Best Schools in Schenectady, New York
40 schools · 24 Elementary · 7 Middle · 5 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Schenectady?
Use this page to compare every school in Schenectady by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Pine Bush Elementary School
Elementary · Guilderland Central School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Rosendale School
Elementary · Niskayuna Central School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Birchwood Elementary School
Elementary · Niskayuna Central School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Schenectady for 2026 are Pine Bush Elementary School (8.6/10), Rosendale School (8.5/10), and Birchwood Elementary School (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 30 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
40
32 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$193,043
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
40
32 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$193,043
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 6.7/10 despite 74% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Schenectady schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Schenectady schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Schenectady
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 30 rated schools; 40 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Bush Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Rosendale School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Birchwood Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Van Antwerp Middle School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Lynnwood Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Craig Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Iroquois Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Hillside School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Niskayuna High School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Jessie T Zoller Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $69,858
- Median home value
- $193,043
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 53%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Schenectady compares
New York rank
#322 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$70k
75% of New York median
Schools in this city
37
Schenectady's public schools split across 6 districts
No single ISD owns Schenectady. The public campuses divide among 6 districts.
The largest shares: Schenectady City School District (15), Niskayuna Central School District (7), Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District (4).
Among 30 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.5 to 8.6 — the spread is inside Schenectady, not a citywide average.
- Schenectady City School District15 public · 47%
- Niskayuna Central School District7 public · 22%
- Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District4 public · 13%
- Schalmont Central School District3 public · 9%
- Guilderland Central School District2 public · 6%
About Schools in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady's public school landscape spans 32 ranked schools with an average score of 6.0 out of 10 — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks real variation across the city. Parents willing to look closely will find meaningful differences between buildings, with 10 schools — nearly one in three — scoring 7 or higher. That's a stronger high-performing tier than the average score alone suggests.
Birchwood Elementary School leads the city at 8.6 out of 10, the highest-rated public school in Schenectady. Rosendale School and Schenectady High School both earn an 8.1, placing them solidly in the top bracket. Pine Bush Elementary and Howe Elementary round out the upper tier, each scoring 7.6. The fact that four of the five top performers are elementary schools is worth noting: families with young children have more high-scoring options than those entering the secondary years.
Schenectady High School's 8.1 rating is the standout at the secondary level — it's the only high school among the top five, and its score sits well above the citywide average of 6.0. For middle and high school families, school selection narrows considerably compared to the elementary landscape, so zoning and transfer options deserve early attention.
The 6.0 average reflects a district where lower-rated schools drag down the midpoint even as a solid cluster of top performers pulls the other direction. Parents researching specific neighborhoods should check individual school scores rather than relying on the city average as a proxy for local quality. The gap between the city's best (8.6) and the broader average (6.0) is wide enough that address-level school assignments can meaningfully shape a child's academic experience. Use school boundaries as a primary filter, then evaluate each school's score in context before drawing conclusions about a neighborhood.
Elementary Schools
24 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 477 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 374 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 388 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 414 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 403 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 6 | 381 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 7 | 442 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 8 | 413 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 9 | 318 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 10 | 604 students · 3rd–5th | 6.6 |
Show all 24 elementary schools in Schenectady
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 421 students · 6th–8th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 613 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 555 students · 5th–8th | 5.0 |
| 4 | 708 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 |
| 5 | 680 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 |
| 6 | 606 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 |
| 7 | 584 students · 6th–8th | 3.6 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,363 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | 541 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 2,860 students · 8th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 4 | 890 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 191 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown SchoolPrivate 95 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Annur Islamic SchoolPrivate 204 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 3 | Bright Hope Academy CenterPrivate 6 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated |
| 4 | 28 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | Not Rated |
Schools in Schenectady
Schenectady, New York · 40 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 7 ZIP codes
Median Income
$69,858
Median Home Value
$193,043
Median Rent
$1,171/mo
Population
142,307
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
53%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Community Profile
Schenectady has a median household income of $69,858. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $193,043, with a median rent of $1,171/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.7%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 24
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 5
- Other
- 4
Resources
School Districts (6)
ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
4 schools · 2,831 students
GUILDERLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
7 schools · 4,906 students
NISKAYUNA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
8 schools · 4,363 students
SCHALMONT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
3 schools · 1,807 students
SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
15 schools · 9,185 students
DESTINE PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 145 students
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Schenectady, New York
How many schools are in Schenectady, New York?
Schenectady has 40 schools, including 32 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Schenectady, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Schenectady is 6.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Pine Bush Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Pine Bush Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Van Antwerp Middle School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best high school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Niskayuna High School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Schenectady, New York?
Schenectady is served by 6 school districts: Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District, Guilderland Central School District, Niskayuna Central School District, Schalmont Central School District, Schenectady City School District, Destine Preparatory Charter School.
What is the education level in Schenectady, New York?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Schenectady have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Schenectady, New York?
The median household income in Schenectady is approximately $69,858 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Schenectady, New York?
Yes, Schenectady has 8 private schools alongside 32 public schools. The top-rated private school is Brown School with a score of 7.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Schenectady, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Schenectady is 11.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Schenectady, New York?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New York State Education Dept., and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.