Rochester is known for its educated population, and for its many, many fine learning institutions and opportunities. The Rochester City School District boasts many forward-thinking, accomplished schools and programs such as School of the Arts, Wilson Magnet, School Without Walls, the expeditionary learning curriculum at School of Inquiry, International Baccalaureate and MAP programs, and more. In addition, the city offers many quality charter, private, and parochial schools such as the Genesee Community Charter School, Cobblestone School, St. John Neumann School, and the Aquinas Institute.  Also within the city limits are top-tier institutions of higher education—like the University of Rochester and its internationally renowned Medical Center and Eastman School of Music. Also in the city, downtown with nationallly renowned Monroe Community College's Damon Campus, is the urban satellite campus for SUNY's Brockport College. Rochester is indeed a college town.

Rochester is also nationally recognized for its early childhood and pre-school education programs.  

In addition, Rochester offers a superb library system and an incredible array of special and specialized/unique education opportunities, such as the Hochstein School of Music; Draper Center for Dance Education; Onondaga School of Massage; Colgate Rochester Divinity School; George Eastman House photographic preservation and collections management, photograph conservation and motion picture preservation higher education programs; Rochester School for the Deaf.