Albany’s newly sworn-in mayor, Dr. Dorcey Applyrs, says she intends to enroll her children in the City School District of Albany.
Her pledge signals a personal commitment to the public education system she now oversees as the city’s top elected official.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Jan. 2 2026, Mayor Applyrs addressed questions about her family’s plans following her assumption of office, including whether her daughters would attend public schools within the city. She confirmed that she has already attempted to use the district’s school lottery system.
“I’ve looked at some of the schools in the city of Albany. In fact, I applied for the lottery,” Applyrs said. “Unfortunately, my kids were not accepted at that time, which I understand. That’s the purpose of a lottery system. And so absolutely, we’ll continue to explore enrolling my girls in a school here in the city.”
The mayor explained that she respects the fairness and structure of the lottery-based admissions process and acknowledged that not all applicants are placed immediately. She added that her family will continue to consider options within the district as opportunities arise.
Applyrs’ remarks come amid ongoing conversations nationwide about public trust in urban school systems and the role elected officials play in strengthening confidence in public education.
For some residents, a mayor choosing to send her own children to city schools is seen as a symbolic vote of confidence in local institutions.
“As mayor, my pledge to you is that I will govern with love, compassion, openness and intention,” Applyrs said, reiterating the values she says will guide her administration.
While school enrollment decisions remain a personal matter, the mayor’s comments place renewed attention on Albany’s public schools, their admissions processes, and broader efforts to improve educational outcomes across the city.
January 1, 2026, marked significant milestones in municipal leadership as three Black women were sworn in as mayors in major U.S. cities, establishing historic firsts for representation.
Dorcey Applyrs (also referred to as Dorcey Lanier Applyrs), aged 44, was among trailblazing Black women sworn in as mayor shortly after midnight. She becomes the first Black woman and first person of color to hold the position in the city’s history. Applyrs, originally from Washington, D.C., moved to the Capital Region around 2003 to pursue a master’s in public health and later earned a Doctor of Public Health from the University at Albany, SUNY. She served on the Albany Common Council representing the 1st Ward (elected 2013 and 2017) and as city auditor from 2020, winning the 2025 mayoral election.
