Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

New York · Public School District
31
Schools
18,352
Students
$29,229
Per-Pupil Spend
+104% nat'l
83.8%
Free Lunch Rate
+32pp vs nat'l
63.0%
Graduation Rate
-23.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is a public school district in New York serving 18,352 students across 31 schools. It includes 19 elementary, 6 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 63.0% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $29,229 is above average for a US public school district. 84% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 39/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$29,229+104% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
66%
State
65.7%
Local (property tax)
11.5%
Federal
22.8%

State funding accounts for 66% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
31
Schools
18,352
Students
84%
Free Lunch
$29K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate63.0%
Opportunity Score39/100
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $29,229 per pupil — 104% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 31 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 63.0%, graduation is 23.5 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
84% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
23% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT has 31 public schools, serving a total of 18,352 students.
What is the graduation rate for SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
The graduation rate is 63.0%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $29,229 per pupil — 104% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
84% of students in SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
No, SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT serve?
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
The median opportunity score across schools in SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is 39/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.