Can I use Cortland County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Cortland County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Cortland County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Cortland County?

Start with the 17 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Cortland County Schools & Education

Name: Cortland County, New York Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Cortland County, New York

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

86.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 85.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$14,398

National avg $13,239

State avg $14,719

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#26

of 62 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cortland County

Measured School Summary

Cortland County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.4%.

Funding Context

With $14,398 per pupil, Cortland County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 2% above the New York average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cortland County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

17 public schools and 6 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

64/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #26 of 62 New York counties with school score data.

Completion

86.4%

1.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$14,398

$321 below the state average

School coverage

6 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Cortland County has 17 public schools across 6 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Cortland County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Cortland County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#26

of 62 New York counties with school score data. The county score is 1 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,859 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,858 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

MARATHON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary and high visible

721 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

528 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 5 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cortland County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cortland County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Cortland County, New York

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Town and Country Education Infrastructure

Cortland County hosts 17 public schools within six districts, serving a student population of 5,581. The system includes eight elementary schools and five high schools, catering to a balanced mix of town and rural residents. This infrastructure supports a diverse range of learners across the central New York region.

A Balance of Large Districts and Choice

Homer Central and Cortland City are the primary districts, each educating nearly 1,860 students across their respective campuses. Cortland is also home to one charter school, representing roughly 6% of the total schools in the county. This variety offers families a choice between large traditional districts and alternative public options.

Navigating Larger Town Schools and Rural Gems

With 10 schools in town settings and seven in rural areas, the county offers a versatile feel for students. Cortland High School is the largest facility with 596 students, while the countywide average of 328 ensures most buildings remain easy to navigate. The mix of elementary hubs like Homer Elementary creates a structured and welcoming atmosphere.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Cortland County

Reported Enrollment

5,581

17 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

6% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8

Middle4

High5

Other0

6 School Districts in Cortland County

HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

4 schools

1,859 students

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

1,858 students

MARATHON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

721 students

CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

528 students

MCGRAW CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

514 students

TRUXTON ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL

1 school

101 students

17 Public Schools in Cortland County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

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Showing 17 of 17 matching schools

Public schools in Cortland County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
CORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL	Record	CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORTLAND, 13045Town: Distant	9–12	High	596
HOMER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HOMER, 13077Town: Distant	9–12	High	579
HOMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HOMER, 13077Town: Distant	PK–2	Primary	491
FRANKLYN S BARRY PRIMARY SCHOOL	Record	CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORTLAND, 13045Town: Distant	KG–2	Primary	429
HOMER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HOMER, 13077Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	410
WILLIAM APPLEBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MARATHON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MARATHON, 13803Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	406
HOMER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL	Record	HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HOMER, 13077Town: Distant	3–5	Primary	379
MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MARATHON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MARATHON, 13803Rural: Distant	7–12	High	315
CORTLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORTLAND, 13045Town: Distant	7–8	Middle	299
MCGRAW SECONDARY SCHOOL	Record	MCGRAW CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MCGRAW, 13101Town: Distant	6–12	High	282
FE SMITH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL	Record	CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORTLAND, 13045Town: Distant	3–4	Primary	271
RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORTLAND, 13045Town: Distant	5–6	Middle	263
MCGRAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MCGRAW CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MCGRAW, 13101Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	232
CINCINNATUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CINCINNATUS, 13040Rural: Distant	PK–4	Primary	210
CINCINNATUS HIGH SCHOOL	Record	CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CINCINNATUS, 13040Rural: Distant	9–12	High	176
CINCINNATUS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CINCINNATUS, 13040Rural: Distant	5–8	Middle	142
TRUXTON ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL	Record	TRUXTON ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL	TRUXTON, 13158Rural: Distant	KG–5	Charter	101

CORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CORTLAND, 13045 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High596 students

HOMER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

HOMER, 13077 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High579 students

HOMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

HOMER, 13077 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary491 students

FRANKLYN S BARRY PRIMARY SCHOOL

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CORTLAND, 13045 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–2Primary429 students

HOMER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

HOMER, 13077 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle410 students

WILLIAM APPLEBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MARATHON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MARATHON, 13803 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary406 students

HOMER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

HOMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

HOMER, 13077 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary379 students

MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL

MARATHON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MARATHON, 13803 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High315 students

CORTLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CORTLAND, 13045 / Town: Distant

Record7–8Middle299 students

MCGRAW SECONDARY SCHOOL

MCGRAW CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MCGRAW, 13101 / Town: Distant

Record6–12High282 students

FE SMITH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CORTLAND, 13045 / Town: Distant

Record3–4Primary271 students

RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL

CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CORTLAND, 13045 / Town: Distant

Record5–6Middle263 students

MCGRAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MCGRAW CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MCGRAW, 13101 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary232 students

CINCINNATUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

CINCINNATUS, 13040 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary210 students

CINCINNATUS HIGH SCHOOL

CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

CINCINNATUS, 13040 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High176 students

CINCINNATUS MIDDLE SCHOOL

CINCINNATUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

CINCINNATUS, 13040 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle142 students

TRUXTON ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL

TRUXTON, 13158 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Charter101 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$14,398

State avg $14,719

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cortland County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which New York counties have the highest graduation rates?

Putnam County (93.4%), Genesee County (92.5%), and Schuyler County (91.8%) currently lead New York among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in New York?

Across New York counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $14,719. The highest current county values are Hamilton County ($26,327), New York County ($21,940), and Putnam County ($19,993). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Cortland County?

Cortland County has a school score of 64/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Cortland County?

The high school graduation rate in Cortland County is 86.4%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Cortland County spend per student?

Cortland County spends $14,398 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Cortland County, New York — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Cortland County, New York?

What are the major school districts in Cortland County, New York?

What is the school experience like in Cortland County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Chenango County

New York

+0 pts

64/100

School score

Madison County

New York

+0 pts

64/100

School score

Rockland County

New York

+0 pts

64/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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