For the 2024-25 school year, there are 39 public schools serving 16,761 students in Jefferson County, NY (there are 7 private schools, serving 1,021 private students). 94% of all K-12 students in Jefferson County, NY are educated in public schools (compared to the NY state average of 85%).
The top ranked public schools in Jefferson County, NY are Carthage Senior High School, Watertown Senior High School and South Jefferson High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Jefferson County, NY public schools have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the New York public school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 49% statewide average). Schools in Jefferson County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of New York public schools.
Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New York public school average of 60% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Jefferson County (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Carthage Senior High School
Magnet School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
36500 Nys Rt 26
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5030
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5030
Grades: 9-12
| 815 students
Rank: #22.
Watertown Senior High School
Magnet School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1335 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3800
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3800
Grades: 9-12
| 1,083 students
Rank: #33.
South Jefferson High School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
11060 Us Rt 11
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Grades: 9-12
| 553 students
Rank: #44.
Thousand Islands High School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
8481 County Rt 9
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Grades: 9-12
| 247 students
Rank: #55.
Indian River High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
32925 Us Rt 11
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3427
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3427
Grades: 9-12
| 781 students
Rank: #66.
Alexandria Central High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
34 Bolton Ave
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-5113
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-5113
Grades: 7-12
| 229 students
Rank: #77.
Theresa Primary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
125 Bridge St
Theresa, NY 13691
(315) 628-4432
Theresa, NY 13691
(315) 628-4432
Grades: K-3
| 187 students
Rank: #88.
General Brown Junior-senior High School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
17643 Cemetery Rd
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Grades: 7-12
| 661 students
Rank: #99.
La Fargeville Central School
Magnet School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
20414 Sunrise Ave
La Fargeville, NY 13656
(315) 658-2241
La Fargeville, NY 13656
(315) 658-2241
Grades: PK-12
| 496 students
Rank: #1010.
Thousand Islands Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8487 County Rt 9
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Grades: 6-8
| 209 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Black River School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
160 Leray St
Black River, NY 13612
(315) 773-5911
Black River, NY 13612
(315) 773-5911
Grades: K-4
| 460 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Lyme Central School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
11868 Academy St
Chaumont, NY 13622
(315) 649-2417
Chaumont, NY 13622
(315) 649-2417
Grades: PK-12
| 337 students
Rank: #1313.
Sackets Harbor Central School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
215 S Broad St
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
(315) 646-3575
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
(315) 646-3575
Grades: PK-12
| 410 students
Rank: #1414.
Bashaw Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
410 S Esselstyne
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 654-2142
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 654-2142
Grades: PK-5
| 125 students
Rank: #1515.
Alexandria Central Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
34 Bolton Ave
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-9971
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-9971
Grades: PK-6
| 231 students
Rank: #1616.
Philadelphia Primary School
Magnet School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3 Sand St
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3432
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3432
Grades: PK-3
| 114 students
Rank: #1717.
Indian River Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
32735 County Rt 29
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0125
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0125
Grades: 6-8
| 672 students
Rank: #1818.
Evans Mills Primary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
8442 S Main St
Evans Mills, NY 13637
(315) 629-4331
Evans Mills, NY 13637
(315) 629-4331
Grades: PK-3
| 375 students
Rank: #1919.
Belleville Henderson Central School
Magnet School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
8372 County Rt 75
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 846-5121
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 846-5121
Grades: PK-12
| 502 students
Rank: #2020.
Dexter Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
415 E Grove St
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Grades: PK-2
| 316 students
Rank: #2121.
Guardino Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
600 High St
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #2222.
Carthage Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
21986 Cole Rd
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5020
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5020
Grades: 5-8
| 899 students
Rank: #2323.
Maynard P Wilson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
13180 Us Rt 11
Adams Center, NY 13606
(315) 583-5418
Adams Center, NY 13606
(315) 583-5418
Grades: PK-5
| 520 students
Rank: #2424.
Calcium Primary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
25440 Indian River Dr
Calcium, NY 13616
(315) 629-1100
Calcium, NY 13616
(315) 629-1100
Grades: PK-3
| 545 students
Rank: #2525.
Clarke Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
11060 Us Rt 11
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Grades: 6-8
| 435 students
Rank: #2626.
Antwerp Primary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
6 Academy St
Antwerp, NY 13608
(315) 659-8386
Antwerp, NY 13608
(315) 659-8386
Grades: K-3
| 185 students
Rank: #2727.
Harold T Wiley School
Magnet School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1351 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Grades: 5-6
| 574 students
Rank: #2828.
Sherman School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
836 Sherman St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Grades: K-4
| 320 students
Rank: #2929.
Indian River Intermediate School
Magnet School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
32430 Us Rt 11
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0405
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0405
Grades: 4-5
| 544 students
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Mannsville Manor Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
423 N Main St
Mannsville, NY 13661
(315) 465-4281
Mannsville, NY 13661
(315) 465-4281
Grades: PK-5
| 319 students
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
North Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
171 E Hoard St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3750
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3750
Grades: K-4
| 455 students
Rank: #3232.
Brownville School
Magnet School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
771 Main St
Brownville, NY 13615
(315) 779-2300
Brownville, NY 13615
(315) 779-2300
Grades: 3-6
| 409 students
Rank: #3333.
Case Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1237 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3870
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3870
Grades: 7-8
| 626 students
Rank: #3434.
Knickerbocker School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
739 Knickerbocker Dr
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Grades: K-4
| 364 students
Rank: #3535.
West Carthage Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
21568 Cole Rd
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-2400
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-2400
Grades: K-4
| 348 students
Show 4 more public schools in Jefferson County, NY (out of 39 total schools)
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Jefferson County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Cape Vincent Correction Facility (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
Rt 12e Box 599
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
(315) 654-4100
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
(315) 654-4100
Grades: Inquire with school
| 2 students
6 Institute St
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4841
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4841
Grades: K-6
| 216 students
Jefferson County Jail (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
311 N Massey St
Watertown, NY 13601
Watertown, NY 13601
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Watertown Correctional Facility (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
Dry Hl
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 782-7490
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 782-7490
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Jefferson County, NY?
The top ranked public schools in Jefferson County, NY include Carthage Senior High School, Watertown Senior High School and South Jefferson High School.
How many public schools are located in Jefferson County?
39 public schools are located in Jefferson County.
What percentage of students in Jefferson County go to public school?
94% of all K-12 students in Jefferson County are educated in public schools (compared to the NY state average of 85%).
What is the racial composition of students in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County public schools minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New York public schools average of 60% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Jefferson County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Jefferson County include: Knickerbocker School vs. Sherman School, Indian River High School vs. Carthage Senior High School, Evans Mills Primary School vs. Calcium Primary School
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