Total enrollment
10,392
-931 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Tompkins County
New York · Public K-12
Across 33 public schools, Tompkins County, New York serves roughly 10,392 K-12 students, roughly 1 in 10 residents. The level mix is 15 elementary, 6 middle, and 11 high schools.
7-year change in Tompkins County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
33
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
70%
was 75%
% Hispanic
8%
was 5%
% Black
5%
was 6%
% Asian
6%
was 6%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
33
10 districts
Enrollment
10,392
NCES CCD
Median income
$74,024
Below New York avg
Free/reduced lunch
36.1%
Below New York avg
Elementary
15
4,412 students
Middle
6
2,129 students
High
11
3,542 students
Combined / other
1
309 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
4,988 students · 10 districts in Tompkins County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Tompkins 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+
58.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.5%
civilian labor
Median age
32
14.1% under 18
Test scores in Tompkins County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 27 schools ranked. New York state average: 58.3%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- ITHACA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 93.0%
- NEWFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 91.0%
- LANSING HIGH SCHOOL· 90.0%
- CHARLES O DICKERSON HIGH SCHOOL· 84.0%
- DRYDEN HIGH SCHOOL· 84.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- NEWFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 36.0%
- NEWFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL· 36.0%
- BEVERLY J MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 39.0%
- ENFIELD SCHOOL· 40.0%
- DRYDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 43.0%
Cities in Tompkins County
About Tompkins County
Across the moderately sized New York county of Tompkins County of about 104,537 residents, the public-school footprint covers 33 schools and about 10,392 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $74,024, roughly 59% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% meaningfully below the New York median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Tompkins County comprises 15 elementary schools (4,412 students), 6 middle schools (2,129), 11 high schools (3,542), and 1 combined or other schools.
ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 4,988 students across Tompkins County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 10,392 students, decreased 8% from the 11,323 reported in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment contracted from 75% to 70%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Tompkins County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Tompkins County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data