Best Schools in Syracuse, New York
58 schools · 34 Elementary · 9 Middle · 8 High · 7 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $61,319
- Median home value
- $148,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 35%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
9% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Syracuse compares
New York rank
#452 of 475
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.3
below New York avg (6.3)
Median household income
$61k
66% of New York median
Schools in this city
56
About Schools in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York has 44 ranked public schools with an average score of 4.6 out of 10 — a landscape that skews toward the lower half of the performance range, making school selection here more consequential than in higher-performing metro areas. Only 3 schools, or 7% of the ranked total, clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold, so strong options exist but are concentrated rather than spread evenly across the city.
Cherry Road Elementary School leads the city with a 7.9 rating, the highest score among all 44 ranked schools. Two other elementary schools rank in the top five: Roxboro Road Elementary (7.0) and Onondaga Road Elementary (6.6). That concentration of strong performers at the elementary level means parents of younger children have more solid entry points than parents of high schoolers. At the secondary level, Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central (7.3) and Westhill High School (6.9) stand out as the clearest options for families prioritizing academic performance.
The city's average of 4.6 tells parents what to expect from a typical neighborhood assignment. Schools near that mean will serve many families adequately, but the gap between the top performers and the city average is real — Cherry Road's 7.9 is more than three points above the city norm. For families with flexibility on address or school choice enrollment, that gap is worth investigating before committing to a particular neighborhood.
Practically, parents researching Syracuse should start by mapping attendance zones for Cherry Road, Roxboro Road, and Onondaga Road at the elementary level, then check feeder patterns to see which middle and high schools those zones connect to. Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central operates as a career and technical program, so admission may involve an application rather than automatic zone assignment — confirm enrollment requirements early. With fewer than one in ten schools scoring above 7, home address and proactive school choice research matter more here than in cities with broader high-performer distribution.
Elementary Schools
34 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 369 students · 2nd–4th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 430 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 321 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.6 |
| 4 | 323 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 434 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.6 |
| 6 | 301 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
| 7 | 423 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 |
| 8 | 621 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.9 |
| 9 | 399 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.8 |
| 10 | 419 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.8 |
| 11 | 395 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.8 |
| 12 | 675 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.6 |
| 13 | 787 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.3 |
| 14 | 340 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.1 |
| 15 | 248 students · Kindergarten–1st | 4.0 |
| 16 | 463 students · Pre-K–6th | 4.0 |
| 17 | 644 students · Pre-K–8th | 3.8 |
| 18 | 871 students · Pre-K–8th | 3.7 |
| 19 | 646 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.5 |
| 20 | 767 students · Pre-K–8th | 3.4 |
| 21 | 682 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.3 |
| 22 | 625 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.1 |
| 23 | 436 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.1 |
| 24 | 334 students · Pre-K–5th | 2.8 |
| 25 | 697 students · Kindergarten–8th | 2.2 |
Show 9 more elementary schools
| 26 | 704 students · Kindergarten–8th | 2.0 | ||
| Private Schools 8 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | CATHEDRAL ACADEMY AT POMPEI
Private
78 students · Kindergarten–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF SYRACUSE
Private
64 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | MOST HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL
Private
93 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL
Private
163 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL
Private
135 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | HOLY CROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Private
120 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | THE NEW SCHOOL
Private
30 students · Kindergarten–7th | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | MONTESSORI DISCOVERY SCHOOL
Private
5 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 563 students · 5th–8th | 5.3 |
| 2 | 705 students · 5th–7th | 5.0 |
| 3 | 263 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 |
| 4 | 482 students · 6th–8th | 4.4 |
| 5 | 601 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
| 6 | 438 students · 5th–8th | 4.0 |
| 7 | 174 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 |
| 8 | 350 students · 6th–8th | 3.2 |
| 9 | 363 students · 6th–8th | 3.1 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 568 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | 552 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | 1,244 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 4 | 1,443 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 5 | 1,297 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 6 | 1,077 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 7 | 253 students · 9th–12th | 4.5 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 272 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,089 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | 992 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 3 | 10 students · 3rd–11th | — | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | IHSAN SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE
Private
88 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | MANLIUS PEBBLE HILL SCHOOL
Private
315 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | FAITH HERITAGE SCHOOL
Private
222 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | PARKVIEW JR ACADEMY
Private
52 students · Pre-K–9th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York · 58 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 14 ZIP codes
Median Income
$61,319
Median Home Value
$148,700
Median Rent
$1,015/mo
Population
200,026
College Educated
35%
Homeownership
55%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
21.6%
Community Profile
Syracuse has a median household income of $61,319. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $148,700, with a median rent of $1,015/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.6%, 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.
Quick Facts
- State
- New York
- Total Schools
- 58
- Elementary
- 34
- Middle
- 9
- High
- 8
- Districts
- 12
- Avg Rating
- 5.0/10
Resources
School Districts (12)
SOUTHSIDE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 697 students
SYRACUSE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 992 students
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH)
10 schools · 137 students
ONTECH CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
1 school · 253 students
CITIZENSHIP AND SCIENCE ACADEMY OF SYRACUSE CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 704 students
WESTHILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
4 schools · 1,747 students
LYNCOURT UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
1 school · 440 students
NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
11 schools · 7,990 students
SOLVAY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
3 schools · 1,367 students
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
31 schools · 18,072 students
WEST GENESEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
7 schools · 4,522 students
ONONDAGA-CORTLAND-MADISON BOCES
1 school
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Syracuse, New York
How many schools are in Syracuse, New York?
Syracuse has 58 schools, including 45 public and 13 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Syracuse, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Syracuse is 5.0 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Syracuse, New York?
The top-ranked school in Syracuse on MySchoolScout is Ihsan School of Excellence with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Syracuse, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Syracuse on MySchoolScout is Cherry Road Elementary School with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Syracuse, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Syracuse on MySchoolScout is Onondaga Hill Middle School with a composite score of 5.3/10.
What is the best high school in Syracuse, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Syracuse on MySchoolScout is Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Syracuse, New York?
Syracuse is served by 12 school districts: Southside Academy Charter School, Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, New York State Office Mental Health (omh), Ontech Charter High School, Citizenship and Science Academy of Syracuse Charter School, Westhill Central School District, Lyncourt Union Free School District, North Syracuse Central School District, Solvay Union Free School District, Syracuse City School District, West Genesee Central School District, Onondaga-cortland-madison Boces.
What is the education level in Syracuse, New York?
According to Census data, 35% of adults in Syracuse have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Syracuse, New York?
The median household income in Syracuse is approximately $61,319 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Syracuse, New York?
Yes, Syracuse has 13 private schools alongside 45 public schools. The top-rated private school is Ihsan School of Excellence with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Syracuse, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Syracuse is 11.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Syracuse, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- 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.