VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL

VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL is one of the one-room-style primary schools in COHOES, New York, overseen by COHOES CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, with 124 students on its rolls from grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 443 students per school, that is 72% below typical.

COHOES CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT comprises 5 schools with combined enrollment of 1,847 students; VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL is among them.

On the student-mix side, VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL lists that White students make up the majority at 62%. The remainder breaks down as 15% multiracial, 13% Black, 9% Hispanic.

In terms of school funding signals, VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL lists 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 8.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 12.8:1, putting VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL tighter than the state norm the norm. Roughly 78% of students at VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is north of Albany County's rate of about 45%.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL performs roughly as the BeatsExpectations model predicts for a school with this FRL share. The predicted value is around 46.2%, the actual is 49.2%, a residual of +3.0 points.

Across the wider county, census data for Albany County shows the typical household earns roughly $85,333 per year, 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 8%. In all, Albany County runs 75 public schools (combined enrollment of about 39,946 students), of which VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL is one.

LANSINGBURGH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.7 miles from this campus. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL at 3rd of 9; the average score across the group is 40.6%.

VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL operates from an outer-ring location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at VAN SCHAICK ISLAND SCHOOL has decreased 19%, going from 154 students in 2018 to 124 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share edged down from 67% to 62%. Class-load math has pulled in: from 10.3:1 in 2018 to 8.0:1 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.