Best Schools in Elmira, New York
14 schools · 9 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Elmira?
Use this page to compare every school in Elmira by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Parley Coburn School
Elementary · Elmira City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Elmira High School
High · Elmira City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Broadway Elementary School
Elementary · Elmira City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Elmira for 2026 are Parley Coburn School (5.7/10), Elmira High School (5.4/10), and Broadway Elementary School (4.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
4.6
out of 10
Median Home
$117,750
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
4.6
out of 10
Median Home
$117,750
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 5.7/10 despite 82% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Elmira schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Elmira schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Elmira
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 14 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parley Coburn School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Elmira High School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Broadway Elementary School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Hendy Avenue School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Thomas K Beecher School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Ernie Davis Academy | 4.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Finn Academy: an Elmira Charter School | 4.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Broadway Academy | 4.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Fassett Elementary School | 2.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Diven School | 2.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 4.6/10
- Median household income
- $61,779
- Median home value
- $117,750
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 26%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 63%
8% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Elmira compares
New York rank
#469 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.8
below New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$62k
66% of New York median
Schools in this city
13
Elmira City School District runs 83% of Elmira's public schools
Elmira touches 3 districts, but Elmira City School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Elmira City School District accounts for 10 of 12 public schools (83%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 1.8 to 5.7 — the spread is inside Elmira, not a citywide average.
- Elmira City School District10 public · 83%
- Finn Academy: An Elmira Charter School1 public · 8%
- New York State Office Mental Health (omh)1 public · 8%
About Schools in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York is home to 14 schools, including 12 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 9 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 4.6 out of 10, schools in Elmira show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Elmira is Chemung Valley Montessori School with a composite score of 7.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Elmira is served by 3 school districts: NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH), FINN ACADEMY: AN ELMIRA CHARTER SCHOOL, ELMIRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. These districts collectively serve 5,971 students.
Elmira's community shows 26% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $61,779. The poverty rate in the area is 20.7%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 410 students · 3rd–6th | 5.7 | ||
| 2 | 363 students · 3rd–6th | 4.9 | ||
| 3 | 381 students · 3rd–6th | 4.9 | ||
| 4 | 344 students · 3rd–6th | 4.7 | ||
| 5 | 394 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.4 | ||
| 6 | 305 students · Pre-K–2nd | 2.8 | ||
| 7 | 329 students · Pre-K–2nd | 2.2 | ||
| 8 | 377 students · Pre-K–2nd | 1.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 111 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 797 students · 7th–8th | 4.6 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,255 students · 10th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | 8 students · 6th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Notre Dame High SchoolPrivate 211 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 413 students · 9th–9th | 4.1 |
Schools in Elmira
Elmira, New York · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$61,779
Median Home Value
$117,750
Median Rent
$974/mo
Population
44,822
College Educated
26%
Homeownership
63%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
20.7%
Community Profile
Elmira has a median household income of $61,779. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $117,750, with a median rent of $974/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
- Other
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Elmira, New York
How many schools are in Elmira, New York?
Elmira has 14 schools, including 12 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Elmira, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Elmira is 4.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Elmira, New York?
The top-ranked school in Elmira on MySchoolScout is Parley Coburn School with a composite score of 5.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Elmira, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Elmira on MySchoolScout is Parley Coburn School with a composite score of 5.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Elmira, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Elmira on MySchoolScout is Ernie Davis Academy with a composite score of 4.6/10.
What is the best high school in Elmira, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Elmira on MySchoolScout is Elmira High School with a composite score of 5.4/10.
How many school districts serve Elmira, New York?
Elmira is served by 3 school districts: New York State Office Mental Health (omh), Finn Academy: an Elmira Charter School, Elmira City School District.
What is the education level in Elmira, New York?
According to Census data, 26% of adults in Elmira have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Elmira, New York?
The median household income in Elmira is approximately $61,779 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Elmira, New York?
Yes, Elmira has 2 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Chemung Valley Montessori School with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Elmira, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Elmira is 13.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Elmira, New York?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New York State Education Dept., and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.