Sycamore Community Schools landed in the top 2% of school districts nationwide in Niche's 2026 rankings, earning an A+ overall grade.

The district ranked #5 among school districts in the Cincinnati area and #10 in Ohio, according to a district announcement published Tuesday, Sept. 8. Niche evaluated more than 11,000 school districts across the country for its 2026 cycle.

Niche, a Pittsburgh-based research firm, calculates its rankings using U.S. Department of Education data combined with verified feedback from students, parents and residents. That methodology differs from U.S. News & World Report, which ranked individual Sycamore campuses separately in August.

"Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make," Niche founder and CEO Luke Skurman said in the company's September 2025 press release announcing the 2026 ranking cycle.

Sycamore serves 6,051 students across seven schools. The district is not the only east-side system to score well. Mariemont City Schools claimed the #1 spot among all Ohio districts in the same Niche rankings.

The Niche recognition caps a strong stretch for Sycamore's individual campuses. Sycamore High School placed in the top 3% of nearly 18,000 public high schools nationally in U.S. News & World Report's rankings published Aug. 18, scoring 97.12 out of 100. E.H. Greene Intermediate School and Sycamore Junior High School both landed in the top 2% of Ohio middle schools in a separate U.S. News evaluation published Aug. 28.

The rankings arrive as the district prepares to ask voters for new money. The Sycamore Board of Education has placed a 6.95-mill continuing property tax levy on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The levy is split between 5.00 mills for operating costs and 1.95 mills for permanent improvements. It would cost about $243 per year for every $100,000 of a home's market value, according to the Yes for Sycamore campaign. The district operates on roughly $111 million a year, funded about 85% by local property taxpayers, the campaign's FAQ states. It would be Sycamore's first request for new operating funds since 2016.