Best Public Schools in Rochester, NY

The city of Rochester, New York is home to 110 schools, including 70 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, 21 high schools, and 5 alternative schools. The data reveals significant disparities in educational outcomes between schools in the city and its surrounding suburbs.

A few standout schools include Brighton High School, which ranks 118th out of 1,242 high schools in New York and has strong test scores, and Twelve Corners Middle School, which ranks 201st out of 1,504 middle schools in the state with very high proficiency rates. In contrast, many schools in the Rochester City School District struggle, with low proficiency rates, high chronic absenteeism, and very high poverty levels.

The data also highlights the performance of some charter schools, like True North Rochester Preparatory Charter School, which has high enrollment and strong math proficiency. However, spending per student does not necessarily correlate with better outcomes, as the highest-spending schools are in the Rochester City district yet have the poorest performance. Addressing systemic challenges, such as poverty, resource allocation, and instructional quality, will be crucial to improving educational equity across the city.