RANKED: Best school districts in the Capital Region for 2026

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — School and neighborhood review website Niche recently released its 2026 Best Schools and Districts in America rankings. The rankings include updated data for over 93,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools, and 11,000 school districts nationwide.

To determine the rankings, Niche used ratings from current students, alumni and parents, as well as school-reported statistics and data from the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources, facilities, extracurricular activities, and more.

Here are the top 25 best schools districts in the Capital Region for 2026, according to Niche.

25. Broadalbin-Perth Central School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 1,703
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 302nd best school district in New York

24. Middleburgh Central School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 640
• Student-teacher ratio: 9 to 1
• Ranked 275th best school district in New York

23. Troy City School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 3,679
• Student-teacher ratio: 10 to 1
• Ranked 267th best school district in New York

22. Albany City School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 8,329
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 264th best school district in New York

21. Glens Falls City School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 2,036
• Student-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
• Ranked 259th best school district in New York

20. Stillwater Central School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 1,033
• Student-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
• Ranked 258th best school district in New York

19. Ballston Spa Central School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 3,881
• Student-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
• Ranked 257th best school district in New York

18. Schodack Central School District

• Overall grade: B
• Students: 871
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 240th best school district in New York

17. Schalmont Central School District

• Overall grade: B+
• Students: 1,807
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 220th best school district in New York

16. South Colonie Central School District

• Overall grade: B+
• Students: 4,990
• Student-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
• Ranked 207th best school district in New York

15. Averill Park Central School District

• Overall grade: B+
• Students: 2,614
• Student-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
• Ranked 197th best school district in New York

14. Queensbury Union Free School District

• Overall grade: B+
• Students: 3,083
• Student-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
• Ranked 188th best school district in New York

13. Fonda-Fultonville Central School District

• Overall grade: B+
• Students: 1,291
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 186th best school district in New York

12. Lake George Central School District

• Overall grade: B+
• Students: 618
• Student-teacher ratio: 8 to 1
• Ranked 183rd best school district in New York

11. Kinderhook Central School District

• Overall grade: A-
• Students: 1,701
• Student-teacher ratio: 10 to 1
• Ranked 144th best school district in New York

10. Guilderland Central School District

• Overall grade: A-
• Students: 4,906
• Student-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
• Ranked 136th best school district in New York

9. Saratoga Springs City School District

• Overall grade: A-
• Students: 5,858
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 129th best school district in New York

8. Schuylerville Central School District

• Overall grade: A-
• Students: 1,357
• Student-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
• Ranked 125th best school district in New York

7. Voorheesville Central School District

• Overall grade: A
• Students: 1,209
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 121st best school district in New York

6. Shenendehowa Central School District

• Overall grade: A
• Students: 9,328
• Student-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
• Ranked 100th best school district in New York

5. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District

• Overall grade: A
• Students: 3,147
• Student-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
• Ranked 87th best school district in New York

4. East Greenbush Central School District

• Overall grade: A
• Students: 4,133
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 82nd best school district in New York

3. Niskayuna Central School District

• Overall grade: A
• Students: 4,363
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 52nd best school district in New York

2. North Colonie Central School District

• Overall grade: A+
• Students: 6,109
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 45th best school district in New York

1. Bethlehem Central School District

• Overall grade: A+
• Students: 4,130
• Student-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
• Ranked 42nd best school district in New York

You can view the full 2026 school district rankings on the Niche website.