Located in Albany County, South Colonie is one of the largest school districts in the Capital Region, serving a community of 80,000 residents in a 60-square-mile area.
The district’s long standing purpose is to graduate students who have the knowledge, skills, attitude and self-esteem to succeed in the real world of the 21st century. A talented staff of teachers, librarians, school counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and more are dedicated to making this happen.
Colonie Central High School is a four-year public school accredited by the University of the State of New York with 1,651 students and 244 staff members. In 2024, 348 students graduated, of which 53% completed the requirements for an Advanced Regents Diploma (39 students received the Advanced Regents with Honors Diploma).
Advanced Placement, Honors, and Dual Enrollment Courses are offered in the following areas:
Social Studies
Art, Music, Business, Technology
Global perspectives in the classroom: Colonie’s ELL program
Colonie High School’s English Language Learner (ELL) population hails from countries around the world including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Italy, Iraq, Mexico, Pakistan, US territory Puerto Rico, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Vietnam. The student’s have language backgrounds in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Farsi, French, German, Greek, Italian, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Colonie students give back
Colonie Students are S.M.A.R.T (Students Making a Responsible Tomorrow). Each year, Colonie High School Students donate thousands of hours volunteering and fundraising for community programs like Northern Rivers, The Capital Region Food Bank, Blue Star Mothers, Proctors and more through our regionally recognized I-CARE character education program. Service is an integral part of our Key Club, and both our National Honor Society selection process, as well as our NHS member responsibilities, include a 30-hour service component.
Best community for music education
For the 12th time, the South Colonie School District was recognized as a 2024 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. South Colonie students participated in the Area All-State Music Festival, Suburban Council Music Festival, Empire State Youth Orchestra, Melodies of Christmas televised concert, and Albany Pro-Musica winter choral festival.
Colonie athletes shine on regional, state, and national stages
The Colonie High School Athletic Program offers over 30 varsity level sports that compete in the Suburban Council. Our athletes have been recognized on regional, state and national levels as well as earning NYS scholar athlete team “school of excellence” recognition. Approximately 65 percent of the Class of 2024 was involved in athletics.
Preparing Colonie students for engineering careers
Curricula in general engineering and biomedical engineering are offered through the nationally recognized pre-engineering program, Project Lead the Way.
Colonie students Gain real-world experience through internships
Ninety Colonie High School seniors participated in internship opportunities like the Career Exploration Internship Program, a 54-hour internship with industry professionals in the Capital District.
Preparing future teachers
Students in Colonie High School’s Teaching Academy have the opportunity to participate in the NYS Teaching Assistant Preparatory Program. In 2024, 14 students participated in this program which resulted in 9 students employed by the district as Teaching Assistants.
Over the last three years, CCHS students have enrolled at the following colleges/universities: