Best Schools in Tompkins County, NY
Tompkins County, NY has 58 public schools (16 high, 11 middle, 28 elementary) serving 18,441 students. On average they score 57% on state proficiency tests against a projected 62%, so schools in Tompkins County underperform expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Tompkins County, NY
The top high schools in Tompkins County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Ithaca Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1341 Students
2. Southern Cayuga 7-12 Secondary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Southern Cayuga Central School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 295 Students
3. Lansing High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lansing Central School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 383 Students
4. Dryden High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dryden Central School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 362 Students
5. Charles O Dickerson High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Trumansburg Central School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 281 Students
6. Cortland High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cortland City School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 596 Students
7. New Roots Charter School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New Roots Charter School • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 106 Students
8. Homer Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Homer Central School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 579 Students
9. Spencer-van Etten High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Spencer-van Etten Central School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 241 Students
10. Groton Junior/senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Groton Central School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 402 Students
Best Middle Schools in Tompkins County, NY
The top middle schools in Tompkins County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Boynton Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 526 Students
2. Dewitt Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 478 Students
3. Russell I Doig Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Trumansburg Central School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 302 Students
4. Spencer-van Etten Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Spencer-van Etten Central School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 235 Students
5. Lansing Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lansing Central School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 366 Students
6. Homer Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Homer Central School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 410 Students
7. Dryden Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dryden Central School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 275 Students
8. Cortland Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cortland City School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 299 Students
9. Newfield Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newfield Central School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 157 Students
10. Newark Valley Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newark Valley Central School District • Public • Grades 4 - 7 • 290 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Tompkins County, NY
The top elementary schools in Tompkins County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Northeast School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 385 Students
2. Raymond C Buckley Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lansing Central School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 405 Students
3. South Hill School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 380 Students
4. Cayuga Heights Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 303 Students
5. Caroline Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 293 Students
6. Southern Cayuga Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Southern Cayuga Central School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 361 Students
7. Freeville Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dryden Central School District • Public • Grades KG - 3 • 78 Students
8. Trumansburg Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Trumansburg Central School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 389 Students
9. Groton Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Groton Central School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 380 Students
10. Fall Creek Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ithaca City School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 232 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Tompkins County, NY
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Tompkins County, NY has a total population of 105,740 with 39% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 96%, and 62% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Tompkins County, NY
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Tompkins County, NY.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
23.92 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.53 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
20.40 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Tompkins County, NY.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Tompkins County, NY.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Tompkins County, NY Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Tompkins County, NY
How many schools are in Tompkins County, NY?
Tompkins County, NY has 58 public schools: 16 high schools, 11 middle schools and 28 elementary schools, serving 18,441 students in total.
How do schools in Tompkins County perform on state tests?
On average, 58 schools in Tompkins County score 57% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 62%, so on average schools in Tompkins County underperform expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Tompkins County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Tompkins County, NY
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 63%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 66%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 62%
- Projected: 67%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 58%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 61%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 55%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 62%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 59%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 61%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Tompkins County
8 places in Tompkins County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (8)
- Ithaca (13)
- Dryden (3)
- Lansing (3)
- Newfield (3)
- Trumansburg (3)
- Freeville (2)
- Groton (2)
- Slaterville Springs (1)
School districts (5)
- Ithaca City School District (12 schools)
- Dryden Central School District (5 schools)
- Lansing Central School District (3 schools)
- Newfield Central School District (3 schools)
- Trumansburg Central School District (3 schools)