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Verbeck HouseVerbeck House · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Ballston · Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District, Ballston Spa Central School District

Ballston’s public schools outscore 70% of New York districts

On the state math tests, 59% of Ballston’s students scored proficient, above the New York average (46%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Ballston, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#199of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 89% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
52%
▲ 3 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
59%
▲ 12 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▼ 0 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.8K
▼ 25% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Ballston Spa Central
Students per teacher
11.0
NY 11.2
Schools in town
4
3,616 students on the public path
In brief

Ballston’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 631 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Ballston’s, its schools beat 65%, lower than their 70% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Ballston runs its own schools through grade 12, then shares

Francis L Stevens Elementary School (K–5) is Ballston’s own. From grade K, students attend the Ballston Spa Central School District with Ballston Spa, Malta and Milton: Ballston Spa Middle School. See the path ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 52% and math 59% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central spends $22,786 per student and Ballston Spa Central $25,787, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Ballston’s grade

B+ Test scoresC Graduation

B+: better than 70% of New York school districts, #199 of 755 New York towns. Test scores are above the New York average; graduation is below it.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 70%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (631)Better than 65%
Towns in Saratoga County (19)Better than 42%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,224 test results and a graduating class of 320 could put Ballston anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 89% of Ballston’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,386 in math, 3,062 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Ballston, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5Francis L Stevens Elementary SchoolBurnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School DistrictB+
6–8Ballston Spa Middle SchoolBallston Spa Central School DistrictC+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A+

Ballston runs its own schools through grade 12 (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District). From grade K, students attend the Ballston Spa Central School District, shared with Ballston Spa, Malta and Milton. Parts of Ballston (5% of its land) are served by Shenendehowa Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Ballston

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 3,105 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 10.8 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$22,786NY $34,607 · FY2024
A−
Ballston Spa Central School DistrictGrades K–12 · 6 schools · 3,826 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 11.2 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$25,787NY $34,607 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · K–12, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District61%
State average 48.9% · 1356 students tested
Math · K–12, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District62%
State average 46.5% · 1533 students tested
Reading · K–12, Ballston Spa Central School District44%
State average 48.9% · 1706 students tested
Math · K–12, Ballston Spa Central School District56%
State average 46.5% · 1853 students tested

Ballston vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New York towns that share Ballston’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BallstonB+Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central K–12 · Ballston Spa Central K–12
Clifton ParkAShenendehowa Central
CharltonA−Galway Central PK–12 · Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central K–12
MaltaA−Ballston Spa Central K–12 · Shenendehowa Central K–12
MiltonB+Saratoga Springs City PK–12 · Ballston Spa Central K–12
GlenvilleBScotia-Glenville Central

2 of the 5 neighbors share Ballston Spa Central with Ballston for grades K–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Ballston

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New York’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Ballstonby address
Francis L Stevens Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Ballston Lake
B+
468 students11:1Rate it →
Ballston Spa Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ballston Spa
C+
883 students10:1Rate it →
Ballston Spa Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ballston Spa
A−
1,300 students12:1Rate it →
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Burnt Hills
A+
965 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Ballston’s schools

Are Ballston’s schools good?

By New York’s own tests, yes: the public schools Ballston children attend outscore 70% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #199 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Ballston in?

Two districts: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District runs grades K–12, and Ballston Spa Central School District runs grades K–12, shared with Ballston Spa, Malta and Milton.

Where do Ballston kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Ballston Spa Senior High School and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Senior High School.

What is Ballston’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Ballston Spa Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Ballston spend per student?

$22,786 in Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District and $25,787 in Ballston Spa Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Ballston families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ballston → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New York. Stars are from neighbors.