Total enrollment
39,946
+949 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Albany County
New York · Public K-12
Albany County, New York comes in at 75 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 39,946 students, with a county median household income near $85,333. The level mix is 49 elementary, 11 middle, and 13 high schools.
4-year change in Albany County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
73
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Albany County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New York | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 56.8% | #14 of 61 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 39,946 | #14 of 61 | #272 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 73 | #14 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.6:1 | #50 of 61 | #411 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 44.5% | #43 of 61 | #1,894 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 69.0% | #7 of 61 | #140 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Albany County school rankings
Residents
317,018
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
75
22 districts
Enrollment
39,946
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$85,333
Above New York avg
Free/reduced lunch
44.5%
Below New York avg
Elementary
49
18,108 students
Middle
11
8,030 students
High
13
13,291 students
Combined / other
2
517 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
8,509 students · 22 districts in Albany County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Albany County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
46.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.0%
civilian labor
Median age
38
18.0% under 18
Test scores in Albany County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 70 schools ranked. New York state average: 58.3%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 97.0%
- SHAKER HIGH SCHOOL· 91.0%
- GUILDERLAND HIGH SCHOOL· 90.0%
- CLAYTON A BOUTON HIGH SCHOOL· 88.0%
- ELSMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 82.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Albany County
Albany36 schoolsCohoes6 schoolsDelmar6 schoolsLatham5 schoolsVoorheesville3 schoolsBerne2 schoolsGuilderland2 schoolsLoudonville2 schoolsRavena2 schoolsSchenectady2 schoolsWatervliet2 schoolsAltamont1 schoolCoeymans1 schoolGlenmont1 schoolGreen Island1 schoolGuilderland Center1 schoolMenands1 schoolSelkirk1 school
About Albany County
Across the large New York county of Albany County of about 317,018 residents, the public-school footprint covers 75 schools and about 39,946 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $85,333, 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 10% higher than the New York median.
On the school-mix side, Albany County is made up of 49 elementary schools (18,108 students), 11 middle schools (8,030), 13 high schools (13,291), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Albany County is ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 8,509 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 39,946 students, remained close to its prior level from the 38,997 reported in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Albany County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data