Public schools in Cortland, NY
5 open public schools with an address in Cortland, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,836
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.4:1
New York median 11.1:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Cortland public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Cortland, NY: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,836 students, an average of 367 per school. The largest campus is Cortland High School (582 students), and the largest elementary school is Franklyn S Barry Primary School (417).
Every listed school belongs to Cortland City School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 10.4:1, lower than the statewide school median of 11.1:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 57% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Cortland
Elementary schools in Cortland
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fe Smith Intermediate School Cortland City School District | 03–04 | 291 | 11.5:1 | |
| Franklyn S Barry Primary School Cortland City School District | PK–02 | 417 | 11.1:1 |
Middle schools in Cortland
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland Junior High School Cortland City School District | 07–08 | 274 | 9.6:1 | |
| Randall Middle School Cortland City School District | 05–06 | 272 | 8.8:1 |
High schools in Cortland
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland High School Cortland City School District | 09–12 | 582 | 10.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White86.5%
- Hispanic3.7%
- Black3%
- Asian1.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial5.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Cortland schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,836 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Cortland
How many public schools are in Cortland, NY?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Cortland: 2 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 1,836 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Cortland?
All listed public schools with an address in Cortland belong to Cortland City School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Cortland?
Cortland High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Cortland, with 582 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Cortland?
No school with an address in Cortland is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in New York.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Cortland schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Cortland public schools is 10.4:1, lower than the New York school median of 11.1:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Cortland guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby New York cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All New York cities