Best Public Schools in Albany, NY

The Albany, New York area is home to 33 schools across 3 school districts - Albany City School District, South Colonie Central School District, and Guilderland Central School District. The schools include 22 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 5 high schools, and 1 alternative school, serving students from diverse backgrounds.

A few schools stand out in the data, including Colonie Central High School, which consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, and Westmere Elementary School, a high-performing elementary school in the Guilderland district. Meanwhile, the Albany School of Humanities has seen significant improvements in recent years, moving from a 2-star to a 4-star rating.

The data reveals significant disparities in educational outcomes across the region, with some schools, such as Arbor Hill Elementary, struggling with very low proficiency rates on state assessments, while others, like Colonie Central High, have strong test scores well above the state average. These differences appear to be closely tied to socioeconomic factors, with higher-poverty schools generally underperforming. Addressing these inequities will require a comprehensive approach to support all students in the Albany area.