Success on the Field and in the Classroom: NYSPHSAA Announces Awards for Academic Achievement 

Saratoga County schools are well known for their achievements on the field. 

Spa Catholic went back-to-back as champions in Baseball, Burnt-Hills produced an All-American wrestler (see page 30) and Saratoga Springs was one game away from winning a state championship in Football. 

But that success doesn’t end when the students leave the field. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has announced which schools received School of Distinction and School of Excellence status for the 2025-26 academic year, including several Saratoga County Schools. 

These achievements recognize schools with high levels of scholar athletes. To be recognized as a scholar athlete, a student must maintain a grade point average of 90 or above. For team status, the top 75% of a team must be considered scholar athletes. 

At the end of the year, the total number of teams reaching Scholar-Athlete status and awards are given for schools with a high percentage of teams reaching that status. Schools with 75% of their varsity teams reaching the status are considered a “School of Excellence” while schools with 100% of their varsity teams reaching the status are considered “School of Distinction.” 

With all sports seasons over and GPAs finalized, here is a rundown of the Saratoga County Schools that achieved a high in and out of the classroom. 

School of Distinction 

Only one school in Saratoga County achieved school of Distinction status for the 2025-26 school year: Saratoga Central Catholic High School. All 15 of the Saints’ varsity teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with a total of 124 student athletes reaching Scholar-Athlete status across the three seasons. 

Schools of Excellence 

Six schools in Saratoga County achieved School of Excellence status. Here is a rundown of those schools. 

• Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Senior High School. 28 teams achieved Scholar Athlete team status with 497 athletes achieving status across the three seasons. 

• Mechanicville Junior/Senior High School. 18 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 257 athletes achieving status across the three seasons. 

• Saratoga Springs High School. 35 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 715 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

• Schuylerville High School. 23 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 213 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

• Shenendehowa High School. 34 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 520 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

• Waterford-Halfmoon Junior Senior High School. 14 teams achieved Scholar Athlete status with 115 athletes achieving status across the three seasons.

Full totals for all school districts statewide can be found on NYSPHSAA.org