Cazenovia Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Cazenovia Central School District

Cazenovia Central School District is a small PreK through Grade 12 district in Madison County serving a community that has historically been stable and prosperous, though one facing real fiscal strain in recent years. The district sits in a rural setting with a student body that is predominantly white, and enrollment falls in the small-to-mid range for a rural upstate New York district. Housing values in the district's footprint remain above state benchmarks, reflecting the relative affluence of Cazenovia village itself and surrounding towns.

Academically, the district's test performance is mixed. In mathematics, students show uneven results across grades. Third and fourth graders are below the midpoint in proficiency, while performance strengthens noticeably by sixth through eighth grade, where proficiency rates are substantially higher. English language arts follows a similar arc: third grade and fourth grade perform below midpoint, then improve moving into the middle grades, with eighth graders reaching a notably higher level. Science testing occurs only in fifth and eighth grades; fifth grade science proficiency is below midpoint, while eighth grade rebounds to a stronger level. The pattern across subjects and grades suggests that students gain ground as they progress through middle school, which may reflect the curriculum, instruction, or simply grade-level maturation. However, elementary performance across both math and reading lags, and a parent evaluating whether to enter their child in early grades should be aware of these results and may want to explore the district's literacy and numeracy initiatives directly with the schools.

Among Madison County's nine districts, Cazenovia ranks in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. The district also sits in the top quartile for chronic absenteeism rates, meaning students attend more consistently than the median county district. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range among county districts, which reflects both the district's smaller enrollment and its constrained budget environment.

That constraint is real. The district has faced budget failures in both 2024 and 2025, with proposed budgets exceeding the state property tax cap and requiring revisions before voter approval. The district receives below-average state aid relative to community wealth, placing greater reliance on local property taxes. This fiscal pressure has been publicly visible and contested, and it shapes what programs and staffing the district can sustain. Parents considering the district should understand that school funding remains tight and that property taxes bear much of the load.

On the positive side, the district has made recent facility investments that families value. A new Emory Avenue Athletic Complex with two synthetic turf fields opened in late 2024, following voter approval of a capital project in 2022. This is a tangible upgrade to athletics and physical education facilities. Additionally, the district offers a free, full-day Universal PreKindergarten program operating five days a week, which is a meaningful option for families with young children.

The district operates three schools: Burton Street Elementary, Cazenovia Middle School, and Cazenovia High School. No data on high school graduation rates, AP offerings, or career pathways is available in the information provided. State testing results for high school grades were not reported, likely because New York's state assessments focus on the elementary and middle grades included in the data above. A parent with a high school student considering the district should research the high school directly to understand course breadth, college preparation offerings, and post-secondary outcomes.

Overall, Cazenovia is a small, stable, academically mixed district with above-county proficiency in a modest, rural setting where school funding is politically contested but community support remains intact. It serves families who value small-town character and access to athletics, and who can sustain a property-tax burden. The elementary grades show room for improvement in reading and math, while middle grades perform comparatively well. The fiscal environment is tighter than the community's housing values might suggest.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,339

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 0%

White 94%

Asian 1%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

81%

—

Gr 3

32%

61%

Gr 4

33%

51%

Gr 5

26%

58%

Gr 6

44%

70%

Gr 7

29%

68%

Gr 8

55%

83%

Math

Gr EOC

68%

—

Gr 3

39%

66%

Gr 4

48%

63%

Gr 5

50%

66%

Gr 6

55%

77%

Gr 7

40%

78%

Gr 8

67%

87%

Science

Gr 5

32%

59%

Gr 8

50%

80%

Social studies

Gr EOC

69%

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

BURTON STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CAZENOVIA HIGH SCHOOL

CAZENOVIA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

60%

Grade 3

58%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

71%

Grade 6

64%

Grade 7

79%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

54%

Grade 3

46%

Grade 4

51%

Grade 5

63%

Grade 6

53%

Grade 7

74%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

53%

Grade 5

70%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$352,123

Year-over-year change+5.5%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$145K to $457K

vs. state typical0.69x

vs. national typical0.96x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
13035	Cazenovia	$397K	+5.2%	56.7%
13061	Erieville	$288K	+6.2%	16.6%
13122	New Woodstock	$258K	+4.6%	10.0%
13104	Manlius	$457K	+8.5%	6.1%
13032	Canastota	$221K	+4.9%	5.3%
13037	Chittenango	$266K	+6.1%	5.1%
13072	Georgetown	$145K	+10.2%	0.1%
13052	De Ruyter	$245K	+6.6%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,800/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
13104	Manlius	$2,800	—	6.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,777/mo

Home price / national median income4.2x

Annual rent / national median income40.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$1,023/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$510,449 (+5.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.