Hornell City School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Hornell City School District

Hornell City School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve across three buildings in Steuben County. The district has a mid-sized enrollment for its region, with a student body that is predominantly white but includes growing shares of students of color, particularly Hispanic and multiracial students. The district is state-tested in grades three through eight in mathematics, English language arts, and science; graduation data for the high school was not provided.

Recent state assessment results show proficiency concentrated in the lower range. In mathematics, proficiency ranges from roughly one in four students (in grades four through six) to about one in two (in grade eight), with sixth grade showing the lowest performance. English language arts follows a similar pattern, with proficiency lowest in grade eight and strongest in grade six. Science proficiency in grades five and eight sits in the low range. Across all tested subjects and grades, the district's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile when compared with other districts in Steuben County. A parent evaluating academics on state test results alone would see persistent gaps that warrant conversation with the school about instructional support and remediation strategies.

Chronic absenteeism is notably high, also placing the district in the bottom quartile among county peers. This metric often correlates with academic performance and is worth exploring directly with the district, as it can signal transportation barriers, health issues, school engagement, or underlying factors that might affect your family's experience.

The district maintains relatively modest per-pupil spending compared to county peers, falling in the lower-to-middle range. However, the community has authorized two substantial capital referendums in back-to-back years, both structured to avoid property tax increases by drawing on state aid and reserves. The first, approved in December 2022, is funding a two-story addition and renovations to the Intermediate School plus security and facility upgrades at the High School and turf and tennis court reconstruction. A second, approved in December 2023, targets high school gymnasium reconstruction and roof repairs along with a future competition gym with an elevated track. Construction began in 2024-25.

The district has held annual tax levy increases below the state-imposed cap for ten consecutive years, keeping the school tax rate historically low, though spending and levy growth have accelerated recently. For families weighing affordability and housing costs, Hornell housing values have declined modestly year-over-year. Rental costs are moderate relative to regional income, and the combination of low property tax pressure and reasonable housing costs may appeal to families prioritizing financial predictability.

The district offers pre-kindergarten starting at age three, with both 3PK and 4PK programs featuring play-based learning and outdoor Forest School. Spots are allocated by lottery with resident preference when demand exceeds availability, so interested families should apply early but understand that placement is not guaranteed.

The district schools are North Hornell School, serving early grades; Hornell Intermediate School; and Hornell Junior-Senior High School. Detailed program offerings, staffing ratios, course breadth at the high school, and specialized services were not available in the data provided. A parent would want to contact the district directly to learn about advanced offerings, career pathways, special education support, and extracurricular options to assess fit beyond academics and tax policy.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,480

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

Black 3%

White 84%

Asian 1%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

60%

—

Gr 3

32%

50%

Gr 4

31%

60%

Gr 5

30%

48%

Gr 6

38%

57%

Gr 7

33%

45%

Gr 8

11%

40%

Math

Gr EOC

77%

—

Gr 3

35%

46%

Gr 4

13%

60%

Gr 5

27%

31%

Gr 6

18%

33%

Gr 7

34%

46%

Gr 8

40%

68%

Science

Gr EOC

83%

—

Gr 5

21%

38%

Gr 8

27%

42%

Social studies

Gr EOC

56%

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

HORNELL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

HORNELL JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

NORTH HORNELL SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

39%

Grade 3

31%

Grade 4

29%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 6

39%

Grade 7

51%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

42%

Grade 4

37%

Grade 5

44%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

25%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

27%

Grade 5

33%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$117,333

Year-over-year change-1.9%

vs. state typical0.23x

vs. national typical0.32x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
14843	Hornell	$117K	-1.9%	100.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,120/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
14843	Hornell	$1,120	—	100.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$592/mo

Home price / national median income1.4x

Annual rent / national median income16.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$528/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.