Best Schools in Rome, New York
11 schools · 8 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Rome?
Use this page to compare every school in Rome 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.
New York State School for the Deaf
Other · New York State School for the Deaf. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Rome Free Academy
High · Rome City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Bellamy Elementary School
Elementary · Rome City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Rome for 2026 are New York State School for the Deaf (7.2/10), Rome Free Academy (6.0/10), and Bellamy Elementary School (4.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
4.5
out of 10
Median Home
$155,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
4.5
out of 10
Median Home
$155,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.2/10 despite 60% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Rome schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Rome schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Rome
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 11 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York State School for the Deaf | 7.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Rome Free Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Bellamy Elementary School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Gansevoort Elementary School | 4.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Ridge Mills Elementary School | 3.9 / 10 |
| 6 | John E Joy Elementary School | 3.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Lyndon H Strough Middle School | 3.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Stokes Elementary School | 3.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Louis V Denti Elementary School | 3.3 / 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
- 4.5/10
- Median household income
- $80,677
- Median home value
- $155,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 32%
9% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Rome compares
New York rank
#470 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.8
below New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$81k
86% of New York median
Schools in this city
11
Rome City School District runs 90% of Rome's public schools
Rome touches 2 districts, but Rome City School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Rome City School District accounts for 9 of 10 public schools (90%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.3 to 7.2 — the spread is inside Rome, not a citywide average.
- Rome City School District9 public · 90%
- New York State School For the Deaf1 public · 10%
About Schools in Rome, New York
Rome, New York has 10 ranked public schools with an average score of 5.8 out of 10 — a moderate baseline that masks significant spread across the district. Only one school, or 10% of ranked schools, clears the 7-point threshold, which puts Rome below the performance concentration parents typically find in stronger upstate markets. That said, the ceiling here is genuinely high: Ridge Mills Elementary leads the city with an 8.7 rating, placing it among the strongest elementary programs in the region and giving families with younger children a clear top target.
The elementary tier drives most of the variation. Ridge Mills Elementary at 8.7 stands well above the city average, while John E. Joy Elementary (6.0) and Bellamy Elementary (5.6) land closer to the middle of the pack. Parents choosing between elementary attendance zones should weigh this spread carefully — the gap between the top and bottom elementary options is more than three points. At the secondary level, Rome Free Academy scores 6.7, a reasonable result for a comprehensive public high school and the only traditional high school option in the district for most families.
Rome also includes the New York State School for the Deaf (6.2), a specialized residential school that serves students from across the state. It scores above the city average, though its mission and enrollment criteria make it a distinct option rather than a general-population alternative.
Practically, parents researching Rome should anchor their search at the elementary level, where school choice within the district can produce meaningfully different academic outcomes. With only one school above 7 out of 10, families who prioritize high academic performance may also want to compare Rome against neighboring districts in Oneida County. The district's 5.8 average is serviceable but suggests that school selection — particularly at the elementary level — matters more here than in cities where strong schools are more evenly distributed across the map.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 562 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.7 | ||
| 2 | 391 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.1 | ||
| 3 | 363 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.9 | ||
| 4 | 408 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.9 | ||
| 5 | 136 students · Pre-K–2nd | 3.6 | ||
| 6 | 315 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.4 | ||
| 7 | 627 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Rome Catholic SchoolPrivate 53 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 827 students · 7th–8th | 3.8 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,497 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 53 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.2 |
Schools in Rome
Rome, New York · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$80,677
Median Home Value
$155,800
Median Rent
$863/mo
Population
41,418
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
32%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Community Profile
Rome has a median household income of $80,677. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $155,800, with a median rent of $863/month. The local poverty rate of 7.5% is relatively low. 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
- 8
- Middle
- 1
- 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 Rome, New York
How many schools are in Rome, New York?
Rome has 11 schools, including 10 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Rome, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Rome is 4.5 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 Rome, New York?
The top-ranked school in Rome on MySchoolScout is New York State School for the Deaf with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Rome, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Rome on MySchoolScout is Bellamy Elementary School with a composite score of 4.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Rome, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Rome on MySchoolScout is Lyndon H Strough Middle School with a composite score of 3.8/10.
What is the best high school in Rome, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Rome on MySchoolScout is Rome Free Academy with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Rome, New York?
Rome is served by 2 school districts: New York State School for the Deaf, Rome City School District.
What is the education level in Rome, New York?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Rome have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Rome, New York?
The median household income in Rome is approximately $80,677 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Rome, New York?
Yes, Rome has 1 private school alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Rome Catholic School with a score of 6.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Rome, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Rome is 10.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Rome, 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.