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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.

7-year change in Cortland County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
5,381
-647 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
17
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 92%
% Hispanic
4%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
17
6 districts
Enrollment
5,381
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
White
90%
Hispanic
4%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
91%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
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%.

See all 14 schools in Cortland County ranked by score →

All schools (17)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
CORTLAND HIGH SCHOOLCortlandHigh09-12582·
HOMER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLHomerHigh09-12558·
HOMER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLHomerElementary03-05443·
HOMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLHomerElementaryPK-02430·
FRANKLYN S BARRY PRIMARY SCHOOLCortlandElementaryPK-02417·
HOMER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLHomerMiddle06-08397·
WILLIAM APPLEBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLMarathonElementaryPK-06378·
MARATHON HIGH SCHOOLMarathonHigh07-12295·
FE SMITH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLCortlandElementary03-04291·
CORTLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLCortlandMiddle07-08274·
RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOLCortlandMiddle05-06272·
MCGRAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLMcgrawElementaryPK-06264·
MCGRAW SECONDARY SCHOOLMcgrawHigh07-12234·
CINCINNATUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCincinnatusElementaryPK-04190·
CINCINNATUS HIGH SCHOOLCincinnatusHigh09-12147·
CINCINNATUS MIDDLE SCHOOLCincinnatusMiddle05-08125·
TRUXTON ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLTruxtonElementaryKG-0684·

Cities in Cortland County

Cortland5 schoolsHomer4 schoolsCincinnatus3 schoolsMarathon2 schoolsMcgraw2 schoolsTruxton1 school

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 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,381 students, contracted 11% from the 6,028 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 18 to 17 across the same 7-year window.

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

How many public schools are in Cortland County?
Cortland County, New York has 17 public K-12 schools serving approximately 5,381 students.
How many high schools are in Cortland County?
Cortland County, New York has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 1,816 students.
How many middle schools are in Cortland County?
Cortland County, New York has 4 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,068 students.
How many elementary schools are in Cortland County?
Cortland County, New York has 8 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,497 students.
What is the largest school district in Cortland County?
CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Cortland County, serving approximately 1,836 students. The county contains 6 school districts overall.
What is the population of Cortland County?
Cortland County, New York has a population of approximately 46,246, with a median age of 37. About 18.5% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Cortland County?
Median household income in Cortland County is $70,418, below the New York average of $77,785. About 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Cortland County?
Approximately 29.1% of adults 25 and older in Cortland County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Cortland County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 48.1% of students in Cortland County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the New York county average of 48.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cortland County schools?
Across Cortland County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 10.2 to 1.

Cortland County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data