By: Kristen Jadin, NYSPHSAA Assistant Director

Latham, NY- The New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Inc. (NYSPHSAA) is proud to announce its 2025-2026 Schools of Distinction and Schools of Excellence, recognizing member schools that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to academic achievement throughout the 2025-2026 school year. 

The purpose of the School of Distinction and School of Excellence Awards is to unite athletic departments in challenging every varsity team to achieve statewide academic recognition through the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete program. 

For the 2025-2026 school year, 118 schools earned the School of Distinction Award, while 237 schools earned the School of Excellence Award. This compares to 110 Schools of Distinction and 221 Schools of Excellence during the 2024-2025 school year. 

"The commitment demonstrated by our member schools to academic excellence continues to be one of the greatest strengths of educational-based athletics," said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. "These awards recognize entire school communities that value success in the classroom as much as success in competition." 

Schools qualify for the School of Distinction Award by having 100 percent of their varsity teams earn NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team recognition during their respective sports seasons. To earn the School of Excellence Award, 75 percent or more of a school's varsity teams must achieve Scholar-Athlete Team status. 

The complete list of 2025-2026 award recipients can be viewed using the links below. 

School of Distinction 

School of Excellence 

Applications for the School of Distinction and School of Excellence Awards are submitted annually by member schools following the conclusion of the spring sports season. Commemorative awards are presented during each Section's Athletic Director Workshop in the fall. 

For more information about NYSPHSAA’s School of Distinction and Excellence Awards, please visit nysphsaa.org.