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Town of Caroline Town HallPhoto: Caroline Tompkins · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Caroline · Ithaca City School District

Caroline’s public schools outscore 64% of New York districts

Math proficiency in Caroline’s districts is 54%, above the New York average (46%). The grade covers the public school district serving Caroline, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#246of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 79% 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
54%
▲ 5 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
54%
▲ 8 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▲ 1 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$29.5K
▼ 15% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.3
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
3,021 students on the public path
In brief

Caroline’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1148 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Caroline’s, its schools beat 80%, higher than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 54% and math 54% in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $29,527 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then three middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

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 Caroline’s grade

B+ Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 64% of New York school districts, #246 of 755 New York towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New York average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 64%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1148)Better than 80%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,006 test results and a graduating class of 402 could put Caroline anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 79% of Caroline’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,082 in math, 1,930 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Caroline Elementary SchoolIthaca City School DistrictC+
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB to A+

Caroline’s public schools are run by Ithaca City School District, which also serves Cayuga Heights, Danby, Enfield and Ithaca and others. Parts of Caroline (19%, 16% and 4% of its land) are served by Candor Central, Newark Valley Central and Dryden Central 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.

Ithaca City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 12 schools · 4,988 students, up 1% since 2020–21 · 10.3 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$29,527NY $34,607 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading54%
State average 48.9% · 1930 students tested
Math54%
State average 46.5% · 2082 students tested

Caroline vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CarolineBIthaca City
RichfordCNewark Valley Central
BerkshireCNewark Valley Central
DanbyBIthaca City PK–12 · Spencer-Van Etten Central PK–12
CandorC+Candor Central
DrydenC−Dryden Central

Every school in Caroline

5 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 Carolineby address
Caroline Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Slaterville Springs
C+
273 students9:1Rate it →
Also serving Carolinein other towns
Dewitt Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ithaca
B−
559 students9:1Rate it →
Boynton Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ithaca
C+
513 students9:1Rate it →
Lehman Alternative Community School
High · Grades 6–12 · Ithaca
B
265 students9:1Rate it →
Ithaca Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ithaca
A+
1,411 students14:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Maccormick Secure Center).

Questions about Caroline’s schools

Are Caroline’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of New York: the public schools Caroline children attend outscore 64% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #246 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 80%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Caroline in?

Ithaca City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,988 students in 12 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Caroline are served by Candor Central, Newark Valley Central and Dryden Central.

Where do Caroline kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Ithaca Senior High School and Lehman Alternative Community School.

What is Caroline’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Ithaca City School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Caroline spend per student?

$29,527 in Ithaca City School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Caroline families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Caroline → 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.