Total enrollment
10,392
-170 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Tompkins County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
33
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Tompkins County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New York | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 60.9% | #6 of 61 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 10,392 | #34 of 61 | #793 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 33 | #29 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 9.4:1 | #14 of 61 | #59 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 36.1% | #58 of 61 | #2,240 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 47.6% | #26 of 61 | #1,202 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.
Tompkins County school rankings
Residents
104,537
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
33
10 districts
Enrollment
10,392
students · 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 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 10,392 students, held roughly steady from the 10,562 reported in SY 2020-21.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data