Fayetteville-Manlius School District students, staff and community members have a lot to be proud of: The district is again being recognized as the best school district in the Syracuse area and is among the top school districts in New York state, according to Niche’s 2020 Best Schools in America Rankings and Grades.
Comprised of data scientists, engineers and parents, the Niche organization each year analyzes dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews to produce comprehensive rankings, report cards, and profiles for every K-12 school, college and neighborhood in the United States.
On Aug. 7, the organization released its 2020 Best Schools report, which ranks more than 100,000 public and private schools and districts across the country. In addition to its top Syracuse Area ranking, F-M is noted in the rankings as the 10th best district in New York state (out of 677 districts); the fourth safest school district in the state; 13th in the state for having the best teachers; 26th on the Best Places to Teach in New York list; and 153 on the Best School Districts for Athletes in New York, according to the report.
When compared to all of the school districts in the Syracuse area, F-M is ranked as the best school district, the safest district, the best place to teach, and the district with the best teachers. It ranks locally as the 12th best school district for athletes.
In addition to the district being recognized, F-M’s six schools are each highlighted in the rankings.
Fayetteville-Manlius High School is ranked first in Niche’s Best Public High School in Syracuse Area list. The high school also earned spots on several other lists: It was ranked 39th as having the best public high school teachers in the state; 44 of 1,243 on the Best Public High Schools in New York list; and 59 on the Best College Prep Public High School in New York list.
The district’s two middle schools earned the top two spots on the Best Public Middle Schools in Syracuse Area list. Eagle Hill Middle School is ranked first, and Wellwood Middle School is ranked second.
In addition, Eagle Hill is ranked 21 of 1,211 middle schools in the state; first for having the best middle school teachers in the Syracuse Area; and 70th for having the best middle school teachers in the state.
Wellwood is ranked 41 of 1,211 schools in the state and 88 in the state for having the best middle school teachers.
The district’s three elementary schools rose to the top of the Best Public Elementary Schools in Syracuse Area list.
Enders Road Elementary School is ranked first in the Best Public Elementary Schools in Syracuse Area list; 37 of 2,453 elementary schools in the state; and 37 in the state for having the best elementary school teachers.
Mott Road Elementary School is ranked second in the Best Public Elementary Schools in Syracuse Area list and 65th in the state. It is ranked 205th in the state as having the best elementary school teachers.
Fayetteville Elementary School is ranked third in the Best Public Elementary Schools in Syracuse Area list and 76th in the state. It is ranked 96 in the state as having the best elementary school teachers.
The Niche rankings are based on such data as state test scores, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, health and safety, culture and diversity, teachers, resources and facilities, clubs and activities, sports, and feedback from parent and student surveys. Niche takes into account both the quantity and quality of the survey responses.