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 12:1, high school attendance rates of 95% (5% absentee rate) and 88% of the Capital District graduates go on to college. Over all, $20,898 per year is spent on each pupil in the region. The average classroom size is 21 students per class as compared to 22 students per class in the Capital District.

The Capital Region has 42 public school districts (205 schools total) with an approximate total of 114,834 students, of which there are 12 Rensselaer County school districts.

Averill Park Central School District

Berlin Central School District

Brunswick | Brittonkill Central School District

East Greenbush Central School District

Hoosic Valley Central School District

Hoosick Falls Central School District

Lansingburgh Central School District

North Greenbush Common School District

Rensselaer City School District

Schodack Central School District

Troy Enlarged City School District

Wynantskill Union Free School District

Private Schools

From co-ed and single sex educational institutions, day and boarding schools and religious education, the region’s 72 private and independent schools provide an alternative to public school education, including:

Catholic Central High School, a coeducational, college preparatory school educating 400 students in grades 7-12.

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

Hoosac School, a coeducational college preparatory school for grades 8-12.

LaSalle Institute, an independent, Catholic college preparatory school serving young men in grades 6-12.

Woodland Hill Montessori School, a private coeducational school serving preschool through middle school.

Robert C. Parker School, an independent school for boys and girls in pre-school through 8th grade.