Albany High School (AHS) in Albany, New York, United States, is a public high school with an enrollment of about 2,670 students for the 2023-2024 school year.

Until 2011, Albany High was divided into two large administrative divisions known as the "North House" and the "South House." Each house had its own cafeteria and administrative offices. In 2011, the school created four themed learning communities referred to as academies (Citizenship Academy, Discovery Academy, Innovation Academy and Leadership Academy); all students are assigned to one of the academies.

In November 2015, city voters narrowly rejected a $196 million plan to renovate and expand Albany High by a close vote of 5,794 to 5,897. Voters approved a revised $179.9 million proposal in February 2016. Construction began in 2018, to be completed in four phases. The full Rebuilding Albany High School project was completed prior to the 2025-26 school year.

Academics

Albany High has a longstanding Advanced Placement program offering 19 courses. In 2005, AHS was accredited as an International Baccalaureate World School and introduced an IB Diploma Program, a series of college-level courses for juniors and seniors leading to an alternative diploma.

Albany High has been included in Newsweeks list of America's Top Public High Schools on multiple occasions, most recently in 2010 (when it ranked #976).

School receivership

In 2015 the New York State Education Department classified Albany High School as a "Struggling School" and placed it under the school receivership of the Superintendent of the City School District of Albany. If the school did not demonstrate improvement in student performance within two years an Independent Receiver would be appointed by the district to control decisions. As of 2019, Albany High School was no longer in receivership.

Campus

thumb|A rear view of Albany High's academic building showing Towers One, Two, and Three.

Albany High's current location at 700 Washington Avenue opened in 1974. The school consists of three brick buildings connected by indoor pedestrian bridges. The largest of these, the three-story academic building, contains the classrooms, cafeterias, and media center. Across from the academic structure are the physical education building (housing the gymnasiums, locker rooms, and HVAC equipment) and another building containing the main office, auditorium, and music classrooms. Three bridges on the second floor connect the buildings.

Demographics

Of Albany High School's approximately 2,600 students, about 54% are African-American, 21% are White (non-Hispanic), 13% are Hispanic, 11% are Asian, and 1% are Native American or multiracial. The school has about 159 teachers and 49 other professional staff, with a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 14:1.

Albany High enrolls students from more than 40 foreign nations.

Notable alumni

  • Adam Aleksic – Class of 2019 – linguist who graduated from Harvard and now runs a YouTube channel.
  • Robert Alter - Class of 1953 - Scholar and translator of The Hebrew Bible (Professor Emeritus, UC Berkeley)
  • Glen Barker – Houston Astros outfielder
  • Alex Gordon (rugby union) Rugby flanker for Allegheny Rugby Union
  • Tracy Baskin – Former Olympiac track and field athlete in the 800 meters, former 4 by 4 co-world record holder, #3 rank 1988 US men 800m
  • Carolee Carmello – Broadway actress who made her Broadway debut in City of Angels; she starred in Lestat, Parade and Mamma Mia!.
  • Lionel Chalmers – Basketball player who went to Xavier University and the NBA. He was drafted by the L.A. Clippers and traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2005–2006 NBA season.
  • Gene Cretz – Class of 1968 – former U.S. Ambassador to Libya, and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana; taught English at Albany High from 1977 to 1979.
  • William Devane – Film and television actor
  • Stefon Harris – Class of 1991 – Jazz musician, vibraphonist
  • Catherine McCabe – Class of 1969 – Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in 2017
  • Michael Premo – Class of 1999 – Award-winning artist, activist, and organizer. He was a central figure in Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Sandy movements, co-director of the participatory documentary, Sandy Storyline and creator of the documentary project Housing is a Human Right.
  • Carrie Turner – Popular New York actress in the 1880s and 1890s.
  • Charlayne Woodard – Award-winning American film, stage and television actor and playwright
  • 2012 – 2015: Cecily L. Wilson-Turner
  • 2015 – 2018: Dale Getto
  • 2018 – : Jodi M. Commerford

See also

  • Albany City School District
  • List of high schools in New York (state)

References

  • Albany High School History
  • Albany High School website
  • Albany City School District website