Best 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.