Total enrollment
39,946
-1,002 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
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.
7-year change in Albany County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
73
-2 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
48%
was 55%
% Hispanic
13%
was 9%
% Black
20%
was 21%
% Asian
12%
was 9%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
75
22 districts
Enrollment
39,946
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 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 39,946 students, remained close to its prior level from the 40,948 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 75 to 73 across the same 7-year window. The White share of public-school enrollment shrank from 55% to 48%.
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
Albany County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data