2024 Best School Districts in Monroe County

• Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.22 out of 5  45 reviews

Junior: It's a very academic school which is great because it offers so many amazing classes but on the other hand there is also enormous pressure placed on students to push themselves into the hardest classes to "look good for college", which can be viewed as both a good and bad thing. We also have free periods which are AMAZING! Basically the same as a study hall but you're not required to stay in a classroom and you can hang out in the hallway with friends and during some periods you can leave campus and go grab lunch or hang out outside. In the middle of the day instead of lunch we have FLEX which works the same as a free but you can go see teachers to study or catch up on school work which I've found really helpful. Overall the atmosphere is great and teachers really do care about their students which is awesome. You really do have to put in the work though, Brighton's curriculum is relentless but you have a great team behind you to help complete it. Athletics are amazing as well.... Read 45 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 4

• Students 3,416

• Pittsford, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  29 reviews

Senior: After switching from a private school to Pittsford Central Schools, the most notable changes were the social and academic opportunities. Academics are my priority, and I found that teachers and classmates are of the same opinion. Varied options for core classes help students thrive and remain engaged. Pittsford's academics are their strongest value, in my opinion. For extracurriculars, there are countless choices for students. I found my place in music groups and Mock Trial, adding variety to my school day. The sports teams are notoriously competitive and successful. Being a Pittsford athlete requires incredible drive and determination, which is not always positive. My complaint with Pittsford is how administration handles difficult subjects, including racist incidents in the district. The typical response is reminding students that we are a connected community without taking any noticeable action. I commend the addition of a diversity committee, but I have not seen them enact change.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 9

• Students 5,551

• Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  42 reviews

Sophomore: Penfield offers various academic pathways, including many APs, music classes, and extracurriculars. Academic rigor and fields of study are personalized for each student. The district has been awarded for musical access and achievement. The teachers are knowledgeable, supportive, helpful, and personable. Administration provides clear communication to parents and students via email and social media. Sports teams often qualify for states, and the campus is sightly and well maintained. But despite the school’s many great programs and outer appearance, it struggles in the diversity aspect. The majority of students are white, especially because of its suburban location. The school had to hold bias training because of racist comments and interactions. Administration attempts to create a sense of unity, but peer interactions can often infringe on these efforts. Overall, the school could improve student relationships, but it teaches valuable lessons and offers great opportunities... Read 42 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,546

• Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.23 out of 5  30 reviews

Senior: It is rated above average because the music teachers and programs offered were above what the average suburban high school in America offers their students. The administration is very questionable and does not always comply with student and parents needs. Teachers training about students mental health could be improved.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 10

• Students 3,650

• Henrietta, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  51 reviews

Alum: Overall there is quite a bit of conflict between students. For the most part, teachers are great and super supportive.... Read 51 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 9

• Students 5,501

• Honeoye Falls, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  33 reviews

Alum: My High School experience was very good. I was able to grow and mature during my years at Honeoye Falls-Lima High School. I was challenged academically, athletically, and even musically. I was able to find life-long friends that I would not have met if I never transferred to HF-L. All of my teachers were great and really helped push me to my potential. I was in all of the Honors and AP classes, but regardless, the teachers were there to help me when I needed it. The athletics were fairly good for me. I loved my teammates and the competition we faced, but my coach made my time not as enjoyable as I would have wished. I still grew and learned from my experiences, but that would be the only downside. They did recently hire a new coach who is fantastic. Covid was the main problem in high school, as my junior year was cut short and my senior year was not the same. Other than that, which was out of the school's control, I really enjoyed my time there.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 4

• Students 2,070

• Webster, NY•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  77 reviews

Parent: Good support at the elementary and middle school levels. We have liked the teachers, for the most part, as well as the administrators. We have had an excellent experience at Webster Thomas High School with flexibility, support and understanding for our son who had a medical illness during the entirety of his Junior year. Unfortunately, there is not the same support for the arts as for sports, which is not unique to our district. In addition, counseling and guidance for college preparation is severely lacking. We ended up going outside of our district and hiring a private consultant to assist us. The school didn't even tell us when and how to register for SATs.... Read 77 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 11

• Students 8,155

• Fairport, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  46 reviews

Senior: I moved to Fairport in 3rd grade, and coming in I had no idea what I was in for. But once I got to Fairport, I didn't and couldn't imagine leaving. Fairport has an interestingly organized school system with three elementary schools, and two middle schools, one intermediate school, and finally one high school. I can't speak for the schools I didn't attend, but I went to Jefferson Avenue, Johanna Perrin, Minerva Deland (virtually), and Fairport High School. Overall athletics are a big part of Fairport and it shows, sports equipment and fields have gotten upgraded majorly the past few years. The schools them selves are not as nice and modern, and fall short to rival local schools like Brighton and Mendon. Fairport is unique in that it has a brotherhood sisterhood week, where students have a talent show and get to meet others in different grades. Fairport also has outstanding teacher, who love to talk after class, and will always make you smile. It is a bit hard to get involved though.... Read 46 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 8

• Students 5,522

• Hilton, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.23 out of 5  60 reviews

Senior: I am proud to be a senior in the Hilton Central School District. My elementary years were wonderful. My teachers did a great job teaching me how to read and encouraged me to follow my interests. There were many special school spirit days and assemblies focused on school community and character education. I also liked being at the elementary school for sixth grade. The academic program at the middle school and high school was demanding, and I feel ready for college. We have really strong programs in sports, music and art. Hilton is not the most diverse district, but I feel it is working hard to teach tolerance and equity.... Read 60 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 4,308

• Spencerport, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.42 out of 5  36 reviews

Junior: Spencerport is an amazing district! The quality of education here is fantastic. Teachers go out of their way for their students and are willing to help them any way they can. I stay after school with my teachers often and they always help me to do my best work. Spencerport is also a great school for students who want to be challenged. They offer a number of Advanced Placement and honors classes. All the AP teachers are excellent and have helped to prepare me for my exams. There are a ton of clubs and activities at Spencerport! We have a great Robotics and Music program. You will never be bored after school. Overall, Spencerport is a fantastic district and I would recommend it to anyone.... Read 36 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,605

• Churchville, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.03 out of 5  58 reviews

Junior: Churchville-Chili has been an amazing environment to grow up in. While the community is not very diverse, within the school buildings administrators have spent recent years finding opportunities to celebrate many cultures and make our schools more inclusive. The best thing about our district is its thriving Fine Arts department, which has given me the opportunity to discover love for singing, acting, ensemble performance, music theory, and even technological design of theatrical productions. Churchville also has some of the best student-teacher relationships, with most faculty members always open to extra help and support for anyone struggling. While children are not always kind or pleasant, I have always felt safe in our schools due to the incredible faculty. Even being on sports teams who have lost almost every game, I have never stopped having fun and learning. I love Churchville-Chili and everything it has to offer, and everyone in this district is unbelievably lucky.... Read 58 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,823

• Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  18 reviews

Senior: My overall experience learning in East Irondequoit Central School District has been very good. Our district is very diverse which allows for students to have friends of all types of race and learn about different cultures. We are also a 1:1 district which means from grades first through eighth the kids are given iPads and the high schoolers are given laptops. This has helped tremendously with my learning especially during a time like this. The one thing I would change about East Irondequoit Central School District is the amount of AP classes they offer. The district has less than 5 AP classes for high school students to take. That is due to the fact that since we are an IB district they supplement the need for AP classes with offering more IB classes.... Read 18 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 6

• Students 2,876

• Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  51 reviews

Senior: I have been attending GatesChili Central school District since kindergarten. When I tell you I made the best memories throughout the last twelve years of my life with friends and the entire school experience, I really mean it. Gates is a wonderful school district that values respect, responsibility, compassion, and education. Above all, I have formed many relationships with staff members who have helped me succeed throughout grade school. I am grateful to have attended such a supportive school who cares about my well-being and setting me up for a successful future.... Read 51 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,671

• East Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  10 reviews

Senior: East Rochester high school is a small town school. It is very welcoming and friendly. Being part of the urban suburban program the school is very diverse. The facilities are excellent especially the sports and music facilities. Due to the small town the school is full of parent involvement and support. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for that small town community.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 2

• Students 1,024

• Scottsville, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 3.44 out of 5  9 reviews

Senior: I like the experiences I've had with my friends and my teachers. Many of them kept us involved in our education by giving us good experiences in their classrooms. A few things that may need to change is some of the sports.... Read 9 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 2

• Students 688

• Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 3.63 out of 5  105 reviews

Senior: My expierence at Odyssey has felt like a long roller coaster. Over the past 6 years I have been there I have see new changes such as clubs, different events for stuents to feel included, monthly meetings for kids to expess their feelings towards the school and much more!... Read 105 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 17

• Students 10,254

• Brockport, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 3.51 out of 5  41 reviews

Senior: I honestly really loved the opportunities I was given at Brockport. Ever since eighth grade, I have been given the chance to take advanced courses and begin to get regents out of the way early. Because of this, I already had way more credits as a junior than needed to graduate. As a senior, I am now enrolled in a program called 313. This program allows me to spend my senior year taking both college courses at Suny Brockport and high school classes. Certain classes at the high school are approved by Suny Brockport to also provide more college credit. Because of this program, I will be able to apply as a transfer student to college with enough credits to put me mid way through my sophomore year. Overall, I loved the multitude of elective options and the classes they provided to support each student's unique career path. I am excited to see how successful I can become in the future and can proudly say that Brockport enabled me to have such success.... Read 41 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,144

• Rochester, NY•

• School District

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  Rating 3.41 out of 5  78 reviews

Senior: While attending school at Rochester City School District, I enjoyed the classmates and staff I encountered. Overall, the school I went to treated everyone like family and were very close. There is very rarely a time when I see students being bullied or made fun of. Certain activities like pep rallies, sports, after schooling, and assemblies bought students together and made everyone's day better. Rochester City School District is also good at including students to fight for change such as giving us the ability to protest when teachers were being let go due to the district's debt. They also ensure student and staff safety by having multiple security guards around the school that treat people in schools with care & the best personalities. I also think the teachers at East High School, which is in RCSD, go above and beyond to make sure all students understand the curriculum. I think the school could improve on parent involvement and college resources.... Read 78 reviews

• grade C minus

• Total schools 47

• Students 24,050