May 1, 2026
National Decision Day
The Class of 2026 had a blast celebrating National Decision Day on May 1! Check out this celebratory reel and stay tuned for photos next week of our seniors sporting gear to represent the college, university or school they will attend post-graduation.
For any students who were not at school or unable to get their Decision Day photo on May 1, you are invited to stop by the Career and College Center on Monday, May 4, right at the beginning of period 4 for your photo. You will be provided a pass to return to class after your photo.
Reserve graduation tickets by May 1
The MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests at this year's graduation celebration. Each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Tickets are free and can be secured via this Google Form. Please order your tickets by Friday, May 1. Parents and loved ones, we have an option to pre-order flowers that will be available for pick-up right at the venue the day of the event.
Be sure to check out our Class of 2026 Graduation page for more details as you and your loved ones plan for this wonderful milestone!
PTSA Spring Donation Drive
The Albany Parent Teacher Student Association is spearheading a Spring Donation Drive to collect toiletries and personal care items for our Falcon Market. This Saturday, May 2, there will be a curbside donation drop off from 9 a.m. to noon by the automotive bay in the North Main parking lot. Check out this flyer for additional details!
Falcon Formalwear Giveaway
Did you know that our Falcon Market has incredible formalwear available for our students? Come shop for your prom attire during the regular Falcon Market hours after school, or check out our special Saturday hours on May 2! View this flyer for additional details.
Senior-junior prom: Masquarade Ball
Our senior-junior prom, Masquarade Ball, will take place on Saturday, June 6, from 6-10 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center, located at 55 Eagle St. in Albany. Tickets are $80 for each attendee, and tickets will be on sale at the Albany High Box Office periods 4-7 from March 23-May 15. Cash, check and money orders are accepted, and there will not be any refunds. The ticket price includes dinner.
Students are reminded that they need to bring their student ID to the event for entry. Students who would like to bring a guest from another school must fill out a form, which is available in their academy office.
Check out this flyer to learn more about how students can get free formalwear from the Falcon Market to wear to prom!
Incredible Induction Ceremonies
On Tuesday, 122 Albany High seniors had the honor of being inducted into the Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society in recognition of their individual academic achievement. We extend heartfelt congratulations to each of this year’s inductees. Be sure to visit our Facebook page to see photos from the event and check out this article to learn more!
The following evening, some of Albany High's most accomplished musicians graced the stage with incredible performances at a recital that ushered in a new class of members into the Tri-M Music Honor Society! Check out this news story to learn more!
Regents: mock exams, make-up labs, review sessions
As Regents exams approach, Albany High is facilitating mock exams, lab make-ups and review sessions for our students who will be taking one or more Regents exams this June. The schedule is located in the "Additional Links" dropdown on the Albany High web page. We encourage students and families to bookmark the page as changes and additions may take place in the weeks to come.
Spectacular spring sports
So many memorable moments in spring sports this week—here are a few highlights:
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The City School District of Albany Board of Education has appointed Jamil Hood Sr. – an Albany High School graduate and highly regarded local coach and mentor – to lead his alma mater back to prominence on the basketball court. A 1991 Albany High graduate, Hood will coach the Falcons’ boys’ basketball team beginning next school year. Check out this news story to learn more!
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We kicked off our senior nights with outdoor track and field. Enjoy these beautiful photos of the festivities and mark your calendars for our upcoming senior celebrations - details in this news story.
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Nasief Smith, Javanni Garland-Santana, Nyerere Young and Terrique Francis smashed the 4x100m record at the Kingston Tiger Relays on Saturday, finishing first with a blazing fast time of 43.15 seconds!
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Congratulations to Albany High number one singles player on the boys’ tennis team, Stanley Cornell, for winning a competitive three-set match (6-4, 1-6, 6-4) against his opponent in Wednesday’s game against Saratoga.
Varsity athletes and their loved ones are encouraged to save the date for our Varsity Athletic Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m. Check out this letter from Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, Kimberly Pilla, to learn more.
Follow our Albany Athletics Facebook and Instagram pages to see our sports highlights!
May open gym sessions and Teen Time events
We invite our student-athletes in grades 9-12 to participate in our open gym sessions this May! Additionally, we are offering Teen Time events in the gym several Fridays during the month of May. This is an opportunity for students to hang out in the gym and socialize in a safe and welcoming environment. The full schedule is available in this news story.
Join us for Mother's Day Spa Day!
Springtime is the perfect time for pampering! Join us for Mother’s Day Spa Day on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. to enjoy beauty services and support our cosmetology program. Check out our Albany High calendar to learn more!
Falcon brass players perform in Romania
Five talented Falcon brass players— Freddy Lizardo, Caleb Goldstein, Eli Stanwicks, Sidney Blanken and Andrew Fish (pictured left to right)—soared all the way to Romania to perform with the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) Wind Orchestra during spring recess! Read more about their overseas adventure in this news story.
Falcon chemists bend and stretch
Albany High students were hard at work analyzing the properties of polymers and bioplastics as they completed the New York State required lab, "Bend and Stretch — Structure and Function of Designed Materials," in their Regents Chemistry class. Learn more by reading this news story!
Volunteer with the Albany Booster Club!
We have lots of hungry fans coming to our spring sports competitions here at Albany High—and the Albany Booster Club would love your help with running our concession stand! Visit the Albany Booster Club website to sign up for a shift.
Additionally, the Albany Booster Club is collecting nominations for officer positions for the 2026-27 academic year. Available positions include president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and concession stand manager. Nominations can be sent to thealbanyboosterclub@gmail.com no later than May 11. You may nominate yourself or someone else.
The future of the Booster Club depends on dedicated volunteers — please consider joining them in serving our amazing school community!
Scholarship Opportunities
At Albany High, we are committed to helping our students explore multiple pathways to offset the cost of higher education. Throughout the academic year, we encourage juniors and seniors to check out scholarship opportunities listed in SchooLinks.
In addition to our Board of Education scholarships offered in multiple subject areas, numerous scholarships created in memory and recognition of members of our school community and their loved ones are also offered. Check out this news story to learn more!
After-school tutoring at Albany High
Falcons, do you need extra help with your coursework? Join us at our after-school tutoring program, which runs Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in room 2235. If you need extra help with your classes, come join us and get some support from Albany High teachers. Hope to see you there!
Albany High communications
We hope you enjoyed this Albany High weekly update! As a reminder, to avoid overwhelming your inbox with lots of messages throughout the week, we curate this weekly communication on Fridays at this web page with important updates and exciting news to keep our Falcon families "in-the-know." Feel free to bookmark this page so you always have the important details you need at hand.
We also have dedicated Albany High social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us to see lots of great photos and reels!
Exciting events coming up soon
This is a list of events coming up that we want to draw particular attention to for students and families! These are just some of the great things happening here at Albany High, and remember you can view our full calendar to see them all!
Follow Albany High!
Looking for last week's update?
2026 Media Arts Festival
Albany High had the incredible opportunity to showcase the inspiring work of student-artists from 16 area schools at the 2026 Capital Region Media Arts Festival on Thursday!
During the school day, approximately 200 students from Albany High, Shenendehowa, North Colonie, Niskayuna, Burnt Hills-Ballston-Lake and Bethlehem gathered for a juried showcase of film, photography, animation and graphic design featuring 150 pieces of artwork and nearly 90 minutes of video. Check out this news story to learn more!
Important updates for the Class of 2026
Seniors and families, be sure to check out these details:
- The Albany High Student Government Association has organized a special spirit week just for seniors from April 27–May 1. Check out this graphic to see the daily themes!
- On May 1, we will be taking photos for National Decision Day in celebration of the colleges, universities and schools seniors have committed to attend post-graduation. We will do a group photo at noon. If students don't have college merch, we've got them covered. They can check the College and Career Center Google Classroom for details on when they can swing by to craft their own t-shirt to wear on May 1. Reach out to College and Career Readiness Counselor Jennifer Quinn if you have questions!
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The MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests at this year's graduation celebration. Each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Tickets are free and can be secured via this Google Form. Please order your tickets by Friday, May 1. Parents and loved ones, we have an option to pre-order flowers that will be available for pick-up right at the venue the day of the event. Be sure to check out our Class of 2026 Graduation page for more details as you and your loved ones plan for this wonderful milestone!
Inkblot Club to host Poetry Slam
Falcons, join us in the Albany High Library for the Inkblot Club Poetry Slam on Monday, April 27, from 3:30-5 p.m.! Students are invited to perform an original poem or one by another author. There's also an opportunity to showcase artwork. Students who would like to perform or showcase their artwork must pre-register. Snacks will be provided.
Author visit: Gail Jarrow
During the latest installment of our visiting author series, Albany High students had the unforgettable opportunity to meet with award-winning non-fiction author Gail Jarrow! Throughout the visit, students had the opportunity to listen to presentations, participate in question-and-answer sessions and have their books signed during a meet-and-greet with the author herself. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Albany Fund for Education for providing free copies of Jarrow's books for our Falcon readers!
Chamber Concert
Albany High kicked off our concert season with their Chamber Concert, featuring the incredible talents of the Falcon Consort, Troubadours, Albanettes, B Flats and Jazzmanian Devils!
Be sure to save the date for our following two spring concerts on Wednesday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 20!
Regents: mock exams, make-up labs, review sessions
As Regents exams approach, Albany High is facilitating mock exams, lab make-ups and review sessions for our students who will be taking one or more Regents exams this June. The schedule is located in the "Additional Links" dropdown on the Albany High web page. We encourage students and families to bookmark the page as changes and additions may take place in the weeks to come.
Falcons soar in spring sports
We've celebrated many thrilling moments in spring sports—here are some highlights from this past week:
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Our outdoor track and field team competed in their first invitational of the season on Saturday, facing off against students from over 30 different schools. A big shoutout to our student-athletes who placed in the top eight to receive a medal, including Noah Bizer who placed first in the boys’ 800m run with a time of 1:59.77 and our boys’ 4x100m relay team―Javanni Garland-Santana, Nasief Smith, Nyerere Young and Mekhi Johnson―who placed second with a time of 44.10. Six Falcons medaled as individual competitors, as well as three relay teams.
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On the heels of a 9-0 win over Troy on Tuesday, the Albany High baseball team claimed another victory on Wednesday night, edging Fonda-Fultonville 12-11. Junior Haywood Williams-Watson had a stellar performance at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base and two runs batted in. Senior Colin Paulsen also contributed two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base.
Spring sports make-up photos are Monday, April 27, from 3-4 p.m.
Also, be sure to save the date for our senior celebrations, which start on Tuesday, April 28. Details for all senior celebrations are in this news story.
Varsity athletes and their loved ones are encouraged to save the date for our Varsity Athletic Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m.
Follow our Albany Athletics Facebook and Instagram pages to see our sports highlights!
Student board member applications due May 1
The City School District of Albany’s Board of Education has long valued student voice and believes student representation is essential in guiding the Board’s decisions. Students in grades 10 and 11 are invited to submit an application via Google Form by Friday, May 1, if they are interested in serving as a student member of the board. The application includes details about the student board member’s roles and responsibilities and has been distributed to students via their student email.
We thank seniors Cleana Brummell and Carmen Sampona for serving as student board members with excellence this academic year and are excited to see who will step up to apply for this amazing opportunity.
Serve Albany Brunch
At the Serve Albany Brunch on April 16, student leaders from Albany High invited community leaders to participate in important conversations focused on the topic of providing centralized support in times of crisis for City of Albany residents. Our Falcons curated thought-provoking questions and the dialogue that took place gave community leaders the opportunity to take detailed notes on the unique perspectives and creative ideas our youth have to offer. Check out this news story to learn more!
Culture Fest 2026
Our Albany High gymnasium was full of laughter, smiles, music and celebration at Culture Fest 2026! On Wednesday evening, students, staff and loved ones enjoyed a variety of activities, such as sampling a myriad of ethnic foods, viewing unique pieces of artwork and watching gorgeous dances performed by our talented Falcons.
We are proud of the many cultures that make our school community a vibrant and beautiful place to learn.
Next PTSA Meeting is Monday, April 27
Falcons and families, our next Parent Teacher Student Association meeting is Monday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 3220. Check out our Albany High online calendar for additional details.
Falcon Formalwear Giveaway
Did you know that our Falcon Market has incredible formalwear available for our students? Come shop for your prom attire during the regular Falcon Market hours after school, or check out our special Saturday hours on April 25 and May 2, listed in this flyer.
Falcon pride at the Tech Valley Regional
Albany High’s FIRST Robotics Team #1493 delivered an excellent performance throughout the competition weekend at the Tech Valley Regional April 16-18! Check out these photos of the competition and read this news story to learn more.
Spring College Fair
Our spring college fair was an incredible opportunity for Albany High students to explore future options for higher education! Our Falcons had an amazing experience interacting with representatives from dozens of colleges, universities and schools who tabled at the event. Check out this news story to learn more!
Volunteer with the Albany Booster Club!
We have lots of hungry fans coming to our spring sports competitions here at Albany High—and the Albany Booster Club would love your help with running our concession stand! Visit the Albany Booster Club website to sign up for a shift.
Additionally, the Albany Booster Club is collecting nominations for officer positions for the 2026-27 academic year. Available positions include president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and concession stand manager. Nominations can be sent to thealbanyboosterclub@gmail.com no later than May 11. You may nominate yourself or someone else.
The future of the Booster Club depends on dedicated volunteers — please consider joining them in serving our amazing school community!
Senior-junior prom: Masquarade Ball
Our senior-junior prom, Masquarade Ball, will take place on Saturday, June 6, from 6-10 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center, located at 55 Eagle St. in Albany. Tickets are $80 for each attendee, and tickets will be on sale at the Albany High Box Office periods 4-7 from March 23-May 15. Cash, check and money orders are accepted, and there will not be any refunds. The ticket price includes dinner.
Students are reminded that they need to bring their student ID to the event for entry. Students who would like to bring a guest from another school must fill out a form, which is available in their academy office.
Check out this flyer to learn more about how students can get free formalwear from the Falcon Market to wear to prom!
Spring Donation Drive for Falcon Market
The Albany Parent Teacher Student Association is spearheading a Spring Donation Drive to collect toiletries and personal care items for our Falcon Market. Check out this flyer to learn more!
Junior conferences
Our counseling staff is excited to conduct junior conference meetings with students currently in grade 11. In these individual meetings, they will discuss future planning, college admission, graduation and more. If parents/guardians would like to join the meeting via a Google Meet or in person, they are welcome to contact their child's school counselor via email or phone call to make arrangements.
As you may know, school counselors are assigned by academy, and you can access their contact information under the "Counseling Services" tab on the Directory page of our Albany High website. If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact your child's academy for support.
Scholarship Opportunities
At Albany High, we are committed to helping our students explore multiple pathways to offset the cost of higher education. Throughout the academic year, we encourage juniors and seniors to check out scholarship opportunities listed in SchooLinks.
In addition to our Board of Education scholarships offered in multiple subject areas, numerous scholarships created in memory and recognition of members of our school community and their loved ones are also offered. Check out this news story to learn more!
After-school tutoring at Albany High
Falcons, do you need extra help with your coursework? Join us at our after-school tutoring program, which runs Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in room 2235. If you need extra help with your classes, come join us and get some support from Albany High teachers. Hope to see you there!
Albany High communications
We hope you enjoyed this Albany High weekly update! As a reminder, to avoid overwhelming your inbox with lots of messages throughout the week, we curate this weekly communication on Fridays at this web page with important updates and exciting news to keep our Falcon families "in-the-know." Feel free to bookmark this page so you always have the important details you need at hand.
We also have dedicated Albany High social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us to see lots of great photos and reels!
Exciting events coming up soon
This is a list of events coming up that we want to draw particular attention to for students and families! These are just some of the great things happening here at Albany High, and remember you can view our full calendar to see them all!
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.