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Saranac Lake - Lake FlowerPhoto: Mwanner at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
B
Schools in Saranac Lake · Saranac Lake Central School District

Saranac Lake’s public schools outscore 60% of New York districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Saranac Lake, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Saranac Lake’s districts is 39%, below the New York average (46%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#294of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 86% 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
44%
▼ 5 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▼ 8 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 8–13 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$32.8K
▼ 5% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
9.4
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,036 students on the public path
In brief

Saranac Lake’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 921 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Saranac Lake’s, its schools beat 82%, higher than their 60% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 44% of tested students were proficient in reading and 39% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 86% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across New York (the state reports Saranac Lake’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $32,834 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Saranac Lake Middle School, then Saranac Lake Senior High School. 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 Saranac Lake’s grade

C+ Test scoresA Graduation

B: better than 60% of New York school districts, #294 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 60%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (921)Better than 82%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 498 test results and a graduating class of 84 could put Saranac Lake anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 86% of Saranac Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (509 in math, 487 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC−
6–8Saranac Lake Middle SchoolSaranac Lake Central School DistrictC−
9–12Saranac Lake Senior High SchoolSaranac Lake Central School DistrictA+

Saranac Lake’s public schools are run by Saranac Lake Central School District, which also serves Brighton, Franklin, Harrietstown and Santa Clara and others. 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.

Saranac Lake Central School DistrictGrades K–12 · 4 schools · 1,036 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 9.4 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$32,834NY $34,607 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading44%
State average 48.9% · 487 students tested
Math39%
State average 46.5% · 509 students tested

Saranac Lake vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Saranac LakeBSaranac Lake Central
North ElbaB−Lake Placid Central
St. ArmandBSaranac Lake Central
HarrietstownBSaranac Lake Central

2 of the 3 neighbors share Saranac Lake Central with Saranac Lake, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Saranac Lake

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 Saranac Lakein other towns
Petrova Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
291 students9:1Rate it →
Bloomingdale School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
103 students13:1Rate it →
Saranac Lake Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
282 students10:1Rate it →
Saranac Lake Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12
A+
360 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Saranac Lake’s schools

Are Saranac Lake’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of New York: the public schools Saranac Lake children attend outscore 60% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #294 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 82%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Saranac Lake in?

Saranac Lake Central School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,036 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Saranac Lake kids go to high school?

Saranac Lake Senior High School, with 360 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Saranac Lake’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Saranac Lake spend per student?

$32,834 in Saranac Lake Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Saranac Lake families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Saranac Lake → 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.