Below Average
#3654 of 4,742 schools in NY
Belle Sherman School
Elementary School · Ithaca City School District · Ithaca, NY
An Ithaca City School District elementary school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.
501 MITCHELL ST, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Math 45% proficient (2022)
- Reading 41% proficient (2022)
- 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Belle Sherman School score 43% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NY average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 12 points since 2019, to 43% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from NY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
31.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Belle Sherman School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 64Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 64Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,421/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Ithaca), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,689
Median home value
$334,800
Median rent
$1,446/mo
College educated
71.8%
Homeownership
44.2%
Poverty rate
18.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 14850; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Hill SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 370 | Compare → |
| Beverly J Martin Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 278 | Compare → |
| Fall Creek Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 218 | Compare → |
| Caroline Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 270 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Ithaca City School District
- Schools in district
- 12
- Rank in district
- #9 of 12
- District spending per student
- $28,477NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Belle Sherman School is listed in ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Belle Sherman School
Belle Sherman School is a public elementary school in Ithaca, NY, part of Ithaca City School District, serving approximately 319 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #3,654 of 4,742 schools in NY. State assessment records show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Belle Sherman School
What grades does Belle Sherman School serve?
Belle Sherman School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Belle Sherman School?
Belle Sherman School has an enrollment of approximately 319 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Belle Sherman School?
The student-teacher ratio at Belle Sherman School is 9.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Belle Sherman School rank in NY?
Belle Sherman School ranks #3,654 of 4,742 schools in NY.
What is Belle Sherman School's MySchoolScout rating?
Belle Sherman School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Belle Sherman School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Belle Sherman School has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Belle Sherman School a charter school?
No, Belle Sherman School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Belle Sherman School a Title I school?
No, Belle Sherman School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Belle Sherman School?
31.7% of students at Belle Sherman School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 319
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Tompkins County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.3%
- Phone
- (607) 274-2206
- Area population (ZIP 14850)
- 66,495
- Area average commute
- 19 min
- Area median age
- 28.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 14850; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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