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Briarcliff Schools Named Fifth Richest in America

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. – Many parents, residents and school officials say they are proud that the Briarcliff Manor School District is now the fifth richest in America according to a new study.

The financial opinion website 24/7 Wall St. released a list Wednesday of the 10 richest and 10 poorest school districts in America. The Delaware-based company “used the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey from 2006 to 2010 to measure the economic conditions of more than 10,000 unified school districts across the United States,” according to the article, which lists the 10 districts with the highest median income among residents and the 10 with the lowest median income.

With a median household income of $183,148, the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District ranks fifth. The income is “more than three times the 2010 national median of $51,914,” according to the site.

“From the large property taxes in the region as well as other forms of local funding, the district is able to generate enough revenue from residents to spend as much as $27,938 per student,” according to the article. “Briarcliff High School students significantly outperformed statewide averages on New York State Assessment tests. For all 10 sections of the tests, almost 100 percent of Briarcliff students recorded passing grades.”

The ranking and assessment is something the district should be proud of, said Laura Maglietta, co-vice president of the Briarcliff Manor Parent Teacher Association.

“Briarcliff residents are proud of their schools and a long history of student achievement,” Maglietta said in an e-mailed statement. “Student success is a direct result of the important investments we have made for a very long time. We all understand how fortunate we are to live in Briarcliff and are very proud of our school and community.”

Parent Markela Khosrowshahi, who has children at Todd Elementary School, said she was also proud of the ranking.

“We’re pretty happy where we are,” she said. “Anytime they ever have a kid who needs support, they have been very good at providing that.”

Khosrowshahi added that Briarcliff Manor can be an expensive place to live, but it's expensive for good reasons.

“It is expensive but every price has something going along with it so it’s worth it,” she said. “In general we’re pretty happy with the schools. They really work to make sure no one is left behind.”

After reading the article, Superintendent of Schools Neal Miller said he was also proud of the ranking.

“I think what’s really important is that we’ve spent nearly $28,000 per student because we want them to have the best and we try to give that to them,” Miller said. “The results show that it’s working. To me it means the expenses are worthwhile and we’re doing a great job with our students and they’re doing a great job.” 

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