RANKED: Best elementary, middle schools in the Capital Region for 2025

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 Best Elementary and Middle School rankings. The publication analyzed more than 79,000 public schools to determine the rankings.

"The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “The data empowers families and communities to advocate for their children’s education. Research continues to indicate that how students perform academically at these early grade levels is a big factor in their success in high school and beyond."

U.S. News looked at state assessment scores, student backgrounds, and achievements in core subjects. Student-teacher ratios were looked at to break ties in the overall score.

Here are the top-ranked public elementary and middle schools in the Capital Region. To view the full report, your can visit the U.S. News & World Report website.

Elementary schools

15. Fonda-Fultonville Elementary School

• Fonda-Fultonville Central School District
• Ranked 374th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 84.32/100

14. Eagle Elementary School

• Bethlehem Central School District
• Ranked 371st in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 84.45/100

13. Hillside School

• Niskayuna Central School District
• Ranked 340th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 85.75/100

12. Caroline Street Elementary School

• Saratoga Springs City School District
• Ranked 330th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 86.17/100

11. Glenmont Elementary School

• Bethlehem Central School District
• Ranked 329th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 86.21/100

10. Birchwood Elementary School

• Niskayuna Central School District
• Ranked 303rd in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 87.26/100

9. Kensington Road School

• Glens Falls City School District
• Ranked 261st in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 88.94/100

8. Rosendale Elementary School

• Niskayuna Central School District
• Ranked 247th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 89.66/100

7. Tesago Elementary School

• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Ranked 239th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 90/100

6. Bell Top School

• East Greenbush Central School District
• Ranked 230th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 90.37/100

5. Orenda Elementary School

• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Ranked 228th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 90.46/100

4. Skano Elementary School

• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Ranked 206th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 91.34/100

3. Lake Avenue Elementary School

• Saratoga Springs City School District
• Ranked 130th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 94.49/100

2. Elsmere Elementary School

• Bethlehem Central School District
• Ranked 122nd in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 94.83/100

1. Chango Elementary School

• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Ranked 104th in New York Elementary Schools
• Overall score: 95.59/100

Middle schools

15. Richard H. O'Rourke Middle School

• Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District
• Ranked 339th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 75.65/100

14. Sand Creek Middle School

• South Colonie Central School District
• Ranked 371st in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 73.34/100

13. Farnsworth Middle School

• Guilderland Central School District
• Ranked 285th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 79.54/100

12. Queensbury Middle School

• Queensbury Union Free School District
• Ranked 279th in New York Middle Schools

11. Lake George Junior-Senior High School

• Lake George Central School District
• Ranked 278th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 80.04/100

10. Van Antwerp Middle School

• Niskayuna Central School District
• Ranked 243rd in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 82.49/100

9. Maple Avenue Middle School

• Saratoga Springs City School District
• Ranked 232nd in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 83.21/100

8. Koda Middle School

• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Ranked 184th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 86.82/100

7. Bethlehem Central Middle School

• Bethlehem Central School District
• Ranked 176th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 87.39/100

 6. Howard L. Goff Middle School

• East Greenbush Central School District
• Ranked 164th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 88.26/100

5. Shaker Middle School

• North Colonie Central School District
• Ranked 159th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 88.62/100

4. Voorheesville Middle School

• Voorheesville Central School District
• Ranked 138th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 90.13/100

3. Iroquois Middle School

• Niskayuna Central School District
• Ranked 130th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 90.71/100

2. Acadia Middle School

• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Ranked 109th in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 92.22/100

1. Gowana Middle School

• Shenendehowa Central School District
• Ranked 91st in New York Middle Schools
• Overall score: 93.52/100