The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Social studies. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Beverly J Martin Elementary School
Beverly J. Martin Elementary sits on West Buffalo Street in Ithaca, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Ithaca City School District. The school's enrollment is small to mid-sized for its grade band, and the student body is genuinely mixed: white students make up the largest share, followed by Black students, Hispanic students, and students of two or more races, with smaller Asian and other populations. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which puts Martin among the more economically diverse elementary schools in this college city. Data on English learner and special education rates were not available in what we reviewed.
State assessment results on the New York State Testing Program are reported for grades three through five in math, ELA, and science. Across all three grades and subjects, proficiency rates are low, with most grades landing well below what the state considers the midpoint. Fourth grade shows the strongest results in both math and ELA, where roughly half or fewer of tested students reached proficiency, while third and fifth grade math results are lower still. Science proficiency at fifth grade follows a similar pattern. Taken together, Beverly J. Martin's overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint among districts in Tompkins County, based on that comparison set. These are the most recent state results on record; trend data across multiple years was not available, so it is not possible to say from this data whether scores have been improving, declining, or holding steady. A parent who wants to understand what the school is doing in response to these patterns may want to ask directly, particularly given that the district recently adopted new standardized curricula for core subjects including reading and writing, a shift that is still working its way through classrooms.
Participation rates on state tests are worth noting. Across grades, a meaningful share of enrolled students did not sit for the assessments, which means the reported proficiency figures reflect only those who participated. That gap can sometimes shift the picture in either direction, and it is worth asking the school how it thinks about assessment participation.
The Ithaca community itself is a college city anchored by Cornell University on East Hill and Ithaca College on South Hill, with a downtown pedestrian commons at its center. The Commons, a car-free brick-paved district, functions as the cultural and commercial heart of the city, with independently owned shops, restaurants, and regular street life. Public transit, provided by TCAT across roughly three dozen bus routes, connects neighborhoods to the downtown hub and to the university campuses. The Cayuga Waterfront Trail and the Black Diamond Trail give families outdoor access, and the Tompkins County Public Library sits a short walk from the Commons. Housing values in the area sit below the statewide median but above the national median, with modest year-over-year appreciation. Rents consume a meaningful share of typical income, which reflects the dynamics of a college-town market where student demand competes with permanent residents.
At the district level, families should be aware of several active developments. Voters in 2025 approved a substantial capital bond measure covering building construction, site improvements, and transportation infrastructure, a multi-year commitment that will affect local property tax bills. The prior year's proposed budget was rejected by voters, a sign that tax pressure in the district is a live issue. More directly relevant to families with children at an elementary school like Martin: a Cornell-conducted demographic study released publicly in early 2026 found steep enrollment declines across most district elementary buildings, with many operating well below capacity. The board has commissioned further study and publicly stated there are no active closure plans, but consolidation of elementary schools has entered the conversation. Families considering a long-term move into the district's attendance zone should track this question, since boundaries and school assignments could change.
Beverly J. Martin is a neighborhood elementary school in a walkable, economically and racially diverse city. Its academic results as measured by state testing are below the county midpoint, and a parent would do well to ask the school directly about its instructional supports, particularly in math and literacy, and about how it is implementing the district's new curriculum.
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