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

No. Use the Tompkins 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 Tompkins 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 Tompkins County?

Start with the 33 listed public schools and 9 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Tompkins County Schools & Education

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

Tompkins 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

86.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 85.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$16,187

National avg $13,239

State avg $14,719

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#29

of 62 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Tompkins County

Measured School Summary

Tompkins County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.0%.

Funding Context

With $16,187 per pupil, Tompkins County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 1% above the New York average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Tompkins 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

33 public schools and 9 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 #29 of 62 New York counties with school score data.

Completion

86.0%

0.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$16,187

$1,468 above the state average

School coverage

9 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

Tompkins County has 33 public schools across 9 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 Tompkins 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

Tompkins 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

#29

of 62 New York counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

4,969 students

Elementary 8Middle 2High 2Other 0

12 listed schools in this county slice.

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,282 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,154 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

TRUMANSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

972 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 12 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 Tompkins County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Tompkins 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 Tompkins 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.

A Diverse and Innovative Learning Hub

Tompkins County manages 33 public schools across nine districts, serving 10,426 students. The system includes 15 elementary schools and 11 high schools, supplemented by specialized alternative and special education facilities. This variety reflects the county's reputation as an intellectual and educational center.

Ithaca City Schools Lead the County

The Ithaca City School District is the largest by far, managing 12 schools and 4,969 students. Dryden Central and Lansing Central also provide key educational services for 1,282 and 1,154 students respectively. Tompkins County also features one charter school, offering a specialized alternative to its traditional public districts.

A Unique Mix of City and Rural Schools

Tompkins County offers a diverse locale mix with 20 rural schools, seven city schools, and five suburban campuses. Ithaca Senior High School is the largest campus with 1,341 students, while the average school size across the county is a comfortable 316. This allows families to choose between urban energy and rural tranquility for their children's education.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Tompkins County

Reported Enrollment

10,426

33 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

3% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary15

Middle6

High11

Other1

9 School Districts in Tompkins County

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

1,282 students

LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

1,154 students

TRUMANSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

972 students

GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

782 students

NEWFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

689 students

TOMPKINS-SENECA-TIOGA BOCES

1 school

293 students

GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

1 school

117 students

NEW ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL

1 school

106 students

33 Public Schools in Tompkins County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 33 matching schools

Public schools in Tompkins County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
ITHACA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850City: Small	9–12	High	1,341
BOYNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	526
DRYDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	DRYDEN, 13053Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	486
DEWITT MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	478
RAYMOND C BUCKLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LANSING, 14882Rural: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	405
GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	GROTON, 13073Rural: Distant	6–12	High	402
TRUMANSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	TRUMANSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	TRUMANSBURG, 14886Rural: Distant	PK–4	Primary	389
NORTHEAST SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	385
LANSING HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LANSING, 14882Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	383
GROTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	GROTON, 13073Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	380
SOUTH HILL SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850City: Small	PK–5	Primary	380
LANSING MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LANSING, 14882Rural: Fringe	5–8	Middle	366
DRYDEN HIGH SCHOOL	Record	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	DRYDEN, 13053Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	362
NEWFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NEWFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEWFIELD, 14867Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	341
BELLE SHERMAN SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850City: Small	PK–5	Primary	307
CAYUGA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850Suburb: Small	KG–5	Primary	303
RUSSELL I DOIG MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	TRUMANSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	TRUMANSBURG, 14886Rural: Distant	5–8	Middle	302
CAROLINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SLATERVILLE SPRINGS, 14881Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	293
TOMPKINS-SENECA-TIOGA BOCES	Record	TOMPKINS-SENECA-TIOGA BOCES	ITHACA, 14850Suburb: Small	1–12	Special Education	293
LEHMAN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL	Record	ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ITHACA, 14850City: Small	6–12	High	286

ITHACA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,341 students

BOYNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle526 students

DRYDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DRYDEN, 13053 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary486 students

DEWITT MIDDLE SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle478 students

RAYMOND C BUCKLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

LANSING, 14882 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary405 students

GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

GROTON, 13073 / Rural: Distant

Record6–12High402 students

TRUMANSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TRUMANSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

TRUMANSBURG, 14886 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary389 students

NORTHEAST SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary385 students

LANSING HIGH SCHOOL

LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

LANSING, 14882 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High383 students

GROTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

GROTON, 13073 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary380 students

SOUTH HILL SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary380 students

LANSING MIDDLE SCHOOL

LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

LANSING, 14882 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle366 students

DRYDEN HIGH SCHOOL

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DRYDEN, 13053 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High362 students

NEWFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NEWFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEWFIELD, 14867 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary341 students

BELLE SHERMAN SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary307 students

CAYUGA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–5Primary303 students

RUSSELL I DOIG MIDDLE SCHOOL

TRUMANSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

TRUMANSBURG, 14886 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle302 students

CAROLINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SLATERVILLE SPRINGS, 14881 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary293 students

TOMPKINS-SENECA-TIOGA BOCES

ITHACA, 14850 / Suburb: Small

Record1–12Special Education293 students

LEHMAN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

ITHACA, 14850 / City: Small

Record6–12High286 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$16,187

State avg $14,719

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Tompkins 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 Tompkins County?

Tompkins 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 Tompkins County?

The high school graduation rate in Tompkins County is 86.0%, 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 Tompkins County spend per student?

Tompkins County spends $16,187 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 Tompkins County, New York — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Tompkins County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Greene County

New York

0 pts

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Yates County

New York

0 pts

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School score

St. Lawrence County

New York

-0 pts

63/100

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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