Who’s #1? U.S. News Ranks the Top High Schools in Capital Region

When it comes to the many school districts across the Capital Region, there’s no shortage of strong contenders. And let’s give credit where it’s due to all of the teachers and educators who dedicate themselves to shaping and inspiring kids in every district.

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Bragging Rights

That being said, bragging rights are always on the line.

U.S. News & World Report, which compiles annual data-driven rankings of schools nationwide, has released its list of the best public high schools in the Capital Region for 2025/26.

The Criteria

Before we get to the top-performing schools, here's the criteria used by US News & World Report for their compilation.

• College Readiness (30%) – Seniors taking AP/IB; passing scores count 3x.
• State Proficiency (20%) – Overall state test scores.
• State Performance (20%) – Scores vs. U.S. News’ demographic expectations.
• Underserved Performance (10%) – Black, Hispanic & low-income scores vs. state norms.
• Curriculum Breadth (10%) – Seniors passing multiple AP/IB subjects (max 4; pass = 3x).
• Graduation Rate (10%) – % of freshmen graduating in 4 years.

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The List of the Best High Schools in the Capital Region

1. Bethlehem Central Senior High School
2. Clayton A Bouton High School
3. Niskayuna High School
4. Schuylerville High School
5. Columbia High School
6. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Senior High School
7. Shenendehowa High School
8. Shaker High School

Bethlehem Central tops the list in the Capital Region, ranking 74th in the State of New York, and top 700 in the nation, and was given a whopping 96.13 rating out of 100.

To see the complete list of Capital Region High Schools and their rankings, click here.