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Schools in Big Flats · Horseheads Central School District

Big Flats’s public schools outscore 56% of New York districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Big Flats, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Big Flats, 43% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the New York average (49%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#330of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 87% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
43%
▼ 6 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
49%
▲ 2 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 4 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$24.2K
▼ 30% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.0
NY 11.2 · larger classes
Schools in town
2
2,055 students on the public path
In brief

Big Flats’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1086 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Big Flats’s, its schools beat 64%, higher than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 43% and math 49% in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $24,217 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Horseheads Middle School, then Horseheads Senior High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Chemung Valley Montessori School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Big Flats’s grade

B− Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 56% of New York school districts, #330 of 755 New York towns. Graduation is above the New York average; test scores are below it.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1086)Better than 64%
Towns in Chemung County (11)Better than 82%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,600 test results and a graduating class of 316 could put Big Flats anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of Big Flats’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,702 in math, 1,499 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Big Flats, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–4Big Flats SchoolHorseheads Central School DistrictB
7–8Horseheads Middle Schoolin HorseheadsC−
9–12Horseheads Senior High Schoolin HorseheadsA+

Big Flats’s public schools are run by Horseheads Central School District, which also serves Catlin, Erin, Horseheads and Horseheads and others. Parts of Big Flats (14%, 12% and 10% of its land) are served by Elmira City, Elmira Heights Central and Corning City instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Horseheads Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 3,703 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 13.0 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$24,217NY $34,607 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading43%
State average 48.9% · 1499 students tested
Math49%
State average 46.5% · 1702 students tested

Big Flats vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New York towns that share Big Flats’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Big FlatsBHorseheads Central
SouthportDElmira City
CorningC+Corning City
HorseheadsBHorseheads Central
ElmiraDElmira City
CatlinB−Horseheads Central PK–12 · Corning City PK–12

2 of the 5 neighbors share Horseheads Central with Big Flats, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Big Flats

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New York’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Big Flatsby address
Big Flats School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B
372 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Big Flatsin other towns
Horseheads Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Horseheads
C−
564 students11:1Rate it →
Horseheads Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Horseheads
A+
1,119 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Chemung Valley Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Elmira
Private · Nonsectarian
134 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Big Flats’s schools

Are Big Flats’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of New York: the public schools Big Flats children attend outscore 56% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #330 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 64%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Big Flats in?

Horseheads Central School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,703 students in 7 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Big Flats are served by Elmira City, Elmira Heights Central and Corning City.

Where do Big Flats kids go to high school?

Horseheads Senior High School in Horseheads, with 1,119 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Big Flats’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Horseheads Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Big Flats spend per student?

$24,217 in Horseheads Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Big Flats?

Yes: Chemung Valley Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 134 students).

Parents talk

What Big Flats families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Big Flats → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New York. Stars are from neighbors.