Update on school tax mailing error
Sept. 25, 2026
Let's get ready for Homecoming 2026!
Homecoming Weekend will take place Friday, Oct. 2-Saturday, Oct. 3 on our Albany High campus! It's going to be a dynamic and fun weekend for our students, families, staff, alumni and community members. This year's festivities will include home athletic competitions, our Hall of Fame Induction, a parade and booths with snacks, refreshments, games and more. View the full schedule of events on our Homecoming 2026 web page. We can't wait to see you there!
Jazzmanian Devils to open for Steep Canyon Rangers
Albany High’s Jazzmanian Devils, the school's advanced jazz ensemble, will be the opening act when Steep Canyon Rangers play at The Egg's Lewis A. Swyer Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 26. Under the direction of John Halvorsen, the Jazzmanian Devils will perform from 7-8 p.m. that evening. Steep Canyon Rangers will follow. Tickets for the Sept. 26 concert are available through T and The Egg website, with a 10% discount using the code STEEP10.
Also, be sure to swing by the Upper Madison Street Fair on Sunday, Sept. 27, to see our advanced jazz ensemble perform. This event is free and open to the public!
Homecoming Dance Donations
Falcon families and friends — please consider donating to our Homecoming Dance Concessions and Bake Sale! Not only will your generosity ensure that our Falcons enjoy delicious snacks and drinks at our 2026 Homecoming Dance, all proceeds will go to support Albany High's prom this spring. for additional details and sign-up instructions! There are options to donate snacks, drinks, paper goods and money to purchase pizza.
Thank you for supporting our students and school community!
Homecoming Parade is Saturday, Oct. 3 at noon
Come one, come all to our Homecoming Parade! Spectators are invited to line up on the sidewalks between the corner of North Main and Washington Ave. and the access road to the stadium. Come enjoy dance performances, music played by our Marching Falcons, our senior float and more. All fall student-athletes playing at the modified and high school level are invited to march in the parade.
Reminder: students must bring ID and phone storage case daily
Please be reminded that all Albany High students must bring their student ID and their phone storage case daily to school. This helps ensure a smooth and timely entry process. Thank you!
Fall Open House Presentation
Thank you to the parents and guardians who attended our Fall Open House on Sept. 23! Our administrators, teachers and staff were thankful for the opportunity to make personal connections and share important information. Principal Commerford's is shared as a news story on our website.
Saving lives together at Albany High
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Albany High senior Lyra Stetzer (pictured left), our first blood drive of the school year was a huge success!
During yesterday's drive, 73 units of blood were collected, including 12 Power Red donations. It was truly incredible to see students, alumni, school district employees and community members collaborate for the shared purpose of providing a life-saving resource. Check out this news story to learn more!
Financial Aid Night is Oct. 1
The Albany High School Guidance Department will be hosting a Financial Aid Night for seniors and their families to provide an overview of the college financial aid process. Our evening event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Albany High School auditorium. Typically the program runs between 70 and 90 minutes, depending on the number of questions from attendees. We hope to see you there!
Fabulous fall sports
We've loved seeing our Falcons in action this fall! Here are some highlights and important details for fall sports:
- Senior celebrations kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 29. for more details about these awesome events!
- Falcon fans packed the stands last Friday night to watch our Albany High football team take on CBA in its long-awaited home opener under the lights at The Nest! of our football players and cheerleading team in action.
- Our Albany High cross country runners put forth an excellent performance at the Broadalbin-Perth Invitational last Saturday, with our girls' team securing second place overall and earning a team plaque! Read more about the competition in this news story.
- Our Albany High girls' swim team put forth a strong effort in the pool on Wednesday as they faced off against Saratoga. We celebrate the camaraderie, teamwork and determination our Falcons swimmers put forth throughout the competition. of our Falcons in action.
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The Albany Booster Club continues to seek volunteers to help run our concession stand at home sporting events this fall! Sign up for a shift today by visiting the !
Follow our Albany Athletics and pages to see our sports highlights!
Audition for Shrek The Musical
The Albany High Theater Ensemble is thrilled to present "Shrek The Musical" this coming spring!
City School District of Albany students in grades 9-12 who are interested in auditioning for the show are invited to attend our audition workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Room 4200. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn the audition songs and find out important information regarding the show.
Auditions for the show will take place on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 from 4-7 p.m. Students only need to attend one day of auditions, but must be present the full three hours. Callbacks will take place on Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. if needed.
Visit our event calendar for additional details and to access the Google Form to sign up for auditions.
More details coming soon for students interested in stage crew!
PTSA Fundraiser at Blaze Pizza on Sept. 29
Our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is excited to collaborate with parents, guardians and students as we embrace a new school year at Albany High. Swing by PTSA's Blaze Fundraiser on Sept. 29 from 4-9 p.m to help support our students. for more details!
You can like and follow the to stay in the loop about ways to be involved.
Purple on the Plaza
Purple on the Plaza is a ceremony and vigil in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, on Thursday, Oct. 1. It is an opportunity to start the conversation, raise awareness, and support victims and survivors of domestic violence.
The Albanettes and Troubadours will perform at the ceremony in front of the reflecting pool. The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence coordinates this event and asks that attendees .
Donations needed for Falcon Market
The Falcon Market is a completely free resource open to Albany High students and their families. It includes a free boutique and food pantry that provides reliable access to fresh food for thousands of students and their families. We are currently seeking donations of new or gently used athletic gear and Falcon pride gear for our free boutique. Donations for the Falcon Market can be dropped off at the Albany High main office from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on school days.
Masterclass workshops: dance and acting
Albany High students who will be in grades 9–12 for the 2026-27 school year are invited to register for our free masterclass workshops! Each workshop will be offered on two different dates and will be hosted in the Albany High auditorium.
- The Dance Workshop led by Freddy Ramirez will focus on technique, foundation of jazz, performance, musicality and bringing your own self to your work. The same workshop will be offered from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28 and Monday, Oct. 5.
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Acting Workshop led by Noëlle Gentile will help students learn that our best work as artists comes from liberated space, both internal and external. The same workshop will be offered from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1 and Friday, Oct. 2.
Students are welcome to register for dance, acting or both! Check out our event calendar to learn more and to access the Google Form to sign up!
Sign up for the PSAT
Albany High School will administer the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT) during the school day on Friday, Oct. 23, starting at 7:45 a.m. in the main gymnasium. Any student who is a sophomore or junior during the 2026–27 school year may take the test. Visit our event calendar for additional information, including details on how to register for the test.
Senior portraits
Class of 2027, you can now make appointments for your senior portraits! Upstate Images will be holding senior portrait sessions at Albany High on Dec. 4, Dec. 7-10 and Dec. 15-18. Check out this news story to learn how to book your session.
Falcons' Best Dance Crew
Do you have what it takes to be Albany High’s best dance crew? Join us for a one-of-a-kind dance competition this October to showcase your moves and compete for a cash prize! Participation is free and open to all Albany High students that will be in grades 9-12 for the 2026-27 school year.
- Dress rehearsal dates: Wednesday, Oct. 28 or Thursday, Oct. 29
- Competition date: Friday, Oct. 30
Register by Friday, Oct. 2! Check out our event calendar for additional details.
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 and . 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?
Join us for our Open House on Sept. 23!
Falcons and families! Please join us for Albany High School’s Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 5:30-8 p.m.! The event starts with a welcome and introduction in the auditorium and proceeds to teacher presentations in your student’s classrooms. In addition to meeting your student’s teachers, you will have the opportunity to experience a shortened version of their school day. Check out this news story for more details.
Fall sports picture days: Sept. 22-25
All student-athletes playing a high school fall sport will participate in our fall sports picture days facilitated by Upstate Images from Sept. 22-25! Check out this news story for additional information.
Falcons to perform at All-State Music Festival
Congratulations to Albany High seniors Celine Casasola (right) and Sidney Blanken (left) for being selected to perform as vocalists at the Conference All-State Music Festival in Rochester this December! Senior Eli Stanwicks (middle) has also been selected as an alternate for euphonium. Read this news story to learn more about these accomplished student-musicians!
Students using tripper buses need ID starting Sept. 22
Students who live 1.5 miles or more from school are eligible to ride CDTA for free.
Eligible students will have their student IDs activated and can use them to ride any CDTA bus, including CDTA tripper buses that run direct routes to and from Albany High. We strongly encourage all eligible students to take advantage of the CDTA trippers, especially for the ride home at the end of the school day. Visit our Transportation page for CDTA bus schedules and route maps.
Please note that CDTA allows a grace period at the start of each school year, when all students are allowed to ride free. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 22, students without an activated ID must pay CDTA’s regular fare.
Visit our College Fair on Sept. 24
Our first college fair of the year will feature more than 20 colleges, including Syracuse University, Clarkson, SUNY Binghamton, Vermont State University, UAlbany and more! The event will take place 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the annex gym.
Students in grades 11-12 are invited to attend and must present their student ID to enter. Teachers who have students in grades 9-10 will be extended an invitation to bring their class if they so choose.
CPR training at Albany High
Albany High students now have lifesaving knowledge after participating in a CPR training facilitated by Albany Medical Center's Center for Learning and Development! Learning CPR during Tuesday's workshop was just one of many empowering components in our students' Health Science education here at Albany High. During the training, students learned how to perform CPR on both adults and children, receiving hands-on instruction from Albany Medical Center employees who serve as nurse educators, nurse clinicians, education specialists and bedside nurses. Learn more by reading this news story!
Our 番茄社区 Blood Drive is Sept. 24!
Join us for Albany High School's first blood drive of the school year!
Students, staff and community members are invited to donate. Donors must be at least 16 years of age and all prospective donors must make an appointment by registering online using the sponsor code AlbanyHS. Students who are 16 and want to donate also need to bring a signed permission form. Visit our event calendar to register and to get additional information.
Homecoming 2026 is Oct. 2-3
We are counting the days until Albany High School's Homecoming Weekend, which will take place Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3!
Join us for a festive and fun weekend that will include home sports competitions, the City School District of Albany Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Ceremony, a parade, dance performances, booths, a home football game and more.
Albany High's 2026 Homecoming Dance will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will be available for purchase at the Albany High Box Office during lunch periods from Sept. 23-Oct. 1. Please bring your student ID to the dance. Once you leave the dance, there is no re-entry. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
If you need attire for the dance, please stop by our Falcon Market. All items are free for Albany High students!
Financial Aid Night is Oct. 1
The Albany High School Guidance Department will be hosting a Financial Aid Night for seniors and their families to provide an overview of the college financial aid process. Our evening event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Albany High School auditorium. Typically, the program runs 70-90 minutes, depending on the number of questions from attendees. We hope to see you there!
Fall sports are in full swing
Thanks to all our Falcon fans who have attended games to cheer on our student-athletes! Here are some highlights and important details for fall sports:
- We are excited to welcome our Falcon fans and sports enthusiasts to our home competitions at Albany High! To help everyone plan accordingly, we have outlined some helpful details on the topics of parking, entry, safety and security, concessions and Falcon gear. Please be aware there have been some updates to the Safety and Security section, which are noted in this news story.
- For the second year in a row, Albany High’s volleyball team has won the Amsterdam ScRAMble tournament on Saturday, Sept. 12. Our Falcons crushed it on the court, winning 10 of 11 sets played and claiming a 5-0 victory! Congrats, Falcons!
- Adam Rouse’s first-half penalty and a stout defensive performance throughout a drizzly night helped Albany High’s boys’ soccer team to a 1-1 tie with unbeaten Bethlehem on Thursday at The Nest. !
- Each season, coaches and fellow teammates embrace the opportunity to honor the diligence, leadership and dedication of our senior athletes. Check out this news story about our upcoming senior celebrations!
- and are posted on the Athletics page of our website. Schedules are subject to change and student-athletes are encouraged to stay in touch with their head coach.
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The Albany Booster Club is seeking volunteers to help run our concession stand at home sporting events this fall! Sign up for a shift today by visiting the !
Follow our Albany Athletics and pages to see our sports highlights!
Get involved with the Albany High PTSA
Our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is excited to collaborate with parents, guardians and students as we embrace a new school year at Albany High.
Here are a few helpful details to know:
- is a great way to show your support! Membership is $10 for parents, students and staff and $5 for each additional family member.
- Come to our first PTSA meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
- Save the date for the PTSA's Blaze Fundraiser on Sept. 29 from 4-9 p.m. for more details!
- You can like and follow the to stay in the loop about ways to be involved.
- from the Albany High PTSA President, Kerlan Lovell!
No Hate Tour visits Albany High
On Sept. 11, students at Albany High enjoyed a high-energy anti-bullying program featuring talented BMX riders! The No Hate High School Tour is a free program that has been running for 26 years that combines the thrill of action sports with impactful messages about combatting bullying, overcoming obstacles, being an ally, including others, practicing kindness and surrounding yourself with positive influences. of the event.
Donations needed for Falcon Market
The Falcon Market is a completely free resource open to Albany High students and their families. It includes a free boutique and food pantry that provides reliable access to fresh food for thousands of students and their families. We are currently seeking donations of new or gently used athletic gear and Falcon pride gear for our free boutique. Donations for the Falcon Market can be dropped off at the Albany High main office from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on school days.
College and career readiness at Albany High
One of our core commitments at Albany High is ensuring our students are college and career ready when they graduate! Throughout the school year, we will be sharing details with our students via SchooLinks about college visits, college fairs and more! Please be sure to log in regularly to check out all the wonderful resources we have at hand.
For your convenience, we have outlined upcoming college fairs, college visits and events for this fall in this news story — be sure to check it out!
Reminder: morning arrival at Albany High
Please be reminded that students are encouraged to arrive at Albany High School at 8 a.m. when our entrances open. With approximately 2,700 students entering the building each day, it is extremely helpful for students to arrive in a timely manner so they have time to pass through our standard security and arrive to their period 1 class on time.
(Due to CDTA tripper bus schedules, we understand that students commuting via public transit will arrive a little later than 8 a.m.)
We have enjoyed welcoming our students for the 2026-27 year, and we thank you for your attention to this matter so we can ensure students can get to class promptly and make the most of instructional time!
Masterclass workshops: dance and acting
Albany High students who will be in grades 9–12 for the 2026-27 school year are invited to register for our free masterclass workshops! Each workshop will be offered on two different dates and will be hosted in the Albany High auditorium.
- The Dance Workshop led by Freddy Ramirez will focus on technique, foundation of jazz, performance, musicality and bringing your own self to your work. The same workshop will be offered from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28 and Monday, Oct. 5.
-
Acting Workshop led by Noëlle Gentile will help students learn that our best work as artists comes from liberated space, both internal and external. The same workshop will be offered from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1 and Friday, Oct. 2.
Students are welcome to register for dance, acting or both! Check out our event calendar to learn more and to access the Google Form to sign up!
Sign up for the PSAT
Albany High School will administer the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT) during the school day on Friday, Oct. 23, starting at 7:45 a.m. in the main gymnasium. Any student who is a sophomore or junior during the 2026–27 school year may take the test. Visit our event calendar for additional information, including details on how to register for the test.
Senior portraits
Class of 2027, you can now make appointments for your senior portraits! Upstate Images will be holding senior portrait sessions at Albany High on Dec. 4, Dec. 7-10 and Dec. 15-18. Check out this news story to learn how to book your session.
Falcons' Best Dance Crew
Do you have what it takes to be Albany High’s best dance crew? Join us for a one-of-a-kind dance competition this October to showcase your moves and compete for a cash prize! Participation is free and open to all Albany High students that will be in grades 9-12 for the 2026-27 school year.
- Dress rehearsal dates: Wednesday, Oct. 28 or Thursday, Oct. 29
- Competition date: Friday, Oct. 30
Register by Friday, Oct. 2! Check out our event calendar for additional details.
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 and . 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 .