroke Central
AldenB+Alden Central
AlexanderB+Alexander Central
BenningtonBAttica Central

Every school in Darien

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New York’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Darienin other towns
Alexander Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Alexander
B−
326 students9:1Rate it →
Pembroke Primary School
Elementary · Grades K–2 · East Pembroke
194 students9:1Rate it →
Alexander Middle School-High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Alexander
C
403 students9:1Rate it →
Pembroke Junior-Senior High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Corfu
B−
437 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Darien’s schools

Are Darien’s schools good?

By New York’s own tests, yes: the public schools Darien children attend outscore 72% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #178 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 86%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Darien in?

Two districts: Alexander Central School District runs grades PK–12, and Pembroke Central School District runs grades K–12, shared with Batavia, Corfu and Pembroke.

What is Darien’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Alexander Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Darien spend per student?

$26,311 in Alexander Central School District and $25,714 in Pembroke Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Darien families are saying about school.

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School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New York. Stars are from neighbors.