For the 2025 school year, there are 39 public schools serving 16,927 students in Jefferson County, NY (there are 7 private schools, serving 1,021 private students). 94% of all K-12 students in Jefferson County, NY are educated in public schools (compared to the NY state average of 85%).
The top ranked public schools in Jefferson County, NY are Carthage Senior High School, Watertown Senior High School and South Jefferson High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Jefferson County, NY public schools have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the New York public school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 49% statewide average). Schools in Jefferson County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of New York public schools.
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New York public school average of 60% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Jefferson County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Carthage Senior High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
36500 Nys Rt 26
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5030
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5030
Grades: 9-12
| 845 students
Rank: #22.
Watertown Senior High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1335 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3800
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3800
Grades: 9-12
| 1,139 students
Rank: #33.
South Jefferson High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
11060 Us Rt 11
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Grades: 9-12
| 589 students
Rank: #44.
Thousand Islands High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
8481 County Rt 9
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Grades: 9-12
| 253 students
Rank: #55.
Indian River High School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
32925 Us Rt 11
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3427
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3427
Grades: 9-12
| 795 students
Rank: #66.
Alexandria Central High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
34 Bolton Ave
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-5113
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-5113
Grades: 7-12
| 224 students
Rank: #77.
Theresa Primary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
125 Bridge St
Theresa, NY 13691
(315) 628-4432
Theresa, NY 13691
(315) 628-4432
Grades: K-3
| 193 students
Rank: #88.
General Brown Junior-senior High School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
17643 Cemetery Rd
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Grades: 7-12
| 654 students
Rank: #99.
La Fargeville Central School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
20414 Sunrise Ave
La Fargeville, NY 13656
(315) 658-2241
La Fargeville, NY 13656
(315) 658-2241
Grades: PK-12
| 465 students
Rank: #1010.
Thousand Islands Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8487 County Rt 9
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Grades: 6-8
| 192 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Black River School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
160 Leray St
Black River, NY 13612
(315) 773-5911
Black River, NY 13612
(315) 773-5911
Grades: PK-4
| 546 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Lyme Central School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
11868 Academy St
Chaumont, NY 13622
(315) 649-2417
Chaumont, NY 13622
(315) 649-2417
Grades: PK-12
| 345 students
Rank: #1313.
Sackets Harbor Central School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
215 S Broad St
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
(315) 646-3575
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
(315) 646-3575
Grades: PK-12
| 399 students
Rank: #1414.
Bashaw Elementary School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
410 S Esselstyne
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 654-2142
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 654-2142
Grades: PK-5
| 114 students
Rank: #1515.
Alexandria Central Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
34 Bolton Ave
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-9971
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
(315) 482-9971
Grades: PK-6
| 249 students
Rank: #1616.
Philadelphia Primary School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3 Sand St
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3432
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-3432
Grades: PK-3
| 121 students
Rank: #1717.
Indian River Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
32735 County Rt 29
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0125
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0125
Grades: 6-8
| 725 students
Rank: #1818.
Evans Mills Primary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
8442 S Main St
Evans Mills, NY 13637
(315) 629-4331
Evans Mills, NY 13637
(315) 629-4331
Grades: PK-3
| 328 students
Rank: #1919.
Belleville Henderson Central School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
8372 County Rt 75
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 846-5121
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 846-5121
Grades: PK-12
| 503 students
Rank: #2020.
Dexter Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
415 E Grove St
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Dexter, NY 13634
(315) 779-2300
Grades: PK-2
| 322 students
Rank: #2121.
Guardino Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
600 High St
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-5594
Grades: PK-5
| 263 students
Rank: #2222.
Carthage Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
21986 Cole Rd
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5020
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-5020
Grades: 5-8
| 930 students
Rank: #2323.
Maynard P Wilson Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
13180 Us Rt 11
Adams Center, NY 13606
(315) 583-5418
Adams Center, NY 13606
(315) 583-5418
Grades: PK-5
| 479 students
Rank: #2424.
Calcium Primary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
25440 Indian River Dr
Calcium, NY 13616
(315) 629-1100
Calcium, NY 13616
(315) 629-1100
Grades: PK-3
| 540 students
Rank: #2525.
Clarke Middle School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
11060 Us Rt 11
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4531
Grades: 6-8
| 404 students
Rank: #2626.
Antwerp Primary School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
6 Academy St
Antwerp, NY 13608
(315) 659-8386
Antwerp, NY 13608
(315) 659-8386
Grades: PK-3
| 157 students
Rank: #2727.
Harold T Wiley School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1351 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Grades: 5-6
| 621 students
Rank: #2828.
Sherman School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
836 Sherman St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Grades: K-4
| 311 students
Rank: #2929.
Indian River Intermediate School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
32430 Us Rt 11
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0405
Philadelphia, NY 13673
(315) 642-0405
Grades: 4-5
| 539 students
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Mannsville Manor Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
423 N Main St
Mannsville, NY 13661
(315) 465-4281
Mannsville, NY 13661
(315) 465-4281
Grades: PK-5
| 330 students
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
North Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
171 E Hoard St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3750
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3750
Grades: K-4
| 440 students
Rank: #3232.
Brownville School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
771 Main St
Brownville, NY 13615
(315) 779-2300
Brownville, NY 13615
(315) 779-2300
Grades: 3-6
| 372 students
Rank: #3333.
Case Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1237 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3870
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3870
Grades: 7-8
| 591 students
Rank: #3434.
Knickerbocker School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
739 Knickerbocker Dr
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Grades: K-4
| 360 students
Rank: #3535.
West Carthage Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
21568 Cole Rd
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-2400
Carthage, NY 13619
(315) 493-2400
Grades: PK-4
| 390 students
Show 4 more public schools in Jefferson County, NY (out of 39 total schools)
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Jefferson County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Cape Vincent Correction Facility (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
Rt 12e Box 599
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
(315) 654-4100
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
(315) 654-4100
Grades: Inquire with school
| 2 students
6 Institute St
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4841
Adams, NY 13605
(315) 232-4841
Grades: K-6
| 216 students
Jefferson County Jail (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
311 N Massey St
Watertown, NY 13601
Watertown, NY 13601
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Watertown Correctional Facility (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
Dry Hl
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 782-7490
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 782-7490
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Jefferson County, NY?
The top ranked public schools in Jefferson County, NY include Carthage Senior High School, Watertown Senior High School and South Jefferson High School.
How many public schools are located in Jefferson County?
39 public schools are located in Jefferson County.
What percentage of students in Jefferson County go to public school?
94% of all K-12 students in Jefferson County are educated in public schools (compared to the NY state average of 85%).
What is the racial composition of students in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County public schools minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New York public schools average of 60% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Jefferson County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Jefferson County include: Knickerbocker School vs. Sherman School, Indian River High School vs. Carthage Senior High School, Evans Mills Primary School vs. Calcium Primary School
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