📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in New York

New York has 615 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts New York Sorted by rating — highest first
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Bellmore-Merrick Central High School DistrictBellmore-Merrick Central10/10  Excellent99th
#2Chappaqua Central School DistrictChappaqua10/10  Excellent99th
#3East Williston Union Free School DistrictEast Williston Union Free10/10  Excellent99th
#4Fishers Island Union Free School DistrictFishers Island Union Free10/10  Excellent99th
#5Jericho Union Free School DistrictJericho Union Free10/10  Excellent99th
#6North Shore Central School DistrictNorth Shore Central10/10  Excellent99th
#7Scarsdale Union Free School DistrictScarsdale10/10  Excellent99th
#8Byram Hills Central School DistrictArmonk10/10  Excellent98th
#9Cold Spring Harbor Central School DistrictCold Spring Harbor Central10/10  Excellent98th
#10Great Neck Union Free School DistrictGreat Neck Union Free10/10  Excellent98th
#11Herricks Union Free School DistrictHerricks Union Free10/10  Excellent98th
#12Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School DistrictPlainview-Old Bethpage Central10/10  Excellent98th
#13Three Village Central School DistrictThree10/10  Excellent98th
#14East Meadow Union Free School DistrictEast Meadow Union Free10/10  Excellent97th
#15Locust Valley Central School DistrictLocust Valley Central10/10  Excellent97th
#16Syosset Central School DistrictSyosset Central10/10  Excellent97th
#17Briarcliff Manor Union Free School DistrictBriarcliff Manor Union Free10/10  Excellent96th
#18Garden City Union Free School DistrictGarden10/10  Excellent96th
#19Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School DistrictHewlett-Woodmere Union Free10/10  Excellent96th
#20Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School DistrictKatonah-Lewisboro Union Free10/10  Excellent96th
#21Pittsford Central School DistrictPittsford10/10  Excellent96th
#22Roslyn Union Free School DistrictRoslyn Union Free10/10  Excellent96th
#23Amagansett Union Free School DistrictAmagansett Union Free10/10  Excellent95th
#24Bolton Central School DistrictBolton Central10/10  Excellent95th
#25Irvington Union Free School DistrictIrvington Union Free10/10  Excellent95th

Best School Districts in New York (2026)

This ranking covers 615 rated public school districts in New York, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.

A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in New York?
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District in Bellmore-Merrick Central, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores?
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.