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US 62 at NY 353 SouthPhoto: Doug Kerr from now in Binghamton, NY · CC BY-SA 2.0
C
Schools in Dayton · Pine Valley Central School District, Gowanda Central School District

Dayton’s public schools score below 69% of New York districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 37% of Dayton’s students scored proficient, below the New York average (46%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Dayton, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 85% 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
39%
▼ 10 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▼ 10 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$30.4K
▼ 12% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Gowanda Central
Students per teacher
8.6
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,273 students on the public path
In brief

Dayton’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 39% of tested students were proficient in reading and 37% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 85% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across New York (the state reports Dayton’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Pine Valley Central spends $29,915 per student and Gowanda Central $30,368, 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 Dayton’s grade

C Test scoresC Graduation

C: better than 31% of New York school districts. Both inputs trail the New York average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 31%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1083)Better than 33%
Towns in Cattaraugus County (32)Better than 9%
C−B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 704 test results and a graduating class of 81 could put Dayton anywhere from C− to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 85% of Dayton’s students in the tested grades sat them (682 in math, 726 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

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

Dayton runs its own schools through grade 12 (Pine Valley Central School District). From grade PK, students attend the Gowanda Central School District, shared with Collins, Gowanda, Perrysburg and Persia. Its school is in Gowanda. Parts of Dayton (18% of its land) are served by Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Dayton

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

Pine Valley Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 518 students, up 11% since 2020–21 · 8.8 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$29,915NY $34,607 · FY2024
C−
Gowanda Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,053 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 8.5 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$30,368NY $34,607 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Pine Valley Central School District37%
State average 48.9% · 240 students tested
Math · PK–12, Pine Valley Central School District31%
State average 46.5% · 231 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Gowanda Central School District40%
State average 48.9% · 486 students tested
Math · PK–12, Gowanda Central School District40%
State average 46.5% · 451 students tested

Dayton vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DaytonCPine Valley Central PK–12 · Gowanda Central PK–12
PerrysburgC+Gowanda Central
PersiaC+Gowanda Central PK–12 · Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central PK–12
LeonC−Pine Valley Central
VillenovaCPine Valley Central PK–12 · Forestville Central PK–12

2 of the 4 neighbors share Gowanda Central with Dayton for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Dayton

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 Daytonin other towns
Gowanda Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Gowanda
C−
421 students8:1Rate it →
Pine Valley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · South Dayton
C−
319 students11:1Rate it →
Gowanda Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Gowanda
C−
334 students10:1Rate it →
Pine Valley Central Junior-Senior High School
High · Grades 7–12 · South Dayton
C+
199 students7:1Rate it →

Questions about Dayton’s schools

Are Dayton’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Dayton children attend score below 69% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 33%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dayton in?

Two districts: Pine Valley Central School District runs grades PK–12, and Gowanda Central School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Collins, Gowanda, Perrysburg and Persia.

What is Dayton’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Gowanda Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Dayton spend per student?

$29,915 in Pine Valley Central School District and $30,368 in Gowanda Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Dayton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dayton → They have their own page.

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.