Ithaca City School District
School District · Ithaca, New York
Avg Rating
6.9
out of 10
Schools
12
8 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
5,103
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
Avg Rating
6.9
out of 10
Schools
12
8 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
5,103
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
How this district compares
New York rank
#225 of 615
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.5
above New York avg
Per-pupil spending
$28,477
+$697 vs New York median
District size
5,103 students
Much larger than New York median
The short answer
Ithaca City School District ranks #225 of 615 New York districts by overall school rating. Ithaca City School District's schools with real test data average 6.9/10 across 12 schools. Its top-rated schools are Caroline Elementary School (8.9/10), South Hill School (8.7/10), and Ithaca Senior High School (7.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.9/10 despite 31% 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 City School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +26.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Ithaca City School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Ithaca City School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (12 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caroline Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | South Hill School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Ithaca Senior High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Fall Creek Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Enfield School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Boynton Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Cayuga Heights Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Beverly J Martin Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Lehman Alternative Community School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Dewitt Middle School | 6.3 / 10 |
See all 12 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Ithaca City School District
Ithaca City School District is a Ithaca, New York school district serving 12 schools.The district educates 5,103 students with a student-teacher ratio of 9.9:1. District-level spending was $28,477 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.9/10, Ithaca City School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Caroline Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, Ithaca City School District students show an average math proficiency of 54.4% and ELA proficiency of 54.6%.
The district includes 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Ithaca City School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Ithaca City School District with test data.
Schools in Ithaca City School District
12 schoolsElementary Schools8
Middle Schools2
District Details
- State
- New York
- City
- Ithaca
- Total Enrollment
- 5,103
- Teachers (FTE)
- 514
- District spending per student
- $28,477NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 9.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Ithaca City School District?
Ithaca City School District has 12 schools in total — 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Ithaca City School District?
The average composite rating for Ithaca City School District is 6.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Ithaca City School District?
Ithaca City School District's district-level spending was $28,477 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ithaca City School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Ithaca City School District is 9.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Ithaca City School District?
Caroline Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Ithaca City School District with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in Ithaca City School District?
Across schools in Ithaca City School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 54.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Ithaca City School District compare to other districts in New York?
Ithaca City School District has an average school rating of 6.9/10 across 12 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in New York by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 54.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 54.6%
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 rateOther School Districts in NY
Compare Ithaca City School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- New York City Geographic District # 2 (119)
- New York City Geographic District #10 (83)
- New York City Geographic District #31 (74)
- New York City Geographic District # 9 (69)
- New York City Geographic District #27 (63)
- New York City Geographic District #11 (62)
- Buffalo City School District (61)
- Nyc Special Schools - District 75 (59)
- New York City Geographic District #24 (57)
- New York City Geographic District #19 (52)
- New York City Geographic District #30 (52)
- New York City Geographic District # 8 (52)
- New York City Geographic District #28 (50)
- New York City Geographic District #15 (49)
- New York City Geographic District #17 (49)
- New York City Geographic District #12 (47)
- New York City Geographic District #25 (46)
- New York City Geographic District #29 (46)
- Rochester City School District (46)
- New York City Geographic District #20 (45)
- New York City Geographic District # 6 (45)
- New York City Geographic District # 3 (43)
- New York City Geographic District #13 (41)
- New York City Geographic District # 7 (41)
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.
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