Groton Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Groton Central School District

Groton Central School District in Tompkins County is a small rural district serving pre-K through grade twelve across two buildings: an elementary school and a combined junior/senior high school. The enrollment is small and stable, with students spread from early childhood through age eighteen.

State test results show mixed performance across elementary and middle grades. In the upper elementary years (grades four through six), proficiency rates tend to be stronger, particularly in English language arts where the majority of students in grades four and six meet state standards. Mathematics performance in these grades sits around mid-range. Third grade marks a weaker point in both subjects, with less than half of tested students meeting proficiency in either math or English language arts. In seventh and eighth grade, results dip again, with seven performing below fifty percent proficiency in both subjects. Eighth grade shows a modest recovery in math. Science proficiency data is available only for fifth and eighth grades; the fifth grade result is notably low, while eighth grade science performance is stronger. Across all tested grades, student participation in the assessments has been high, ranging from the high eighties to high nineties, suggesting minimal opt-out or absence rates on test days.

The district's overall proficiency rate across tested grades and subjects positions it above the midpoint among Tompkins County's districts. Chronic absenteeism is notably low, placing the district in the top quartile of its county, suggesting strong school engagement or attendance culture. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range compared to neighboring districts, which may reflect the small size and rural setting.

The student body is predominantly white, with smaller representations of Latino, multiracial, and Asian students. Demographic data on students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, students with IEPs, and English learners are not available in the provided data. Special population enrollment patterns, therefore, cannot be assessed from the information at hand.

The district has recently undergone visible changes. In late 2023, it retired the long-standing "Indians" mascot and adopted "Red Hawks" district-wide, following a 2022 state mandate on Native American imagery. In December 2021, voters approved a capital project that funded renovation of Ross Field into a multi-purpose sports complex, baseball field upgrades at the elementary school, and mechanical and plumbing system improvements at a tax-levy structure that did not raise local property taxes. More substantially, the district has built STEAM learning centers at both buildings, anchoring instruction in project-based learning organized around career clusters including building trades, computer science, engineering, agriculture technology, and communications and media arts. The district also operates a satellite STEAM Academy in partnership with the local BOCES, allowing junior and senior high students from nine districts to attend half-day programming in these areas.

Housing values in the district's zip codes are moderate, with a weighted home value around mid-range for the region. Mortgage affordability is reasonable relative to national standards, and rental costs are manageable. The economic context includes stable employment and median household income, though specific mortgage and unemployment figures were reviewed but are reported separately in the data sections.

A parent considering this district would encounter a small, rural setting with a clear commitment to career-connected learning and facility improvement, modest test proficiency with variation by grade level, and notably low chronic absenteeism. The trajectory of proficiency and the relative strength in grades four through six suggest the district may benefit from examining the third-grade transition and seventh-grade performance more closely.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

782

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

Black 1%

White 88%

Asian 1%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

60%

—

Gr 3

38%

50%

Gr 4

52%

79%

Gr 5

48%

79%

Gr 6

50%

83%

Gr 7

44%

52%

Gr 8

42%

67%

Math

Gr EOC

50%

—

Gr 3

38%

58%

Gr 4

37%

58%

Gr 5

52%

63%

Gr 6

71%

78%

Gr 7

44%

54%

Gr 8

53%

82%

Science

Gr EOC

63%

—

Gr 5

32%

58%

Gr 8

50%

75%

Social studies

Gr EOC

66%

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

GROTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

48%

Grade 3

47%

Grade 4

57%

Grade 5

76%

Grade 6

48%

Grade 7

69%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

65%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

73%

Grade 6

47%

Grade 7

55%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

44%

Grade 5

62%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$238,951

Year-over-year change+3.4%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$200K to $293K

vs. state typical0.47x

vs. national typical0.65x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
13073	Groton	$241K	+3.3%	68.0%
13092	Locke	$231K	+1.9%	19.3%
13045	Cortland	$200K	+7.2%	7.1%
13068	Freeville	$293K	+5.7%	5.6%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,333/mo

Year-over-year change+12.0%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
13045	Cortland	$1,333	+12.0%	7.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,206/mo

Home price / national median income2.9x

Annual rent / national median income19.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$127/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.