2023 Best Public High Schools for Athletes in New York

• Victor Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  258 reviews

Senior: My experience at Victor began on day 1 of Pre-K school at Victor. What is so special about my 12 years here is that I spent my entire 12 years of school on one campus, similar to a college campus, but it's High school, on 166 acres to be exact! I can walk across the pathway and visit my Victor Primary School teachers. We are like one big family. I have attended school with pretty much the same students that I started my school career with. Along with this bonus is that Victor was named a National Banner Unified Champion School in 2020, one of only 9 NYS high schools to be recognized for creating an inclusive school community. 100% of Fall and Winter athletic teams were scholar athletes, maintaining a 90% or higher team average. 98% of High school students graduated with Regents Diploma in 2020. Victor School's SAT scores were among the highest in Greater Rochester Area. I've been fortunate to be a part of the Victor Community and I will value all I have learned every day of my life!... Read 258 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 31

• Cornwall Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  291 reviews

Senior: My high school experience was pretty great! At Cornwall high school the teachers are very helpful and very personable. I'm currently a senior and have been enrolled in three college level courses which were all very challenging but with the help of my teachers and the NHS tutoring center i excelled in them! The environment is what you make it, some people have so many friends and have the time of their life in Cornwall but others struggle. In my opinion the students at Cornwall are very nice and include you in a lot of things you just have to reach out and talk to them. There are so many clubs at Cornwall and sports are a huge thing. The football team won the state championship two years in a row and everyone was super supportive of them... the town even held a parade for the team. High school is what you make it and at Cornwall the school is small, but big enough to find your place to fit in.... Read 291 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 25

• Massapequa Union Free School District, NY•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  356 reviews

Senior: Through the three years that I attended the school, it has been nothing but a great experience for me. Entering there in my Sophomore year, it was a major change, as the previous year, my Freshman year, we had a school building all to ourselves. But now, we were with the Juniors and Seniors as well. However, much of that stress went away once I actually arrived there. The faculty and stuff were very welcoming of everyone, and made sure that the transition into the school was a comfortable one. From then on, I would enjoy my years in the school. I participated in various after-school programs, and I could definitely see why it is a Blue Ribbon School. The quality of education there is definitely appropriate of five stars, especially since the teachers there are amazing and are always looking out for the students. Besides that, as I mentioned, the other aspects and programs of the school made it a great experience up until now, and I'm sure that the few months left won't change a thing.... Read 356 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 30

• Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  132 reviews

Senior: I would honestly say that I had a pretty good high school experience at Burnt Hills. I was able to get an education where my teachers cared about me as well as what I learned. During the years of covid, the school still continued to care about my education as well as my experience. They did everything they could to make sure that we as students were able to learn in the classroom with the restrictions New York State had put in place. Burnt Hills also offers a lot of different clubs as well as sports to make sure that their students are engaged. One of the clubs I was involved in was Interact Club, this club helped me realize how important community service and being apart of a community really is. Burnt Hills has a counseling center, but mental health isn't talked about or really treated in the school. We are expected to do well in all of our classes, but don't get talked to about our mental health and what we can do to help our mental health.... Read 132 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 22

• Clarence Central School District, NY•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  285 reviews

Junior: As far as high schools go, it's not too bad. Most teachers are great, know what they're talking about, expect much and yet are pretty understanding. There's a wide variety of classes to take at any level. Plenty of genuinely friendly and smart people. There are some downsides, tho. I transferred from a small private school in the middle of a pandemic, and it's really easy to feel lost and lonely if you don't get plugged into clubs or have a good friend group. You deal with a few double Ivy-league legacy types if you take AP classes, but it's not everyone. Workload is heavy and most students in my classes are stressed and sleep deprived, but I think that's pretty universal for the classes we take. There's a vandalism problem, so now teachers monitor how many people are in the bathroom at once and admin treats us like kindergarteners. If you want something (counseling, information, etc.) you have to take initiative and ask for it yourself, which isn't always a straightforward process.... Read 285 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 31

• North Syracuse Central School District, NY•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  529 reviews

Senior: I've mostly enjoyed my time at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. There is a great class selection and most teacher are amazing people and instutors. However, CNS is a large school causes some reasourse to be spread then. There aren't enough counselors and it's very easy to get lost in the system. The food is good and there are multiple options to eat. There are many clubs and activities for students to do. Our athletic teams often the best in Section 3 with amazing coaches.... Read 529 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 28

• Maine-Endwell Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  122 reviews

Junior: Overall the school is very well kept and everyone is involved in school activities. Not only are the academic ratings high the extra-curricular activities such as sports are very popular. Our school takes part in many musicals and plays due to a well organized music department. As far as the teachers they are all very welcoming and accept each and every student. The teachers go out of their way each and every day to help a different student in not only school life but their personal life as well! Maine Endwell High School has shown me the true meaning of a family, I can always count on the teachers and fellow classmates if I ever need to talk about anything or if I need help in my life.... Read 122 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 26

• Glens Falls City School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  98 reviews

Senior: Very friendly walking community school. The school feels safe and has a nice welcoming community. The school offers a wide variety of classes to prepare every person with some background knowledge in any field they desired. The school also offers many classes to help develop important life skills before college, which have proved to be very useful. Glens Falls is a very good school in a great spot with great people, really hometown USA that is excellent at preparing the next generations for their future.... Read 98 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 36

• Monroe-Woodbury Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  468 reviews

Senior: I love how diverse and accepting the student population is. The education level was always at the top and I can truly say I've learned a lot. Being an athlete, musician, and honors student has always been quite the handful, but I have a lot of resources at the school to help if I ever needed it. However, there are opportunities for the school to improve, such as holding all students to the same academic standard. Grades also vary greatly between students that have different teachers in the same subject which affect rank and self-esteem.... Read 468 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 28

• Shenendehowa Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  275 reviews

Senior: Shenendehowa High School has a great school environment! Faculty is generally good and extremely helpful. Teachers at Shenendehowa are always looking for ways to help students learn and succeed individually. That means extra help hours, personalized lessons or offering tutoring. I love the school spirit everyone shares at Shen. Students and staff always sport their merchandise and sports apparel which really brings everyone together. Shen offers tons of clubs and activities where students can connect with those who share the same interests. One of the coolest aspects of Shen in my opinion is the dark room. We are one of the last schools with a dark room used for black and white film photography. I had such an amazing experience in that class that I would have never gotten the chance to have if I didn't go to Shen. It's a great school with a lot of great opportunities!... Read 275 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 27

• Queensbury Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  185 reviews

Junior: Queensbury High School offers a lot of upper-level courses for students who want to be challenged like the IB courses, AP courses, and honor courses. Queensbury also offers many clubs and sports and there is always something for everyone to participate in which makes learning and school fun. The teachers are very nice and willing to help their students learn and achieve all their future goals. Everyone at Queensbury gets a chance to be a star and everyone has access to the resources to do it because of the amazing administration and staff. Queensbury isn't a huge school but it isn't small either which provides students with different groups of people to socialize with while knowing everyone else in the school. Overall, Queensbury is a wonderful school to go to especially if you want to be challenged and have a great time while learning. As a transfer student from a small rural school to Queensbury, I would highly recommend it!... Read 185 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 25

• Marlboro Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  108 reviews

Junior: Since i’ve been attending Marlboro Central High School, i’ve made lasting relationships with teachers, staff, and my peers. They have a variety of different courses to appeal to all different interest, including mine, which are psychology and sociology.... Read 108 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 25

• Bayport-Blue Point Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  101 reviews

Junior: The classes offered at Bayport Blue Point High School are excellent for all students. Whether you want to challenge yourself with an AP class or need some help with a modified class, the option is yours. Most of the teachers are fantastic, and provide their students with a great education while forming bonds with them. BBP High School also offers many clubs, such as debate club and science Olympiad, and students can request to start their own club. The school also takes pride in its sports, with many options and a very high participation rate among students. The science and math departments offer many accelerated or modified classes to accommodate the students, and these classes are very informative. Perhaps the best department in Bayport Blue Point High School is the art and music department. There are numerous classes, orchestras, classes, AP music theory, ceramics, and many more. Several music extracurriculars are offered, including chamber orchestra, the musical, and jazz choir.... Read 101 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 22

• Bronxville Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  78 reviews

Junior: I have been going to Bronxville for 12 years and although it is an extremely competitive environment, teachers are so helpful and it is all super manageable. The social life in Bronxville is super fun and seeing all the comments about drinking and drugs makes me sad because that is not necessarily true and honestly most high schools have more drinking and drugs than we do. Bronxville is so unique and it's such a great school! There's something there for everyone whether it is sports or the arts (which have become much more prominent in student life).... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 25

• Orchard Park Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  221 reviews

Parent: Orchard Park High School has been a wonderful experience for my two oldest daughters. I have a junior and a senior and couldn’t be happier with the experience. The academics are top notch with many opportunities for excelled programs. My girls have been involved in music and theater and the program is amazing! There are many opportunities for vocal and instrumental activities and the support they have both received is wonderful. I fell they are both well prepared for college and beyond. They are well rounded, caring human beings thanks to the culture promoted at OP!... Read 221 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 28

• Somers Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  156 reviews

Senior: Somers High School offered me excellent opportunities during my time as a student there! With a plethora of AP, IB, Honors, Regents, and elective courses, my education has been very diverse and adequately prepared me for college. Every department at Somers High School is very strong, well-staffed, and well-funded. Every student has the chance to excel in every program, and teachers are very invested in their students and want them to learn and grow. The only downside is that the student body is very exclusive, and oftentimes any discussions on real-world events/politics are met with hostility if students disagree with you. A small portion of our student body is very intolerant towards people of color and varying faiths, but generally people are as accepting as a school with a mostly white student body really can be-we aren’t well-prepared to enter more diverse environments despite our school’s efforts to promote tolerance.... Read 156 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 25

• Levittown Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  238 reviews

Senior: Overall MacArthur High School is great! The teachers really do want you to succeed and it’s amazing to see their involvement with the students. They treat them like their own kids and it’s just an amazing feeling. The school is limited on resources but makes the best of what they got, they will make sure you’re involve in as many school activities as they have. They students have outstanding school pride with their chant “Mac Pride Never Dies!”. The environment inside the school something you’ll never forget. Seeing all students come together for anything is absolutely eye opening, regardless of being in school or out of school.... Read 238 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 24

• Vestal Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  146 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed my time at Vestal High School! In my opinion, they have the best selection of rigorous and advanced courses in our area from AP to IB courses. The teachers and staff are very friendly and always willing to do extra to help their students learn. Overall, Vestal Senior High School is a great school. I enjoyed all four years at the school and I can’t wait to put all of my knowledge that I learned there into practice at college.... Read 146 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 27

• Spencerport Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  175 reviews

Alum: When I look back upon my high school experience, I can say those were ‘the good old days.’ I know when you look back to your high school days you either say what I said, or the opposite. You either hated it, or loved it…there’s not much in between. At Spencerport I enjoyed by time. Sure- I had some ups and downs, some good experiences some bad with some teachers- but that’s life that’s gonna happen. One thing I did appreciate from Spencerport was the love for sports. I had 3 older siblings who attended Spencerport a whole 10 years before me. Yes- my blood siblings, All that to say- we all attended Spencerport and had many friends and excelled in sports. That was beyond awesome. The community at Spencerport definitely has a bunch of characters- I met great teachers, some not too great, but I focus on the ones who impacted me and left a lasting impression on my life- to this day. I really do miss the memories I made at Spencerport and I will cherish them for the rest of my life.... Read 175 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 28

• Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  156 reviews

Senior: Personally, my experience with the school is great. I've always felt welcome to the community and I always knew that it was the same for many others as well. All of the staff were willing to help, and the teachers were excellent in teaching their classes. Although I haven't joined any sports or many clubs, I can still say with confidence that those communities are very good at keeping the school engaged with the community outside. The school also provides a lot of opportunities, having many AP courses as well as machinery used by art classes. Each class as mentioned before will have teachers always ready to support the student if the student has any questions. The school events are always something to look forward to throughout the year. There's always a fun activity to watch and sometimes being able to participate yourself. As a senior, I am proud to be a part of the Jamesville Dewitt High School community, being present with it throughout my entire high school years.... Read 156 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 28

• New Rochelle City School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  575 reviews

Alum: My experience at my time in NRHS was the best! I grew as a person and it was unique. Truthfully this experience made me who I am by challenging me academically, socially, and culturally. This school is very diverse and being a person of color made me feel welcomed. The teachers are very passionate about their students and their work. This school has a lot of resources. I was part of PAVE, the swim team during my freshman year, the Math honor society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the National Honor Society. My time at NRHS was unforgettable.... Read 575 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 28

• Pittsford Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  186 reviews

Senior: I have had a largely enjoyable and educational six years in the Pittsford Central School District, like many of my peers. Teachers and students alike prioritize academics and post-graduation success, which I greatly value. The music and athletic programs are notably successful and competitive, while simultaneously providing students of all skills and backgrounds with opportunities to participate. My criticisms of Pittsford Mendon High school include the somewhat excessive expectations placed upon students, and the faculty's mishandling of social or cultural situations. Students are expected to take the most difficult classes possible, and as many as they can register for, rather than prioritizing their interests, career plans, and physical and mental health. Further, racial incidents within the district have been treated as an opportunity for unity and press, rather than a situation to learn from and amend. With further social progress, MHS would be an ideal school for any student.... Read 186 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 32

• Lindenhurst Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  300 reviews

Junior: Lindenhurst Senior High School is a place where students can make their talents thrive. The High School has so much to offer, such as, clubs, sports, activities, and programs for students to get involved. In addition, there are various classes and electives to choose from. And provides students the opportunity to Advanced Placement courses. The teachers are very understanding and ensures the best for all students. Lindenhurst Senior High School is a nice and workable environment; we have a resourceful library open to everyone! Our Lindy Pride is what represents us and we Bulldogs never fail to entertain our guests with our outstanding skills and academics!... Read 300 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 31

• Lancaster Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  304 reviews

Senior: My experience at Lancaster High School has been great! In my opinion, the faculty and staff here do a great job at creating an adaptable and supportive learning environment. There's almost an endless amount of resources for whatever any of the students here need, which is extremely helpful when trying to get work done. All of the students are provided with a wide range of opportunities, including five educational academies and many different electives. My school has much more to offer than just the core classes, which is one of the favorite things about my school. I personally participate in the PLTW academy, which has allowed me to explore the things I'm actually interested in, such as technology and engineering. Overall, the past four years at this high school have been very positive, and I wouldn't have wanted to go anywhere else.... Read 304 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 30

• Commack Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  819 reviews

Senior: Being a student at Commack High School, I have seen and heard many conversations, stories, lessons, and interactions that associate with happy and not so happy memories. High School is supposed to be some of the greatest years of your life and I can confidently agree with that. Over the years, I was able to find my interests and see establish my strengths and weaknesses. The quality of my education is incomparable and it was easy to initiate positive relationships with the teachers and other students. We are a very school-spirited school and always go above and beyond to make everyone feel comfortable and included. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 my high school years were choppy but it is wonderful that for my final year we have returned to normalcy.... Read 819 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Total number of sports 32