Best Schools in Ithaca, New York
18 schools · 11 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Ithaca?
Use this page to compare every school in Ithaca 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.
South Hill School
Elementary · Ithaca City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ithaca Senior High School
High · Ithaca City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Enfield School
Elementary · Ithaca City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Ithaca for 2026 are South Hill School (8.7/10), Ithaca Senior High School (7.4/10), and Enfield School (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
18
13 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.8
out of 10
Median Home
$334,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
18
13 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.8
out of 10
Median Home
$334,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 26% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Ithaca schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +26.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Ithaca schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Ithaca
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 18 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Hill School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Ithaca Senior High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Enfield School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Fall Creek Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Boynton Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Cayuga Heights Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Beverly J Martin Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | New Roots Charter School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Lehman Alternative Community School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Dewitt Middle School | 6.3 / 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
- 6.8/10
- Median household income
- $69,689
- Median home value
- $334,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 72%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 44%
50% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Ithaca compares
New York rank
#198 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$70k
75% of New York median
Schools in this city
16
Ithaca City School District runs 85% of Ithaca's public schools
Ithaca touches 3 districts, but Ithaca City School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Ithaca City School District accounts for 11 of 13 public schools (85%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.0 to 8.7 — the spread is inside Ithaca, not a citywide average.
- Ithaca City School District11 public · 85%
- New Roots Charter School1 public · 8%
- Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga Boces1 public · 8%
About Schools in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York offers parents a compact but capable public school landscape, with 13 ranked public schools and a city average of 6.7 out of 10. That average understates the real picture: 8 of those 13 schools — 62% — score 7 or higher, a concentration of strong performers that compares favorably to many comparably sized cities.
Elementary options lead the city on raw scores. South Hill School tops the rankings at 8.5 out of 10, making it the highest-rated public school in Ithaca. Cayuga Heights Elementary follows at 8.2, and Belle Sherman School rounds out the upper elementary tier at 7.8. Parents with children in elementary grades have three genuinely high-performing options to consider, each within the Ithaca City School District. The district's geographic footprint is tight enough that proximity rarely forces a hard trade-off against quality.
Secondary options hold up well, too. Ithaca Senior High School scores 8.0 out of 10 — strong for a comprehensive public high school in a city this size. New Roots Charter School offers an alternative path at the high school level, scoring 7.6 and giving families a second viable option for grades 9 through 12. The existence of a well-rated charter alongside the district's flagship high school adds meaningful flexibility without sacrificing academic standing.
The practical takeaway: Ithaca punches above its weight for a small city. With 62% of ranked schools clearing the 7-point threshold and no school dragging the average down sharply, there is less variance here than parents often encounter elsewhere. The main decision is elementary assignment — South Hill and Cayuga Heights are the standouts, but Belle Sherman and other schools in the 7-range still represent solid choices. At the secondary level, Ithaca Senior High School's 8.0 rating means most families will have access to a strong high school without needing to pursue alternatives. Families new to the area should use school boundaries as a starting point, then cross-reference performance scores to confirm their assigned school meets expectations.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 370 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 | ||
| 2 | 177 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 218 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 | ||
| 4 | 270 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 5 | 278 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 6 | 319 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 7 | 395 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Eac Montessori SchoolPrivate 191 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Ithaca Waldorf SchoolPrivate 51 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Namaste Montessori SchoolPrivate 32 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 elementary schools in Ithaca
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 534 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 508 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,362 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 108 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 271 students · 6th–12th | 6.4 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Cascadilla SchoolPrivate 3 students · 12th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 307 students · 1st–12th | 7.5 |
Schools in Ithaca
Ithaca, New York · 18 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$69,689
Median Home Value
$334,800
Median Rent
$1,446/mo
Population
66,495
College Educated
72%
Homeownership
44%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
18.3%
Community Profile
Ithaca has a median household income of $69,689. It is a well-educated community where 72% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $334,800, with a median rent of $1,446/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.3%. 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
- 11
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
- 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 Ithaca, New York
How many schools are in Ithaca, New York?
Ithaca has 18 schools, including 13 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Ithaca, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Ithaca is 6.8 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 Ithaca, New York?
The top-ranked school in Ithaca on MySchoolScout is South Hill School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Ithaca, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Ithaca on MySchoolScout is South Hill School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Ithaca, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Ithaca on MySchoolScout is Boynton Middle School with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best high school in Ithaca, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Ithaca on MySchoolScout is Ithaca Senior High School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
How many school districts serve Ithaca, New York?
Ithaca is served by 3 school districts: New Roots Charter School, Ithaca City School District, Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga Boces.
What is the education level in Ithaca, New York?
According to Census data, 72% of adults in Ithaca have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Ithaca, New York?
The median household income in Ithaca is approximately $69,689 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Ithaca, New York?
Yes, Ithaca has 5 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Eac Montessori School with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ithaca, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Ithaca is 7.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Ithaca, 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.