Four new academies. One great education.

Grades 9-12

700 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12203 (click here for directions)

Phone: 475-6200

Fax: 475-6202

David C. McCalla, Ph.D., Principal

Michael Panetta, House Principal, Citizenship Academy

Jodi Commerford, Interim House Principal, Discovery Academy

Julie Barber, House Principal, Innovation Academy

Cecily Wilson, House Principal, Leadership Academy

Four new academies. One great education.
Albany High School is a comprehensive high school that serves approximately 2,400 students. With students from 40 countries and rich academic programming, Albany High’s halls, classes and culture reflect the richness of a world-class university setting.

New for the 2011-12 school year, Albany High features four smaller learning communities, or academies -- Citizenship, Discovery, Innovation and Leadership. Each academy offers the same core courses in English, math, science and social studies, and electives are grouped in relation to each academy's unique theme. However, all students are able to choose electives outside of their academy, selecting from the full scope of Albany High's rich and diverse course offerings.

The goal of this new structure is to raise achievement for all students by increasing academic rigor and providing smaller learning environments with extra supports. Through extensive and ongoing training for teachers and administrators, Albany High will work through this new academy structure to motivate every student in an environment that challenges their intellect and nurtures their development. A full range of special-education and English-as-a-Second-Language services are provided in all four academies, and the Abrookin Vocational-Technical Center continues to offer all Career and Technical Education courses.

District excited by new vision for the future of Albany High

Mayor Gerald D. Jennings' announcement that local college presidents will bring the community's higher-education resources to the forefront in planning for the future of Albany High School is an exciting development for the City School District of Albany, Superintendent Raymond Colucciello, Ed.D., said Jan. 20.

"We are grateful to Mayor Jennings for his continued partnership with our school district and his leadership in helping to build a bright future for public education in our community," Dr. Colucciello said.

Visit our District News section to read more.

Monthly rewards recognize students for excellent attendance

Five Albany High School students have been recognized as prize winners in the school’s first monthly drawing to reward students with excellent attendance. The December winners, selected at random from 848 students who qualified for the drawing, were:

·         Allane Roc (junior; Discovery Academy)

·         Uton Rowe (junior; Discovery Academy)

·         Nicole Traynham (freshman; Citizenship Academy)

·         Anik Paul (freshman; Innovation Academy)

·         Brendan Kelley (junior; Innovation Academy)

Rowe also was selected randomly as the grand-prize winner for December. The students received gift cards donated by Stewart’s Shops and Regal Cinemas. The attendance drawings will continue monthly throughout the school year.

Procedures for school delays

Throughout the school year, and especially during the months of wintry weather, Albany High School follows a specific schedule when a two-hour delay is required at the start of school. Click here for more information about these procedures and the daily class schedule when there is a two-hour delay. 

Upcoming events

News

• Check out the morning announcements for Friday, Feb. 3 to find out what's happening at Albany High.

• 'Have a Heart Food Drive' through Valentine's Day -- The Albany High School Robotics Club is holding its annual “Have a Heart Food Drive” through Tuesday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. Club members will collect donations at the tower 4 and tower 6 student entrances each morning from 7:10-7:45 a.m. Donations also can be dropped off in each academy office or in room 124. All donations will be provided to The Food Pantries of the Capital Region.

• District employee and students earn human rights kudos -- The Albany Human Rights Commission recognized three district students and a district employee on Feb. 1 at a special public ceremony at City Hall. Receiving kudos were Albany High School psychologist Liz Gialanella, Ph.D., Jamie Curcio, an eighth-grader at William S. Hackett Middle School, Jaden Tesch, a third-grader at New Scotland Elementary School and Tamera Thomas, a sixth-grader at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School. (MORE)

• Albany High Youth Court -- Check out the Jan. 25 Times Union to read about Albany High's new Youth Court.

• Junior nets top Model UN prize ... again -- For the second year in a row, Albany High School junior June Criscione took the top prize for her section at the Vancouver Model United Nations. The 2012 Vancouver Model UN was held Jan. 20-22. Model UN is a student simulation of the real UN; each participating student is assigned to represent a country and debate issues facing it and the global community. (MORE)

• Award-winning author to visit Feb. 9 -- Sharon G. Flake, author of Money Hungry and The Skin I'm In, will visit the Albany High School Media Center from 1-2:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 as part of the school's Black History Month celebration. Flake has written several fiction and non-fiction books geared toward urban youth, including You Don't Even Know Me and Poems About Boys. She will speak to students about their writing and answer questions. The library also will host a writing contest and raffle with a prize of an autographed book. Flake also will visit William S. Hackett Middle School and Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School that day.

• Albany High art selected for regional show -- Works by three Albany High School artists will be on display at the 2012 High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition starting Feb. 15 at the Esther Massry Gallery. Their works were selected from pieces of art submitted by 20 area high schools. A total of 101 works will be displayed at the show, which runs through March 15. (MORE)

• Bloody good turnout at Red Cross drive -- Despite a two-hour delay because of the weather, on Jan. 12 Albany High School students exceeded their goal of pints of blood donated to the American Red Cross. According to the Red Cross, students and staff helped donate 84 pints -- one of the most ever collected at Albany High in a single drive and 118 percent of the school goal. Those pints could save as many as 252 lives, the Red Cross said. (MORE)

• Discounted CDTA passes available to some Albany High, Hackett students -- Albany High School and William S. Hackett Middle School students that live within 1.5 miles of their schools now can get a 10 percent discount on CDTA bus passes. The discount would apply on two types of 31-day “swiper” bus passes: one providing unlimited rides on weekdays and one providing unlimited rides seven days a week. Price of the discounted weekday pass is $49.50. Price of the discounted seven-day pass is $58.50. (MORE)

• Check out the November-December issue of the Albany High Media Center newsletter.

• Check out the September-October issue of the Albany High Media Center newsletter.

• Albany High lottery held Dec. 7 for 2012-13 academy placement -- The lottery to determine academy placement at Albany High School for the 2012-13 school year was held Dec. 7. All students will receive a letter from the school indicating academy assignment. Students currently attending district schools also can find out their assignment from their guidance counselor. For more information, contact Albany High Magnet Grant Principal Stan Harper at 454-3987, ext. 990, or visit our District News section.

• Albany High National Honor Society chapter inducts 44 -- Albany High School’s National Honor Society inducted 44 seniors Nov. 30, recognizing the students for three years of outstanding academic achievement. Visit our District News section to read more.

• Albany High student asks community to donate Soles4Souls -- Discovery Academy junior Elide Pichardo is asking the community to donate Soles4Souls -- new or gently used shoes that will be donated to those less fortunate. "Shoes are a basic necessity that we all take for granted," Pichardo said. "It's important for us to give back to those who aren't as fortunate." Visit our District News section to find out how you can help.

• Albany High students recognized in national scholarship program -- Eight Albany High School seniors have been recognized in the annual National Merit Scholarship and National Achievement Scholarship programs, ranking them among the top students nationally. Visit our District News section to read more.

• Junior becomes first Falcon in 15 years to reach states in boys' cross country -- Philo Germano competed in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association cross-country championships on Nov. 12, becoming the first member of the Albany High boys' cross-country team to make it to states since 1996. Visit our Athletics section to read more.

• Boys' soccer team wins Big 10 title, advances to Class AA quarterfinals -- For the second time in three years, Albany High's boys' soccer team won the Big 10 championship this fall. The Falcons (13-4-1) advanced to the Class AA quarterfinals behind seniors Marty Ryan and Stefano Sainato. Visit our Athletics section to read more.

• Albany High Gives a Sheet -- Moved by the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Irene in the Capital Region, seniors Wesley Pluviose-Philip and Jaquan Williams organized the "Albany High Gives a Sheet" campaign in October to collect bedding and raise money for the flood victims in Schoharie County. Visit our District News section to read more.

• Albany High, Hackett Middle School receive $3.3 million state grant to raise achievement for all students -- The City School District of Albany’s ongoing work to raise achievement for all students received a significant boost Aug. 4 with the announcement of a $3.3 million State Education Department grant to assist with improvements at Albany High School and William S. Hackett Middle School. (MORE)

• Click here to visit the City School District of Albany Photo Gallery.

School times

• Breakfast begins at 7:20 a.m.

• Classes begin at 7:50 a.m.

• Dismissal is at 2:50 p.m.

Absence from school

If your child is absent from school for any reason, please call the attendance office at 475-6210 each day of the absence. When your child returns to school, please provide a written excuse and a doctor's note if one is available.