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Downtown Rochester, NY HDR by patrickashleyPhoto: Patrick Ashley · CC BY 2.0
D−
Schools in Rochester · Rochester City School District

Rochester’s public schools score below 98% of New York districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Rochester’s districts is 13%, below the New York average (46%). The grade covers the public school district serving Rochester, 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.

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% 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
16%
▼ 33 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
13%
▼ 34 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
71%
▼ 16 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$35.7K
▲ 3% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.4
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
64
20,191 students on the public path
In brief

Rochester’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 16% of tested students were proficient in reading and 13% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 90% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

71% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across New York. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $35,718 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

25 elementary schools, then nine middle and eight high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 14% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School, Genesee Community Charter School, Rochester Prep Charter School 1, Rochester Academy Charter School, University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men, Rochester Prep Charter School 2, Vertus Charter School, Rochester Prep Charter School 3, Exploration Ele CS - Science-Technol, Academy of Health Sciences Charter School, Citizenship and Science Academy of Rochester Charter School, Genesee Community Charter School-Flour City Campus, Rochester Academy of Science Charter School, Innova Girls Academy Charter School, Aquinas Institute (private), Mary Cariola Center (private), Holy Cross School (private), Nazareth Elementary (private), Rochester School for the Deaf (private), Mary Cariola, Building 2 (private), Hillside Children's Center -Andrews Trahey Campus (private), Nativity Preparatory Academy (private), Talmudical Institute of Upstate Ny (private), Rochester Classical Academy (private) and Ora Academy (private) are 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 Rochester’s grade

D− Test scoresD− Graduation

D−: better than 2% of New York school districts, #754 of 755 New York towns. Both inputs trail the New York average; among the 327 New York towns with similar household incomes, Rochester’s schools place at the bottom.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 2%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (327)At the bottom
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 10,230 test results and a graduating class of 1,777 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 90% of Rochester’s students in the tested grades sat them (10,557 in math, 9,904 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

25 schools teach K in Rochester’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D− to C, so check the specific school.
School 33-John James Audubon
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
980 students13:1Rate it →
School 58-World of Inquiry School
Grades PK–12
C
896 students13:1Rate it →
Anna Murray-Douglass Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
741 students13:1Rate it →
School 9-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
614 students11:1Rate it →
School 50-Helen Barrett Montgomery
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
590 students12:1Rate it →
School 28-Henry Hudson
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
567 students10:1Rate it →
School 17-Enrico Fermi
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
525 students13:1Rate it →
School 22-Lincoln School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
522 students12:1Rate it →
School 7-Virgil Grissom
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
486 students11:1Rate it →
School 5-John Williams
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
485 students10:1Rate it →
School 25-Nathaniel Hawthorne
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
471 students11:1Rate it →
Ida B Wells-Barnett Elementary School 34
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
465 students12:1Rate it →
School 42-Abelard Reynolds
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
465 students13:1Rate it →
School 8-Roberto Clemente
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
436 students10:1Rate it →
School 35-Pinnacle
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
435 students12:1Rate it →
School 45-Mary McLeod Bethune
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
430 students11:1Rate it →
Dr. David and Ruth Anderson Academy- School 16
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
430 students12:1Rate it →
School 15-Children's School of Rochester (The)
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
384 students11:1Rate it →
School 19-Dr. Charles T Lunsford
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
353 students10:1Rate it →
Austin Steward Elementary School 46
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
343 students11:1Rate it →
School 52-Frank Fowler Dow
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
332 students13:1Rate it →
School 54-Flower City Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
325 students13:1Rate it →
School 23-Francis Parker
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
313 students11:1Rate it →
School 53 Montessori Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
306 students11:1Rate it →
School 4-George Mather Forbes
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C−
265 students10:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
PK–625 schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C
7–89 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C
9–128 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+

Rochester’s public schools are run by Rochester City School District. 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.

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading16%
State average 48.9% · 9904 students tested
Math13%
State average 46.5% · 10557 students tested

Rochester vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
RochesterD−Rochester City
IrondequoitBEast Irondequoit Central PK–12 · West Irondequoit Central PK–12
GreeceB−Greece Central PK–12 · Hilton Central PK–12
BrightonA−Rush-Henrietta Central PK–12 · Brighton Central K–12
ChiliBWheatland-Chili Central PK–12 · Churchville-Chili Central PK–12
GatesCGates-Chili Central

Every school in Rochester

64 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 Rochesterby address
School 33-John James Audubon
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
980 students13:1Rate it →
School 58-World of Inquiry School
Grades PK–12
C
896 students13:1Rate it →
Anna Murray-Douglass Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
741 students13:1Rate it →
School 9-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
614 students11:1Rate it →
School 50-Helen Barrett Montgomery
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
590 students12:1Rate it →
School 28-Henry Hudson
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
567 students10:1Rate it →
School 17-Enrico Fermi
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
525 students13:1Rate it →
School 22-Lincoln School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
522 students12:1Rate it →
School 7-Virgil Grissom
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
486 students11:1Rate it →
School 5-John Williams
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
485 students10:1Rate it →
School 25-Nathaniel Hawthorne
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
471 students11:1Rate it →
Ida B Wells-Barnett Elementary School 34
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
465 students12:1Rate it →
School 42-Abelard Reynolds
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
465 students13:1Rate it →
School 8-Roberto Clemente
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
436 students10:1Rate it →
School 35-Pinnacle
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
435 students12:1Rate it →
School 45-Mary McLeod Bethune
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
430 students11:1Rate it →
Dr. David and Ruth Anderson Academy- School 16
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
430 students12:1Rate it →
School 15-Children's School of Rochester (The)
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
384 students11:1Rate it →
School 19-Dr. Charles T Lunsford
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
353 students10:1Rate it →
Austin Steward Elementary School 46
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
343 students11:1Rate it →
School 52-Frank Fowler Dow
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
332 students13:1Rate it →
School 54-Flower City Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D−
325 students13:1Rate it →
School 23-Francis Parker
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
313 students11:1Rate it →
School 53 Montessori Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6
D
306 students11:1Rate it →
School 4-George Mather Forbes
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C−
265 students10:1Rate it →
East Lower School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D−
364 students8:1Rate it →
School of the Arts
High · Grades 7–12
C
1,065 students11:1Rate it →
DR. Freddie Thomas Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
512 students10:1Rate it →
Northwest College Preparatory High School
Middle · Grades 7–8
D−
487 students8:1Rate it →
Loretta Johnson Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
416 students9:1Rate it →
Thurgood Marshall Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
325 students8:1Rate it →
Andrew A Langston Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
314 students8:1Rate it →
Padilla High School
High · Grades 9–12
1,342 students10:1Rate it →
Joseph C Wilson Magnet High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
868 students10:1Rate it →
East Upper High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
814 students8:1Rate it →
James Monroe Upper School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
809 students10:1Rate it →
Rochester Early College International High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
458 students10:1Rate it →
School Without Walls
High · Grades 9–12
B−
258 students8:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Questions about Rochester’s schools

Are Rochester’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Rochester children attend score below 98% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they place at the bottom. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rochester in?

Rochester City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 21,588 students in 40 schools (2024–25).

Where do Rochester kids go to high school?

One of 8 high schools, depending on your address: Padilla High School, School of the Arts, School 58-World of Inquiry School, Joseph C Wilson Magnet High School, East Upper High School, James Monroe Upper School, Rochester Early College International High School and School Without Walls.

What is Rochester’s graduation rate?

71% of the class of 2023 in Rochester City School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Rochester spend per student?

$35,718 in Rochester City School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Rochester?

Yes: Aquinas Institute (Catholic, grades 6–12, 717 students), Mary Cariola Center (special education, grades K–12, 253 students), Holy Cross School (Catholic, grades PK–6, 208 students), Nazareth Elementary (Catholic, grades PK–6, 116 students), Rochester School for the Deaf (special education, grades PK–12, 108 students), Mary Cariola, Building 2 (special education, grades 6–12, 96 students), Hillside Children's Center -Andrews Trahey Campus (nonsectarian, grades 5–12, 76 students), Nativity Preparatory Academy (Catholic, grades 5–8, 59 students), Talmudical Institute of Upstate Ny (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 50 students), Rochester Classical Academy (religious, grades PK–5, 49 students) and Ora Academy (religious · all-girls, grades 9–12, 18 students). Rochester also has 14 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Rochester families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rochester → 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.