Business First, a Buffalo-based magazine that conducts annual evaluations of the top school districts throughout New York state, last week released its 2015 results — and named Cazenovia Central School District the third-best school district in all of the 431 Upstate New York school districts. Pittsford, a southeastern suburb of Rochester, ranked no. 1, followed by Fayetteville-Manlius at no. 2.

“This ranking is one of the many products of all of the hard work and caring that each member of the school community exhibits on a daily basis as they further our students’ growth,” said Cazenovia district Superintendent Matt Reilly. “It is particularly gratifying that this ranking reflects the collective performance of all our schools: Burton Street, the middle school and high school. I am proud and thankful to be part of such an outstanding educational community.”

Rounding out the top five in this year’s Buffalo Business First Upstate standings were Honeoye Falls-Lima (south of Rochester) ranked no. 4 and Skaneateles ranked no. 5.

The rankings for each district, released on Friday, June 19, reflects the collective performance of its elementary, middle and high schools from 2011 to 2014, the most recent four-year period for which comprehensive statistics are available from the New York State Education Department. The rating formula has 200 components, ranging from English and math tests for third graders up to the full complement of Regents exams for high schoolers.

Buffalo Business First annually ranks all 431 school districts across New York state for an overall score as well as by specific subject.

Cazenovia’s rankings by subject statewide were:

—Third in English in 431 districts behind Fayetteville-Manlius and Clarence.

—Twelfth in math in 431 districts. In the Syracuse region, Cazenovia finished behind Skaneateles (11th), Jamesville-DeWitt (ninth) and Fayetteville-Manlius (second)

—Third in science for all 431 districts behind Pittsford and Fayetteville-Manlius, and followed by Clarence and East Aurora.

—Sixth in social studies for all 431 districts. The top five districts in social studies were: Pittsford, Honeoye Falls-Lima, Bethlehem, New Hartford and Skaneateles.

In Business First’s previous rankings of the top 100 districts, released in October 2014, Cazenovia was named no. 5 in Upstate New York, no. 3 in the Syracuse region and no. 1 in Madison County.

For the full 2015 ranking list, visit bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2015/06/19/upstate1.html.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].