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Nelson Welsh Congregational ChurchNelson Welsh Congregational Church · Photo: Beangus · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Nelson · Cazenovia Central School District, Morrisville-Eaton Central School District

Nelson’s public schools outscore 74% of New York districts

56% of students in Nelson’s public schools are proficient in math, above the New York average (46%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Nelson, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 88% 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
56%
▲ 7 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
56%
▲ 10 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 8–13 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$24.6K
▼ 29% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Cazenovia Central
Students per teacher
11.9
NY 11.2 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
1,389 students on the public path
In brief

Nelson’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1142 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Nelson’s, its schools beat 91%, higher than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 56% and math 56% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Cazenovia Central spends $24,568 per student and Morrisville-Eaton Central $27,517, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Nelson’s grade

B+ Test scoresA Graduation

B+: better than 74% of New York school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the New York average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1142)Better than 91%
Towns in Madison County (15)Better than 80%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 947 test results and a graduating class of 127 could put Nelson anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 88% of Nelson’s students in the tested grades sat them (941 in math, 953 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B−
6–122 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−

Nelson runs its own schools through grade 12 (Cazenovia Central School District). From grade PK, students attend the Morrisville-Eaton Central School District, shared with Eaton, Morrisville and Smithfield. Its elementary school is in Cazenovia. Parts of Nelson (5% of its land) are served by Georgetown-South Otselic Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Nelson

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

Cazenovia Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,358 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$24,568NY $34,607 · FY2024
A−
Morrisville-Eaton Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 591 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 11.5 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$27,517NY $34,607 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Cazenovia Central School District59%
State average 48.9% · 669 students tested
Math · PK–12, Cazenovia Central School District61%
State average 46.5% · 673 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Morrisville-Eaton Central School District50%
State average 48.9% · 284 students tested
Math · PK–12, Morrisville-Eaton Central School District44%
State average 46.5% · 268 students tested

Nelson vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
NelsonB+Cazenovia Central PK–12 · Morrisville-Eaton Central PK–12
CazenoviaA−Cazenovia Central
Georgetown—Georgetown-South Otselic Central PK–12 · DeRuyter Central PK–12
FennerA−Cazenovia Central
EatonB−Morrisville-Eaton Central

2 of the 4 neighbors share Cazenovia Central with Nelson for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Nelson

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).

Also serving Nelsonin other towns
Burton Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Cazenovia
B−
484 students14:1Rate it →
Edward R Andrews Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Morrisville
C
285 students14:1Rate it →
Cazenovia Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–7 · Cazenovia
C+
314 students11:1Rate it →
Morrisville Middle School High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Morrisville
A−
306 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Nelson’s schools

Are Nelson’s schools good?

By New York’s own tests, yes: the public schools Nelson children attend outscore 74% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 91%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Nelson in?

Two districts: Cazenovia Central School District runs grades PK–12, and Morrisville-Eaton Central School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Eaton, Morrisville and Smithfield.

What is Nelson’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Cazenovia Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Nelson spend per student?

$24,568 in Cazenovia Central School District and $27,517 in Morrisville-Eaton Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Nelson families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Nelson → 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.