Best Schools in Schenectady, New York
39 schools · 24 Elementary · 7 Middle · 5 High · 3 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $69,858
- Median home value
- $193,043
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 53%
14% 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
#359 of 475
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below New York avg (6.3)
Median household income
$70k
75% of New York median
Schools in this city
37
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 | 388 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 414 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 | ||
| 3 | 374 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 4 | 414 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 | ||
| 5 | 477 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 | ||
| 6 | 604 students · 3rd–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 7 | 403 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 8 | 381 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 9 | 442 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 10 | 391 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 | ||
| 11 | 685 students · Kindergarten–4th | 5.5 | ||
| 12 | 369 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.5 | ||
| 13 | 310 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 14 | 454 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 15 | 413 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.8 | ||
| 16 | 318 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.8 | ||
| 17 | 429 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.7 | ||
| 18 | 478 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 19 | 620 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 4.4 | ||
| 20 | 145 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 3.9 | ||
| 21 | 257 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.7 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | ST KATERI PARISH SCHOOL
Private
111 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | ST MADELEINE SOPHIE SCHOOL
Private
97 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | RIVER RUN COMMUNITY MONTESSORI
Private
10 students · Pre-K–4th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 555 students · 5th–8th | 6.1 |
| 2 | 680 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 3 | 606 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 4 | 613 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
| 5 | 708 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
| 6 | 421 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 |
| 7 | 584 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,860 students · 8th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,363 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 541 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 4 | 890 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | NOTRE DAME-BISHOP GIBBONS SCHOOL
Private
201 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANNUR ISLAMIC SCHOOL
Private
160 students · Pre-K–11th | Not Rated |
| 2 | BROWN SCHOOL
Private
92 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 3 | BRIGHT HOPE ACADEMY CENTER
Private
8 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Schenectady
Schenectady, New York · 39 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.
Quick Facts
- State
- New York
- Total Schools
- 39
- Elementary
- 24
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 5
- Districts
- 6
- Avg Rating
- 5.8/10
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
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Schenectady, New York
How many schools are in Schenectady, New York?
Schenectady has 39 schools, including 32 public and 7 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 5.8 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Schenectady High School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Birchwood Elementary School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Schalmont Middle School with a composite score of 6.1/10.
What is the best high school in Schenectady, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Schenectady on MySchoolScout is Schenectady High School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
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 7 private schools alongside 32 public schools. The top-rated private school is Annur Islamic School with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Schenectady, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Schenectady is 11.4:1. 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.