Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

School Without Walls

Q: Is School Without Walls a good school?

School Without Walls ranks 862 nd of 1234 New York high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

862^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,234 New York High Schools

Better than 30% of New York high schools

Summary

School Without Walls is a public high school in Rochester City School District, serving 260 students in grades 9-12. The school has faced persistent challenges, including low graduation rates, high chronic absenteeism, and below-average test scores compared to state averages.

In recent years, School Without Walls has had a four-year graduation rate ranging from 58.5% to 84.3%, which is lower than the state average of around 80%. The school's dropout rate has been between 4.5% and 13.6%, higher than the state average. Additionally, School Without Walls has experienced very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 31.5% to 70.5%, significantly above the state average. On most Regents/Common Core exams, the school's students perform below the Rochester City School District and New York state averages.

Interestingly, the nearby Brighton High School, which is part of the Brighton Central School District, has much higher performance, with proficiency rates well above the state averages and a 4- or 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. This stark contrast highlights the importance of factors beyond just school funding, such as district leadership, community engagement, and overall educational priorities and strategies.

258

Students ?

8.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$37,877

Per pupil spending ?

88.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

480 Broadway
Rochester, NY 14607-3697

(585) 546-6732

District: Rochester City School District

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.2%

Hispanic:

29.5%

White:

14.7%

See top rated New York high schools

Compare School Without Walls to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 35th percentile in 2011 → 30th in 2025

Strengths

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Rochester City School District

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New York average (62% vs 70% meeting standards)

!Dropout rate above the New York average (12% vs 5%)

!High chronic absenteeism (69% vs 31% New York)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school62%

District avg31%

New York avg70%

862^nd of 1,234

New York public high schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 24 pts since 2016

From top 45% (2016) to bottom 30% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New York High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 8High Schools in the Rochester City School District

859^th of 874Rochester City School District among New York districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	30.2	862 of 1234	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	7.7	1175 of 1242	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	33.6	800 of 1228	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.4	754 of 1210	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	21.7	917 of 1221	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	54.4	571 of 1255	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	27.0	885 of 1237	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	28.4	855 of 1217	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	48.0	701 of 1198	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.3	756 of 1165	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	20.4	890 of 1086	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	34.8	746 of 1002	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	70.4	184 of 986	81.3%	★★★★☆
2005	30.6	727 of 935	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2024	7.8	1164 of 1219	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New York percentile	Rating
2025	34.9	762 of 1179	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	8.3	1098 of 1170	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)35th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2024)5th percentile~ school

By subject vs New York (2024-2025) ?

Global History and Geography67%-9 vs state

U.S. History and Government67%-8 vs state

Common Core English Language Arts66%-9 vs state

Algebra I18%-38 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate School Without Walls

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, November 20, 2015

great teachers, small classes, very few disiplinary problems Close Quote

Schools Near School Without Walls

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Regents Chemistry (2025)	Regents Common Core Algebra II (2025)	Regents Common Core English Language Arts (2025)	Regents Common Core Geometry (2025)	Regents Earth Science (2025)	Regents Global History and Geography (2025)	Regents Living Environment (2025)	Regents Physics (2025)	Regents U.S. History and Government (2025)	Regents Algebra I (2025)	Regents Life Science Biology (2025)	Regents Geometry (2025)	Regents Earth and Space Sciences (2025)	NY State Assessments English Language Arts (2025)		NY State Assessments Math (2025)		NY State Assessments Science (2025)	% Completely Immunized (2020)	% Polio (2020)	% Measles (2020)	% Mumps (2020)	% Rubella (2020)	% Diphtheria (2020)	% Hepatitis B (2020)	% Varicella (2020)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Regents Chemistry End of Course	Regents Common Core Algebra II End of Course	Regents Common Core English Language Arts End of Course	Regents Common Core Geometry End of Course	Regents Earth Science End of Course	Regents Global History and Geography End of Course	Regents Living Environment End of Course	Regents Physics End of Course	Regents U.S. History and Government End of Course	Regents Algebra I End of Course	Regents Life Science Biology End of Course	Regents Geometry End of Course	Regents Earth and Space Sciences End of Course	NY State Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	NY State Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	NY State Assessments Math 7th Grade	NY State Assessments Math 8th Grade	NY State Assessments Science 8th Grade	% Completely Immunized All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Diphtheria All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
School Without Walls	Public	9-12	480 Broadway	Rochester	14607	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(585) 546-6732	258	31	8.3	88.8%	38 (14.7%)	127 (49.2%)	76 (29.5%)	11 (4.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	30.2	862^nd of 1234 public high schools	30.1%		7.7	1175^th of 1242 public high schools	5.4%	313			66.4			66.7			66.7	18.2									94.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	94.8	100.0	100.0	$37,877	$2,575	$35,302
James Monroe Upper School	Public	9-12	164 Alexander St	Rochester	14607	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(585) 232-1530	809	81	9.9	88.1%	27 (3.3%)	357 (44.1%)	397 (49.1%)	17 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.1%)	3.3	1227^th of 1234 public high schools	0.6%		3.5	1229^th of 1242 public high schools	1.0%	2	0.0	25.0	40.4	3.0	12.5	34.0	13.2		26.7	9.1	13.9	9.1	15.2						99.2	99.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.6	99.9	100.0	$35,308	$2,440	$32,868
Rochester Early College International High School	Public	9-12	85 Adams St	Rochester	14608	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(585) 324-9010	458	48	9.6	87.6%	32 (7.0%)	264 (57.6%)	119 (26.0%)	33 (7.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.0%)	8.9	1153^rd of 1234 public high schools	6.6%		6.9	1184^th of 1242 public high schools	4.7%	31	10.0	44.2	42.9	13.6	34.4	33.3	34.2		30.7	20.7	18.0	4.3	33.3						98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	$36,932	$1,773	$35,159
Monroe Correctional Facility	Public	8-12	107 N Clinton Ave	Rochester	14604	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	No	No	No	(585) 753-3065	35	24	1.4		1 (2.9%)	27 (77.1%)	6 (17.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)								(n/a)
School Of The Arts	Public	7-12	45 Prince St	Rochester	14607	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(585) 242-7682	1,065	96	11.1	68.4%	245 (23.0%)	447 (42.0%)	306 (28.7%)	38 (3.6%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.4%)	23 (2.2%)	35.7	800^th of 1234 public high schools	35.2%		33.8	810^th of 1242 public high schools	34.8%	10	46.3	71.2	80.7	22.2	22.2	65.6	27.1	30.8	58.4	52.7	47.1	51.3	43.6	44.9	48.9	37.7	15.7	19.1	99.4	99.5	99.9	99.9	99.9	100.0	99.5	99.9	$33,368	$2,139	$31,229
Vertus Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	21 Humboldt St	Rochester	14609	Monroe County	Vertus Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(585) 747-8911	348			82.5%	4 (1.1%)	229 (65.8%)	114 (32.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24.7	931^st of 1234 public high schools	24.6%		13.2	1085^th of 1242 public high schools	12.6%	154		33.3	56.7		36.2	62.5	45.7		56.1	46.5		30.0															$20,305	$1,052	$19,253
Joseph C Wilson Magnet High School	Public	9-12	501 Genesee St	Rochester	14611	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(585) 328-3440	868	88	9.9	88.2%	62 (7.1%)	509 (58.6%)	211 (24.3%)	61 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (2.8%)	4.7	1212^th of 1234 public high schools	1.8%		3.7	1228^th of 1242 public high schools	1.1%	16	10.3	20.6	33.3	0.0	15.8	36.2	20.9		42.5	13.7	10.5	25.0	31.3						99.1	99.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.8	99.8	99.5	$37,219	$2,106	$35,112
East Upper High School	Public	9-12	1801 E Main St	Rochester	14609	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(585) 288-3130	814	96	8.4	84.9%	59 (7.2%)	414 (50.9%)	322 (39.6%)	12 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.9%)	12.3	1105^th of 1234 public high schools	10.5%		10.3	1136^th of 1242 public high schools	8.5%	31	18.4	48.9	56.3	13.0	8.0	52.1	33.7		46.3	18.6	24.1	19.8	31.8						99.7	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.7	$42,535	$2,292	$40,243
Brighton High School	Public	9-12	1150 Winton Rd S	Rochester	14618	Monroe County	Brighton Central School District	No	No	No	No	(585) 242-5000	1,164	102	11.4	24.3%	742 (63.7%)	114 (9.8%)	80 (6.9%)	118 (10.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (8.1%)	83.2	82^nd of 1234 public high schools	93.4%		80.3	118^th of 1242 public high schools	90.5%	36	93.0	100.0	92.9	42.2	83.9	91.5	90.1	81.6	93.4	86.6		75.3							99.2	99.3	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.4	99.5	99.8	$26,422	$474	$25,948
Padilla High School	Public	9-12	950 Norton St	Rochester	14621	Monroe County	Rochester City School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(585) 467-3131	1,342	135	9.9	86.9%	97 (7.2%)	752 (56.0%)	418 (31.1%)	28 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (3.3%)	2	1230^th of 1234 public high schools	0.3%					(n/a)	8.3	45.5	27.3	0.0	5.1	19.5	16.6		15.8	7.6	15.2	0.0	8.2														$35,640	$2,189	$33,451

Frequently Asked Questions about School Without Walls

How many students attend School Without Walls?

In the 2024-25 school year, 258 students attended School Without Walls.

What schools feed into School Without Walls?

Is School Without Walls a good school?

School Without Walls ranks 862^nd of 1234 New York high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of School Without Walls?

Students at School Without Walls are 49% African American, 29% Hispanic, 15% White, 4% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

What district is School Without Walls in?

Rochester City School District

Rate School Without Walls!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NYNew York High School Rankings

NYNew York District Rankings

Schools in Rochester, NY

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for School Without Walls!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the WNYC and the New York State Department of Health and the NY State Education Department.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.