The 10 Best Public School Districts in the Syracuse Metro Area, Ranked by the Numbers

Every parent in Central New York has an opinion about which school district is the best. Here are the actual numbers.

This ranking uses verified data from Niche (2026), U.S. News (2025), the New York State Education Department, and PublicSchoolReview. The metrics that matter: graduation rates, math and reading proficiency scores, student-teacher ratios, and college readiness. Not reputation. Not vibes. Data.

1. Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District

F-M is the top-ranked district in the Syracuse metro area on both Niche (A+ overall) and U.S. News. It is not close.

F-M Senior High School ranks in the top 1% of all schools in New York for overall test scores. Math proficiency runs between 90-94%, nearly double the state average of 52%. Reading proficiency sits at 95% or higher, again nearly double the state average of 49%.

The district offers one of the widest Advanced Placement course selections in the region. F-M proudly displays its #1 Niche ranking on its own website. They earned it.

2. Skaneateles Central School District

Skaneateles Senior High ranks in the top 1% of all schools in New York. Math proficiency is 78%, reading proficiency is 73%, both well above state averages. The graduation rate is 95%. Niche gives the district an A+ overall.

The district is small (around 1,400 students) and benefits from one of the highest median household incomes in the region. The lakeside community has long been associated with academic achievement, and the data backs it up.

3. Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District

J-D might have the single most impressive number on this list: a 98% graduation rate, well above the 87% state average. The high school ranks in the top 5% statewide for test scores. Math proficiency runs 80-84%, reading proficiency 90-94%.

The district serves a suburban corridor between Syracuse and the eastern suburbs. Its combination of high graduation rates and strong test scores makes it one of the most consistently excellent districts in Upstate New York.

4. Westhill Central School District

The sleeper on this list. Westhill High School ranks in the top 5% of all schools in New York for overall test scores, both math and reading. The district is smaller and less well-known than F-M or Skaneateles, but the numbers put it right there.

Located in the Town of Onondaga just south of Syracuse, Westhill punches above its weight class academically. The 95% graduation rate matches Skaneateles.

5. Cazenovia Central School District

Cazenovia ranks #3 in the Syracuse metro area on U.S. News and consistently appears in the top 10 on Niche. The small village district about 20 minutes southeast of Syracuse combines a rural community feel with academic results that compete with much larger suburban districts.

6. Marcellus Central School District

Marcellus is another small district that delivers. Enrollment is around 1,600, but the academic results consistently place it among the top performers in Onondaga County. The district benefits from strong community support and experienced teachers.

7. West Genesee Central School District

West Genesee serves around 4,500 students in the Camillus and Fairmount area. The district ranks in the top 30% statewide for test scores. It offers a strong mix of academics and athletics, and the graduation rate has held steady in the low 90s.

8. Baldwinsville Central School District

B-ville is the largest district on this list outside of Liverpool, serving around 5,000 students. Math proficiency is 54% (just above the 52% state average) and reading is 50% (just above 49% state average). The graduation rate of 95% is strong, having improved from 91% over five years. Niche gives it a B+.

Baldwinsville has invested heavily in career and technical education, partnering with local businesses on vocational training programs since 2023.

9. Liverpool Central School District

Liverpool serves over 7,000 students, making it one of the largest districts in Onondaga County. The graduation rate sits around 90%. Liverpool has invested in its arts and STEM programs and benefits from a large, diverse student body. Niche gives it a B+.

10. East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District

ESM rounds out the top 10 with a B+ from Niche and a graduation rate around 89%. The district serves the East Syracuse and Minoa communities east of the city and has been working to improve test scores and college readiness metrics.

What About Syracuse City Schools?

The Syracuse City School District is the largest in the region with over 20,000 students. It is also one of the most challenged. The district has made investments in technology and equity programs, but graduation rates and proficiency scores remain well below the suburban districts on this list. SCSD faces structural challenges that smaller, wealthier suburban districts do not, including higher poverty rates, more English language learners, and a larger special education population.

Syracuse City is not on this list because the data does not support it. That does not diminish the work happening in SCSD classrooms. It means the district is solving different problems than Fayetteville-Manlius.

What to Know

• F-M is #1 by every major ranking system (Niche A+, U.S. News #1 in metro)
• Skaneateles and J-D round out the top 3 with top-1% and top-5% statewide test scores
• J-D has the highest graduation rate on the list at 98%
• Baldwinsville’s graduation rate improved from 91% to 95% in five years
• Westhill is the sleeper pick, ranking top 5% statewide despite lower name recognition
• Syracuse City is not ranked due to below-average proficiency and graduation metrics

Sources: Niche 2026 Best School Districts, U.S. News 2025 Best High Schools, NYSED Data Site, PublicSchoolReview 2026.