Albany High: A top U.S. High School

School is almost out for the Summer at Albany High, but students and staff won't leave this year before finding out about the latest list that honors Albany High. Newsweek Magazine has ranked the school as one of the top high schools in the country. Just over 1,600 schools, only six percent of all public schools in the country made the cut. Interim Superintendent, Ray Colucciello says, "If you look at our students who do well, they do exceptionally well. We offer them exceptional programs."

But how do you get on a list like this when 46% of students aren't graduating? Criteria. Newsweek's picks are based on how hard staffs work to challenge students with advanced placement courses. According to Colucciello, "We offer them programs in the hard sciences. We've got 16 AP courses. We have the Academy of Engineers. We have International Baccalaureate. We have the top programs in the country."

Albany High School makes Newsweek's list just months after the State Education Department classified the school as "persistently lowest achieving" meaning the school must undergo a massive restructuring or close. Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings responded. "Sometimes we get too caught up in test scores instead of focusing on how we improve them. We test and then we leave. There's no re-direction and basically a new template is needed for urban education, so all kids are impacted positively."

Colucciello adds, "It isn't a matter of they shouldn't have picked Albany. They should have picked Albany and now Albany has to fix the part that they aren't doing well."

Other Capital District Schools on Newsweek's list: Voorheesville, Bethlehem, Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa.