Lafayette Central School District, NY

Original Research by School Decision on Lafayette Central School District

Lafayette Central School District serves a small rural community in Onondaga County across three schools spanning PreK through 12. The district enrolls a student body that is notably diverse in one dimension: roughly two-fifths identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, while the majority of the remaining enrollment is white. The district's racial and ethnic composition reflects both the broader character of the region and the historical presence of the Onondaga Nation, one of the five nations of the Haudenosaurit Confederacy, whose school the district operates.

Academic proficiency across the district is below the midpoint among Onondaga County's districts. In math, tested grades show proficiency rates ranging from the upper twenties to the high forties across grades three through eight. English Language Arts proficiency sits in a similar band, with most grades in the mid-thirties to low forties. Science proficiency, reported for grades five and eight, falls notably lower, particularly in grade eight where it dips to the low twenties. Proficiency across tested subjects and grades combined places the district in the bottom quartile of county districts. Participation rates in testing are generally high, suggesting these results reflect actual student performance rather than incomplete testing.

Chronic absenteeism in the district runs at a notably high rate, above the county median. This is a material factor in understanding academic outcomes: regular attendance is foundational to learning gains, and persistently high absenteeism often correlates with both lower test results and challenges in classroom instruction. A parent may want to look into this further with the district to understand root causes and what supports exist for consistent attendance.

The district operates with per-pupil spending in the upper range for the county, well above the county median. This spending difference does not appear to correlate with higher proficiency outcomes relative to other districts, a pattern that can reflect either the cost structure of serving a dispersed rural area, the needs of the population served, or both, and warrants conversation with district leadership about how resources are deployed.

Two recent district initiatives offer a window into the instructional direction. In October, voters approved a capital project focused on air quality, accessibility, health infrastructure, and expanded spaces for project-based learning across the elementary and junior/senior high schools. More significantly, the district now runs the LaFayette Big Picture School, a grades 9-12 choice high school built on personalized, project-based learning with real-world internships and small advisory groups. This school emerged from a small at-risk program and has evolved into a college-preparatory pathway where students earn a New York State Regents diploma while spending sustained time each week learning alongside professional mentors in the workplace. For families seeking a non-traditional high school model grounded in real work and personalized advising, this represents a distinct option within the district.

Housing values in the area are moderate for the region, centered on communities like La Fayette and Jamesville. The local housing market shows balanced supply and strong demand, with active listings and pending sales both in a healthier range than the prior year.

The district is small and rural, and its academic results suggest it is in a period where proficiency gaps are substantial. The combination of high absenteeism, well-funded operations, and emerging pedagogical choices like Big Picture suggests the district is aware of challenges and is experimenting with alternative structures. Whether those changes will move proficiency outcomes meaningfully upward is not yet visible in current data.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

797

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 2%

Black 1%

White 57%

Asian 1%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 38%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr EOC

67%

—

Gr 3

30%

62%

Gr 4

26%

48%

Gr 5

27%

44%

Gr 6

21%

48%

Gr 7

36%

35%

Gr 8

22%

59%

Math

Gr EOC

70%

—

Gr 3

24%

90%

Gr 4

34%

63%

Gr 5

19%

38%

Gr 6

10%

67%

Gr 7

41%

50%

Gr 8

18%

61%

Science

Gr EOC

60%

—

Gr 5

30%

50%

Gr 8

24%

21%

Social studies

Gr EOC

59%

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

C GRANT GRIMSHAW SCHOOL

LA FAYETTE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

ONONDAGA NATION SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

48%

Grade 3

47%

Grade 4

28%

Grade 5

34%

Grade 6

46%

Grade 7

40%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

41%

Grade 3

36%

Grade 4

35%

Grade 5

32%

Grade 6

35%

Grade 7

42%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

40%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$297,655

Year-over-year change+7.1%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$144K to $431K

vs. state typical0.58x

vs. national typical0.81x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
13084	La Fayette	$300K	+6.1%	53.2%
13120	Nedrow	$177K	+9.5%	22.2%
13078	Jamesville	$431K	+7.2%	19.2%
13159	Tully	$307K	+7.0%	5.1%
13205	Syracuse	$144K	+8.9%	0.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,502/mo

Home price / national median income3.5x

Market Activity: Onondaga County

Median listing price$345,000

Median listing price YoY-13.5%

Median price per sq ft$211

Median price per sq ft YoY+12.2%

Median days on market48.0 days

Median days on market YoY-5.9%

Active listings439

Active listings YoY+1.1%

New listings432

New listings YoY-6.1%

Pending listings1,146

Pending listings YoY+34.0%

Hotness: median listing price$304,950

Hotness: median listing price YoY-23.8%

Supply score57.2

Supply score YoY+25.6%

Demand score96.3

Demand score YoY-0.4%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

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.