Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

C⁻

Schools in Riverhead · Riverhead Central School District

Riverhead’s public schools score below 85% of New York districts on tests and graduation

On the state reading tests, 31% of Riverhead’s students scored proficient, below the New York average (49%). The grade covers the public school district serving Riverhead, 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.

#685of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 80% 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

31%

▼ 16 pts vs NY 46%

2021–22

Graduate on time

79%

▼ 8 pts vs NY 87%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$30.7K

▼ 11% vs NY $34.6K

FY2024

Students per teacher

13.0

NY 11.2 · larger classes

Schools in town

4,890 students on the public path

In brief

Riverhead’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 964 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Riverhead’s, its schools beat 5%, lower than their 15% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 31% of tested students were proficient in reading and 31% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 80% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across New York. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $30,669 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Riverhead Middle School, then Riverhead Senior High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Riverhead Charter School and St. John Paul II Regional School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Riverhead’s grade

D Test scoresD Graduation

C−: better than 15% of New York school districts, #685 of 755 New York towns. 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 15%

Lower resultsHigher results

New York towns with similar household incomes (964)Better than 5%

DC⁻A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,116 test results and a graduating class of 512 could put Riverhead anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 80% of Riverhead’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,249 in math, 1,982 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Riverhead · depends on your address

Riley Avenue School

Grades PK–4 · 520 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Calverton

Aquebogue Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 458 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Aquebogue

C⁺

Roanoke Avenue School

Grades PK–4 · 395 students · 11:1 students per teacher

The path, start to finish

PK–43 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C⁺

6–8Riverhead Middle SchoolRiverhead Central School DistrictD

9–12Riverhead Senior High SchoolRiverhead Central School DistrictA⁻

Riverhead’s public schools are run by Riverhead Central School District. Parts of Riverhead (8% of its land) are served by Shoreham-Wading River Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Riverhead Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 5,547 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 13.0 per teacher (NY 11.2)

$30,669NY $34,607 · FY2024

C⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading31%

State average 48.9% · 1982 students tested

Math31%

State average 46.5% · 2249 students tested

Riverhead vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Riverhead	C⁻	Riverhead Central
Brookhaven	B	Longwood Central
Southampton	B	Southampton Union Free
Southold	B⁺	Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free K–12 · Southold Union Free K–12

Every school in Riverhead

10 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).

District schools in Riverheadby address

Riley Avenue School

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Calverton

520 students12:1Rate it →

Aquebogue Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Aquebogue

C⁺

458 students11:1Rate it →

Roanoke Avenue School

Elementary · Grades PK–4

395 students11:1Rate it →

Pulaski Street Elementary School

Middle · Grades 5–6

797 students13:1Rate it →

Riverhead Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8

793 students12:1Rate it →

Riverhead Senior High School

High · Grades 9–12

A⁻

1,927 students14:1Rate it →

Charter schoolsfree, open by application

Riverhead Charter School

Grades K–12 · Calverton

Charter

972 students14:1Rate it →

Other public schools in Riverheadrun by other districts or the state

Little Flower School

Grades 3–12 · Wading River

Special Education

93 students6:1Rate it →

Wading River School

Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Wading River

A⁻

438 students11:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

St. John Paul II Regional School

Elementary · Grades PK–8

Private · Catholic

189 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Riverhead’s schools

Are Riverhead’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Riverhead children attend score below 85% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #685 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 5%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Riverhead in?

Riverhead Central School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,547 students in 8 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Riverhead are served by Shoreham-Wading River Central.

Where do Riverhead kids go to high school?

Riverhead Senior High School, with 1,927 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Riverhead’s graduation rate?

79% of the class of 2023 in Riverhead Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Riverhead spend per student?

$30,669 in Riverhead Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Riverhead?

Yes: St. John Paul II Regional School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 189 students). Riverhead also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Riverhead families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Riverhead → 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.