Best Schools in Niagara Falls, New York
16 schools · 12 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Niagara Falls?
Use this page to compare every school in Niagara Falls 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.
Niagara Charter School
Elementary · Niagara Charter School. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Seventy Ninth Street School
Elementary · Niagara Falls City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Geraldine J Mann School
Elementary · Niagara Falls City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Niagara Falls for 2026 are Niagara Charter School (7.8/10), Seventy Ninth Street School (6.8/10), and Geraldine J Mann School (6.3/10), 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
16
13 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$104,525
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
16
13 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$104,525
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 93% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 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 Niagara Falls schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +18.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Niagara Falls schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Niagara Falls
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 16 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niagara Charter School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Seventy Ninth Street School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Geraldine J Mann School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Hyde Park School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Colonial Village Elementary School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Harry F Abate Elementary School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Niagara Falls High School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Cataract Elementary School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Maple Avenue School | 4.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Gaskill Preparatory School | 3.2 / 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
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $49,378
- Median home value
- $104,525
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 21%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
7% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Niagara Falls compares
New York rank
#460 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.4
below New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$49k
53% of New York median
Schools in this city
15
Niagara Falls City School District runs 85% of Niagara Falls's public schools
Niagara Falls touches 3 districts, but Niagara Falls City School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Niagara Falls 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 1.5 to 7.8 — the spread is inside Niagara Falls, not a citywide average.
- Niagara Falls City School District11 public · 85%
- Niagara Charter School1 public · 8%
- Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District1 public · 8%
About Schools in Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York is home to 16 schools, including 13 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 12 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 5.0 out of 10, schools in Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls is Niagara Charter School with a composite score of 7.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Niagara Falls is served by 3 school districts: NIAGARA CHARTER SCHOOL, NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. These districts collectively serve 10,638 students.
Niagara Falls's community shows 21% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $49,378. The poverty rate in the area is 23.9%.
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
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 338 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 417 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 425 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 481 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 390 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.9 |
| 6 | 702 students · 2nd–6th | 5.4 |
| 7 | 534 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 383 students · Pre-K–6th | 4.5 |
| 9 | 449 students · Pre-K–2nd | 1.7 |
| 10 | 338 students · Pre-K–3rd | 1.5 |
Show all 12 elementary schools in Niagara Falls
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 | 445 students · 7th–8th | 3.2 |
| 2 | 503 students · 7th–8th | 3.2 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,142 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 students · Pre-K–9th | Not Rated |
Schools in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York · 16 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$49,378
Median Home Value
$104,525
Median Rent
$817/mo
Population
63,056
College Educated
21%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
23.9%
Community Profile
Niagara Falls has a median household income of $49,378. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $104,525, with a median rent of $817/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.9%, 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
- 12
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- 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 Niagara Falls, New York
How many schools are in Niagara Falls, New York?
Niagara Falls has 16 schools, including 13 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Niagara Falls, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Niagara Falls is 5.0 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 Niagara Falls, New York?
The top-ranked school in Niagara Falls on MySchoolScout is Niagara Charter School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Niagara Falls, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Niagara Falls on MySchoolScout is Niagara Charter School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Niagara Falls, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Niagara Falls on MySchoolScout is Gaskill Preparatory School with a composite score of 3.2/10.
What is the best high school in Niagara Falls, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Niagara Falls on MySchoolScout is Niagara Falls High School with a composite score of 5.4/10.
How many school districts serve Niagara Falls, New York?
Niagara Falls is served by 3 school districts: Niagara Charter School, Niagara Falls City School District, Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District.
What is the education level in Niagara Falls, New York?
According to Census data, 21% of adults in Niagara Falls have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Niagara Falls, New York?
The median household income in Niagara Falls is approximately $49,378 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Niagara Falls, New York?
Yes, Niagara Falls has 3 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls with a score of 6.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Niagara Falls, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Niagara Falls is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Niagara Falls, 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.