Total enrollment
4,082
+559 (+16%) vs SY 2020-21
Lewis County
New York · Public K-12
Lewis County is one of New York's public-school counties, with 13 schools serving about 4,082 students (5 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high). Median household income in the county is roughly $68,182.
4-year change in Lewis County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Lewis County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New York | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 58.9% | #8 of 61 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,082 | #56 of 61 | #1,516 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 13 | #55 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.6:1 | #51 of 61 | #420 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 44.9% | #42 of 61 | #1,878 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 12.3% | #59 of 61 | #2,450 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.
Lewis County school rankings
Residents
26,607
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
6 districts
Enrollment
4,082
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$68,182
Below New York avg
Free/reduced lunch
44.9%
Below New York avg
Elementary
5
1,764 students
Middle
3
770 students
High
4
1,075 students
Combined / other
1
473 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
LOWVILLE ACADEMY & CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,276 students · 6 districts in Lewis County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lewis 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+
18.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.6% under 18
Test scores in Lewis County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. New York state average: 58.3%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BEAVER RIVER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 92.0%
- SOUTH LEWIS HIGH SCHOOL· 90.0%
- LOWVILLE HIGH SCHOOL· 86.0%
- HARRISVILLE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 71.4%
- LOWVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL· 66.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- HARRISVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 35.0%
- BEAVER RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL· 41.0%
- LOWVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 45.0%
- SOUTH LEWIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 45.0%
- WEST LEYDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 46.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOWVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Lowville | Elementary | PK-05 | 628 | · |
| COPENHAGEN CENTRAL SCHOOL | Copenhagen | Combined | PK-12 | 473 | · |
| SOUTH LEWIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Turin | Elementary | PK-04 | 452 | · |
| BEAVER RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Beaver Falls | Elementary | PK-05 | 413 | · |
| LOWVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | Lowville | High | 09-12 | 385 | · |
| SOUTH LEWIS MIDDLE SCHOOL | Turin | Middle | 05-08 | 311 | · |
| SOUTH LEWIS HIGH SCHOOL | Turin | High | 09-12 | 272 | · |
| LOWVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Lowville | Middle | 06-08 | 263 | · |
| BEAVER RIVER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Beaver Falls | High | 09-12 | 254 | · |
| BEAVER RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL | Beaver Falls | Middle | 06-08 | 196 | · |
| HARRISVILLE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Harrisville | High | 07-12 | 164 | · |
| HARRISVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Harrisville | Elementary | PK-06 | 148 | · |
| WEST LEYDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | West Leyden | Elementary | PK-05 | 123 | · |
Cities in Lewis County
About Lewis County
Across the rural-scale New York county of Lewis County of about 26,607 residents, the public-school footprint covers 13 schools and about 4,082 students.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $68,182 a year, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 9%. That income level is 12% below the New York median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Lewis County comprises 5 elementary schools (1,764 students), 3 middle schools (770), 4 high schools (1,075), and 1 combined or other schools.
LOWVILLE ACADEMY & CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,276 students across Lewis County.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,082 students, rose 16% from the 3,523 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 12 to 13 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Lewis County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data