Public School Review - Established 2003

Buffalo City School District

712 City Hall
Buffalo, NY 14202-3375
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Tel: (716) 816-3575
www.buffaloschools.org

Top Rankings

Buffalo City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New York for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 33 public middle schools serving 18,461 students in Buffalo City School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in New York.
Public Middle Schools in Buffalo City School District have an average math proficiency score of 18% (versus the New York public middle school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 26% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 82% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New York public middle school average of 63% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NY)
# Schools
61 Schools
1,659 Schools
# Students
29,200 Students
890,054 Students
# Teachers
2,869 Teachers
83,739 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
10:1
10:1

District Rank

Buffalo City School District, which is ranked #956 of all 1,015 school districts in New York (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 79% has increased from 64% over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (NY)
#962 out of 1020 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Buffalo City School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
23%
46%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Buffalo City School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of New York by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
27%
49%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Buffalo City School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of New York by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
51%
78%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Buffalo City School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of New York by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
79%
87%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Buffalo City School District and public school graduation rate of New York by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.74
0.73
# American Indian Students
135 Students
7,222 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
4,333 Students
81,213 Students
% Asian Students
15%
9%
# Hispanic Students
6,011 Students
270,400 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
30%
# Black Students
12,248 Students
175,155 Students
% Black Students
42%
20%
# White Students
4,911 Students
325,608 Students
% White Students
17%
37%
# Hawaiian Students
18 Students
2,099 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,515 Students
28,478 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
3%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
1,729
8,468
# Students in K Grade:
2,001
26,528
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,063
28,304
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,884
28,365
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,967
27,931
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,997
29,265
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,000
43,975
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,956
157,405
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,952
185,375
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,114
188,665
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,557
40,472
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,287
36,147
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,167
33,448
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,032
33,009
# Ungraded Students:
494
22,697

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $36,864 is higher than the state median of $31,307. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $30,872 is less than the state median of $32,183. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (NY)
Total Revenue
$1,076 MM
$78,541 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Buffalo City School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in New York by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$902 MM
$80,737 MM
This chart displays total spending of Buffalo City School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in New York by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$36,864
$31,307
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Buffalo City School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in New York by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$30,872
$32,183
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Buffalo City School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in New York by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Buffalo City School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
City Honors School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
186 E North St
Buffalo, NY 14204
(716) 816-4230
Grades: 5-12
| 1,056 students
Rank: #22.
Frederick Olmsted #156
(Math: 54% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
319 Suffolk
Buffalo, NY 14215
(716) 816-4330
Grades: 5-12
| 922 students
Rank: #33.
P.s. 84
Special Education School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
462 Grider St
Buffalo, NY 14215
(716) 816-4080
Grades: K-12
| 145 students
Rank: #44.
Buffalo Academy For The Visual & Performing Arts
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
450 Masten Ave
Buffalo, NY 14209
(716) 816-4220
Grades: 5-12
| 575 students
Rank: #55.
Discovery School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
911 Abbott Rd
Buffalo, NY 14220
(716) 816-4922
Grades: PK-8
| 545 students
Rank: #66.
P.s. 81
(Math: 20% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
140 Tacoma Ave
Buffalo, NY 14216
(716) 816-4060
Grades: PK-8
| 756 students
Rank: #77.
Lorraine Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
71 Lorraine Ave
Buffalo, NY 14220
(716) 816-4809
Grades: PK-8
| 669 students
Rank: #88.
Southside Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
430 Southside Pkwy
Buffalo, NY 14210
(716) 816-4818
Grades: PK-8
| 809 students
Rank: #99.
P.s. 27 Hillery Park Academy
(Math: 17% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
73 Pawnee Pkwy
Buffalo, NY 14210
(716) 816-4770
Grades: PK-8
| 499 students
Rank: #1010.
Waterfront Elementary School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
95 Fourth St
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 816-3900
Grades: PK-8
| 771 students
Rank: #1111.
P.s. 69 Houghton Academy
(Math: 16% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1725 Clinton St
Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 816-4794
Grades: PK-8
| 434 students
Rank: #1212.
P.s. 74 Hamlin Park - Claude And Ouida Clapp Academy
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
126 Donaldson Rd
Buffalo, NY 14208
(716) 816-3490
Grades: PK-8
| 404 students
Rank: #1313.
West Hertel Elementary School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
489 Hertel Ave
Buffalo, NY 14207
(716) 816-4150
Grades: PK-8
| 718 students
Rank: #1414.
Highgate Heights
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
600 Highgate Ave
Buffalo, NY 14215
(716) 816-4050
Grades: PK-8
| 384 students
Rank: #1515.
International School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
141 Hoyt St
Buffalo, NY 14213
(716) 816-3300
Grades: PK-8
| 987 students
Rank: #1616.
Native American Magnet
Magnet School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
97 W Delavan Ave
Buffalo, NY 14213
(716) 816-3180
Grades: PK-8
| 357 students
Rank: #1717.
Buffalo Elementary School Of Technology
(Math: 11% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
414 S Division St
Buffalo, NY 14204
(716) 816-3767
Grades: PK-8
| 522 students
Rank: #1818.
Lovejoy Discovery School #43
(Math: 10% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
161 Benzinger St
Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 816-3260
Grades: PK-8
| 619 students
Rank: #1919.
Pfc William J Grabiarz #79
(Math: 8% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
225 Lawn Ave
Buffalo, NY 14207
(716) 816-4040
Grades: PK-8
| 545 students
Rank: #2020.
Dr A Pantoja Comm Sch Excllnce -#18
(Math: 7% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
750 West Ave
Buffalo, NY 14215
(716) 816-3160
Grades: PK-8
| 449 students
Rank: #2121.
Harvey Austin School #97
(Math: 11% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1405 Sycamore St
Buffalo, NY 14211
(716) 816-4460
Grades: PK-8
| 507 students
Rank: #2222.
Marva J Daniel Futures Preparatory School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
295 Carlton St
Buffalo, NY 14204
(716) 816-3800
Grades: PK-8
| 424 students
Rank: #2323.
P.s. 59 Dr Charles Drew Science Magnet
Magnet School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1 Mlk Park
Buffalo, NY 14211
(716) 816-3370
Grades: PK-8
| 561 students
Rank: #2424.
Bennett Park Montessori School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
342 Clinton St
Buffalo, NY 14204
(716) 816-4603
Grades: PK-8
| 600 students
Rank: #2525.
Frank A Sedita School #30
(Math: 7% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
21 Lowell Pl
Buffalo, NY 14213
(716) 816-3220
Grades: PK-8
| 604 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Build Community School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
340 Fougeron St
Buffalo, NY 14211
(716) 816-4140
Grades: PK-8
| 326 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Harriet Ross Tubman Academy
(Math: 7% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
212 Stanton St
Buffalo, NY 14212
(716) 816-3780
Grades: PK-8
| 506 students
Rank: #2828.
Dr Lydia T Wright Sch Of Excellence
(Math: 6% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
106 Appenheimer St
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 816-4110
Grades: PK-8
| 569 students
Rank: #2929.
Bilingual Center
(Math: 5% | Reading: 13%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
157 Elk St
Buffalo, NY 14210
(716) 816-4783
Grades: PK-8
| 330 students
Rank: #3030.
Martin Luther King Jr #48
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
487 High St
Buffalo, NY 14211
(716) 816-3240
Grades: PK-8
| 418 students
Rank: #3131.
Community School #53
(Math: 5% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
329 Roehrer Ave
Buffalo, NY 14208
(716) 816-3330
Grades: PK-8
| 459 students
Rank: #3232.
D'youville-porter Campus
(Math: 3% | Reading: 12%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
255 Porter Ave
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 816-3120
Grades: PK-8
| 519 students
Rank: #3333.
Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy
(Math: 3% | Reading: 8%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
315 Carolina St
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 816-3848
Grades: PK-8
| 472 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 61 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 29,200 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 10:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 83%
  • : 79% (Btm 50% in NY)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 51% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NY Dept. of Education

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