Best Public Schools in Syracuse, NY

The city of Syracuse, New York is home to 45 schools, including 26 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 8 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The schools in this area serve a diverse student population and face a range of academic and socioeconomic challenges.

A few schools stand out in the data, including Syracuse Latin School, an elementary/middle school that ranks in the top 50% of New York elementary schools and has significantly higher proficiency rates than the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Math. Other high-performing schools include Onondaga Hill Middle School and Westhill High School, which are part of the Westhill Central School District and rank in the top 40% of New York middle and high schools, respectively. Within the Syracuse City School District, Edward Smith K-8 School and Lemoyne Elementary School stand out with some of the highest proficiency rates in the district.

However, the data also reveals significant challenges facing many of the schools in Syracuse. The high schools in the area have an average 4-year graduation rate of 84.3%, which is on par with the state average, but their average dropout rate of 4.5% is slightly higher. Additionally, the high schools have an average chronic absenteeism rate of 31.5%, significantly higher than the state average. Performance on state assessments and Regents exams varies widely, with some schools like Syracuse Latin and Westhill outperforming state averages, while many Syracuse City schools struggle, scoring well below state proficiency levels. These disparities highlight the need to address inequities and provide additional support to the district's struggling schools.