Educational infrastructure

Colleges and Universities

More than 66,000 students are enrolled in the Capital Region's 12 four-year and six two-year colleges and universities. Rensselaer County, in particular, is home to:

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the nation's oldest technical college
• The Sage Colleges, including Russell Sage College, one of the country's first colleges for women
• Hudson Valley Community College

Primary and Secondary Education

Ranked third in "The Best Places with the Best Education" by Forbes Magazine, the Capital Region has clearly gained recognition for its educational system with its top ranking test scores, small class sizes and high college acceptance rates.

Public Schools
The region boasts a superior public education system – low student/teacher ratios of 14:1, high school attendance rates of 94% (6% absentee rate) and 80% of the Capital District graduates go on to college. Over all, $12,191 per year is spent on each pupil in the region.

The Capital Region has 44 public school districts (112,670 schools total), of which there are 12 Rensselaer school districts.

Private Schools
From co-ed and single sex educational institutions, day and boarding schools and religious education, the region's 14,900 private and independent schools provide an alternative to public school education.

• Emma Willard, one the country's most prestigious college-preparatory schools