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Best Public Schools in Tompkins County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Tompkins County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 33 public schools serving 10,366 students in Tompkins County, NY (there are 6 private schools, serving 540 private students). 95% of all K-12 students in Tompkins County, NY are educated in public schools (compared to the NY state average of 86%).
The top-ranked public schools in Tompkins County, NY are Ithaca Senior High School, Dryden High School and Lansing High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Tompkins County, NY public schools have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the New York public school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average). Schools in Tompkins County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of New York public schools.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is less than the New York public school average of 61% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Tompkins County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Ithaca Senior High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1401 N Cayuga St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2145
Gr: 9-12 | 1,411 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #22.
Dryden High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
118 Freeville Rd
Dryden, NY 13053
(607) 844-8694
Gr: 9-12 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #33.
Lansing High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
300 Ridge Rd
Lansing, NY 14882
(607) 533-3020
Gr: 9-12 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #44.
New Roots Charter School
Charter School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
116 N Cayuga St
Ithaca, NY 14851
(607) 882-9220
Gr: 9-12 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #55.
Northeast School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
425 Winthrop Dr
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-2121
Gr: K-5 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #66.
Charles O Dickerson High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
100 Whig St
Trumansburg, NY 14886
(607) 387-7551
Gr: 9-12 | 271 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #77.
Freeville Elementary School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
43 Main St
Dryden, NY 13053
(607) 844-8694
Gr: K-3 | 80 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
110 E Upland Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-8557
Gr: PK-5 | 270 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Raymond C Buckley Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
284 Ridge Rd
Lansing, NY 14882
(607) 533-3020
Gr: PK-4 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1010.
Boynton Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1601 N Cayuga St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2241
Gr: 6-8 | 513 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1111.
Newfield Senior High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
247 Main St
Newfield, NY 14867
(607) 564-9955
Gr: 9-12 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1212.
Dewitt Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
560 Warren Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-3222
Gr: 6-8 | 559 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1313.
Groton Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
516 Elm St
Groton, NY 13073
(607) 898-5853
Gr: PK-5 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1414.
Lansing Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6 Ludlowville Rd
Lansing, NY 14882
(607) 533-3020
Gr: 5-8 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1515.
Groton Junior/senior High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
400 Peru Rd
Groton, NY 13073
(607) 898-5802
Gr: 6-12 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1616.
South Hill School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
520 Hudson St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2129
Gr: PK-5 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1717.
Trumansburg Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
100 Whig St
Trumansburg, NY 14886
(607) 387-7551
Gr: PK-4 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1818.
Belle Sherman School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
501 Mitchell St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2206
Gr: PK-5 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1919.
Cassavant Elementary School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
32 School St
Dryden, NY 13053
(607) 844-8694
Gr: K-3 | 85 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #2020.
George Junior Republic School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
24 Mcdonald Rd
Freeville, NY 13068
(607) 844-6324
Gr: 7-12 | 107 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #2121.
Lehman Alternative Community School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
111 Chestnut St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2183
Gr: 6-12 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #2222.
Caroline Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2439 Slaterville Rd
Slaterville Springs, NY 14881
(607) 539-7155
Gr: PK-5 | 273 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2323.
Russell I Doig Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Whig St
Trumansburg, NY 14886
(607) 387-7551
Gr: 5-8 | 277 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #2424.
Dryden Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
36 Union St
Dryden, NY 13053
(607) 844-8694
Gr: PK-5 | 500 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #2525.
Fall Creek Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
202 King St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2214
Gr: PK-5 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #2626.
Dryden Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
118 Freeville Rd
Dryden, NY 13053
(607) 844-8694
Gr: 6-8 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #2727.
Newfield Middle School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
247 Main St
Newfield, NY 14867
(607) 564-9955
Gr: 6-8 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #2828.
Newfield Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
247 Main St
Newfield, NY 14867
(607) 564-9955
Gr: PK-5 | 318 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #2929.
Beverly J Martin Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
302 W Buffalo St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2209
Gr: PK-5 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #3030.
Enfield School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
20 Enfield Main Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-2221
Gr: PK-5 | 165 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: n/an/a
Finger Lakes Residential Center
Alternative School
250 Auburn Rd
Lansing, NY 14882
(607) 533-5066
Gr: 8-12 | 67 students Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: n/an/a
Maccormick Secure Center
Alternative School
300 South Rd
Brooktondale, NY 14817
(607) 539-7121
Gr: 9-12 | 22 students Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: n/an/a
Tompkins-seneca-tioga Boces
Special Education School
555 Warren Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-1551
Gr: K-12 | 309 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Tompkins County, NY?
The top-ranked public schools in Tompkins County, NY include Ithaca Senior High School, Dryden High School and Lansing High School.
How many public schools are located in Tompkins County?
33 public schools are located in Tompkins County.
What percentage of students in Tompkins County go to public school?
95% of all K-12 students in Tompkins County are educated in public schools (compared to the NY state average of 86%).
What is the racial composition of students in Tompkins County?
Tompkins County public schools minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is less than the New York public schools average of 61% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Tompkins County are often viewed compared to one another?

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