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C−
Schools in Orwell · Sandy Creek Central School District, Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District

Orwell’s public schools score below 81% of New York districts on tests and graduation

In Orwell, 31% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the New York average (49%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Orwell, 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 84% 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
31%
▼ 18 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
30%
▼ 16 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$33.5K
▼ 3% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central
Students per teacher
10.9
NY 11.2
Schools in town
0
1,544 students on the public path
In brief

Orwell’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 31% of tested students were proficient in reading and 30% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 84% 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 Orwell’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Sandy Creek Central spends $29,571 per student and Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central $33,522, 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 Orwell’s grade

D Test scoresC Graduation

C−: better than 19% 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 19%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1102)Better than 16%
Towns in Oswego County (22)Better than 18%
DCA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 794 test results and a graduating class of 98 could put Orwell anywhere from D to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 84% of Orwell’s students in the tested grades sat them (820 in math, 768 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

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

Orwell runs its own schools through grade 12 (Sandy Creek Central School District). From grade PK, students attend the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District, shared with Albion, Amboy, Parish, Parish and Williamstown. Its school is in Parish. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Orwell

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

Sandy Creek Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 784 students, up 10% since 2020–21 · 12.2 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$29,571NY $34,607 · FY2024
C−
Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 990 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 10.0 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$33,522NY $34,607 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Sandy Creek Central School District38%
State average 48.9% · 374 students tested
Math · PK–12, Sandy Creek Central School District31%
State average 46.5% · 370 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District24%
State average 48.9% · 394 students tested
Math · PK–12, Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District30%
State average 46.5% · 450 students tested

Orwell vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OrwellC−Sandy Creek Central PK–12 · Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central PK–12
Redfield—Sandy Creek Central
Boylston—Sandy Creek Central
AlbionC−Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central
WilliamstownC−Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central
RichlandCPulaski Central
Sandy CreekC−Sandy Creek Central

3 of the 6 neighbors share Sandy Creek Central with Orwell for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Orwell

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 Orwellin other towns
Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Parish
D
580 students12:1Rate it →
Sandy Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Sandy Creek
C+
379 students16:1Rate it →
Sandy Creek Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Sandy Creek
D
175 students9:1Rate it →
Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Jr./Sr. High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Parish
C−
410 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Orwell’s schools

Are Orwell’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Orwell children attend score below 81% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 16%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Orwell in?

Two districts: Sandy Creek Central School District runs grades PK–12, and Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Albion, Amboy, Parish, Parish and Williamstown.

What is Orwell’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Orwell spend per student?

$29,571 in Sandy Creek Central School District and $33,522 in Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Orwell 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.