When it comes to the many school districts across the Capital Region, there’s no shortage of strong contenders. And let’s give credit where it’s due to all of the teachers and educators who dedicate themselves to shaping and inspiring kids in every district.

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Bragging Rights

That being said, bragging rights are always on the line.

U.S. News & World Report, which compiles annual data-driven rankings of schools nationwide, has released its list of the best public high schools in the Capital Region for 2025/26.

The Criteria

Before we get to the top-performing schools, here's the criteria used by US News & World Report for their compilation.

College Readiness (30%) – Seniors taking AP/IB; passing scores count 3x.

State Proficiency (20%) – Overall state test sc

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