Total enrollment
5,381
-231 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Cortland County
New York · Public K-12
Cortland County runs 17 public K-12 schools per the latest NCES counts, with an average school size of about 317 students. By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Cortland County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Cortland County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New York | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 52.7% | #31 of 61 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,381 | #52 of 61 | #1,252 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 17 | #49 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 10.0:1 | #23 of 61 | #121 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 48.2% | #30 of 61 | #1,712 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 16.8% | #48 of 61 | #2,274 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Cortland County school rankings
Residents
46,246
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
17
6 districts
Enrollment
5,381
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$70,418
Below New York avg
Free/reduced lunch
48.1%
Below New York avg
Elementary
8
2,497 students
Middle
4
1,068 students
High
5
1,816 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,836 students · 6 districts in Cortland County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cortland County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
29.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.6%
civilian labor
Median age
37
18.5% under 18
Test scores in Cortland County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. New York state average: 58.3%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- CORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL· 89.0%
- CINCINNATUS HIGH SCHOOL· 88.0%
- HOMER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 86.0%
- MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL· 69.1%
- CINCINNATUS MIDDLE SCHOOL· 55.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- FE SMITH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL· 26.0%
- RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL· 32.0%
- CORTLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 36.0%
- HOMER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 42.0%
- MCGRAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 43.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL | Cortland | High | 09-12 | 582 | · |
| HOMER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Homer | High | 09-12 | 558 | · |
| HOMER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Homer | Elementary | 03-05 | 443 | · |
| HOMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Homer | Elementary | PK-02 | 430 | · |
| FRANKLYN S BARRY PRIMARY SCHOOL | Cortland | Elementary | PK-02 | 417 | · |
| HOMER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Homer | Middle | 06-08 | 397 | · |
| WILLIAM APPLEBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Marathon | Elementary | PK-06 | 378 | · |
| MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL | Marathon | High | 07-12 | 295 | · |
| FE SMITH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Cortland | Elementary | 03-04 | 291 | · |
| CORTLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Cortland | Middle | 07-08 | 274 | · |
| RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL | Cortland | Middle | 05-06 | 272 | · |
| MCGRAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Mcgraw | Elementary | PK-06 | 264 | · |
| MCGRAW SECONDARY SCHOOL | Mcgraw | High | 07-12 | 234 | · |
| CINCINNATUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Cincinnatus | Elementary | PK-04 | 190 | · |
| CINCINNATUS HIGH SCHOOL | Cincinnatus | High | 09-12 | 147 | · |
| CINCINNATUS MIDDLE SCHOOL | Cincinnatus | Middle | 05-08 | 125 | · |
| TRUXTON ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL | Truxton | Elementary | KG-06 | 84 | · |
Cities in Cortland County
About Cortland County
Cortland County is a sparse New York county of about 46,246 residents, home to 17 public schools and roughly 5,381 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $70,418, about 29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%. That income level is 9% below the New York median.
In terms of grade levels, Cortland County is built around 8 elementary schools (2,497 students), 4 middle schools (1,068), and 5 high schools (1,816).
CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,836 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,381 students, contracted 4% from the 5,612 reported in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Cortland County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data