Archive: Around Town

The Lansing Central School District ranks 7th out of 54 school districts in 2014 rankings of school districts in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins counties.  The Buffalo publication, Business First, analyzed four years of test scores and graduation rates including statewide English and math exams for third graders to high school Regents exams in coming up with this year's rankings.  The Ithaca City School District also made the top ten.

"It feels good to be recognized for the exceptional efforts our students, families, faculty, staff, and administrators put into our school everyday day," says Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso.  "Our community truly values education and the opportunities LCSD offers students."

The Fayetteville-Manlius district ranked at the top of the list, followed by Skaneateles, Cazenovia, Westhill, Jamesville-DeWitt, Marcellus, Lansing, Fabius-Pompey, West Genesee and Ithaca.  Of other Tompkins County schools that made the list Dryden ranked 22nd, Trumansburg 23rd, Newfield 36th, and Groton 49th.  The Syracuse school district had the lowest ranking.

Fayetteville-Manlius also topped the list of students going on to four-year colleges.  86.8% of its 2013 graduates attended four-year schools.   40.23% of 86 Lansing graduates    attended four year colleges, with another 42.53% going to two-year schools.  14.94% went directly into the workforce.  Those numbers put Lansing right in the middle, by percentages, of Tompkins County schools, both for four year and two year colleges.

In a ranking of the top 100 school districts in Upstate New York earlier this year the publication ranked Lansing 38th, with a four star ranking in English/Foreign Language and five stars in math, science and social studies.  Ithaca ranked 48th.  Fayetteville-Manlius was the runner up in that ranking with Pittsfield coming out on top.

Overall Lansing did very well state-wide, including Lansing High School being named a Reward School, and receiving a certificate of recognition for the achievement.  Reward Schools are schools that have high achievement or schools that have made the most progress in the state.  They also don't have significant gaps in student achievement between subgroups.

According to the State Education Department Reward Schools must

Be among the top twenty percent of schools in the state for English language arts (ELA) and math performance for both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years or be among the top ten percent of schools in terms of gains in ELA and math performance in the 2012-13 school year.
Have made Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years for all groups of students on all measures for which the school is accountable, including the requirement that 95% of all groups participate in the English language arts and mathematics assessments.
Not have unacceptably large gaps in the student performance on an accountability measure between students who are members of an accountability group (e.g., low-income students) and students who are not members of that group.

"Everyday I feel fortunate to be part of Lansing Schools and the larger community," Pettograsso says.  "This recognition provides us an opportunity to pause, reflect on our accomplishments and be thankful.  Our ultimate goal remains the same however; how can we make sure every student receives the best Lansing education and experience possible?"

Business First uses test result data from the New York State Department of Education in determining school rankings.

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