Public schools in Elmira, NY
12 open public schools with an address in Elmira, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,390
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.4:1
New York median 11.1:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Elmira public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Elmira, NY: 8 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,390 students, an average of 449 per school. The largest campus is Elmira High School (1,273 students), and the largest elementary school is Finn Academy: an Elmira Charter School (411).
Elmira City School District operates the most schools here (10), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 13.4:1, higher 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.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 0 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 71% 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 Elmira
Elementary schools in Elmira
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadway Elementary School Elmira City School District | 03–06 | 364 | 12.6:1 | |
| Diven School Elmira City School District | PK–02 | 325 | 15.2:1 | |
| Fassett Elementary School Elmira City School District | PK–02 | 295 | 13.4:1 | |
| Finn Academy: an Elmira Charter School Finn Academy: an Elmira Charter School · Charter | KG–06 | 411 | 13.3:1 | |
| Hendy Avenue School Elmira City School District | 03–06 | 391 | 15.9:1 | |
| Parley Coburn School Elmira City School District | 03–06 | 391 | 13.4:1 | |
| Riverside Elementary Elmira City School District | PK–02 | 375 | 17.9:1 | |
| Thomas K Beecher School Elmira City School District | 03–06 | 338 | 11.8:1 |
Middle schools in Elmira
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernie Davis Academy Elmira City School District | 07–08 | 844 | 12.7:1 |
High schools in Elmira
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira High School Elmira City School District | 10–12 | 1,273 | 22.4:1 | |
| Elmira Psychiatric Center New York State Office Mental Health (Omh) · Special Education School | 05–12 | 4 | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Elmira
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadway Academy Elmira City School District | 09–09 | 379 | 10.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White65.9%
- Hispanic5.2%
- Black13.6%
- Asian0.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial14.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Elmira schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,390 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Elmira
How many public schools are in Elmira, NY?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Elmira: 8 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 5,390 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Elmira?
Schools with an address in Elmira belong to 3 education agencies, led by Elmira City School District (10 schools), Finn Academy: an Elmira Charter School (1 school), New York State Office Mental Health (Omh) (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Elmira?
Elmira High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Elmira, with 1,273 students in 2024–25 (grades 10–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Elmira?
Yes. 1 of the 12 public schools in Elmira are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Finn Academy: an Elmira Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Elmira schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Elmira public schools is 13.4:1, higher 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 Elmira 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