Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Buffalo

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Front Street - Buffalo, IowaPhoto: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
D−
Schools in Buffalo · Davenport Community School District

Buffalo’s public schools score below 97% of Iowa districts on tests and graduation

44% of students in Buffalo’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the public school district serving Buffalo, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
53%
▼ 17 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
44%
▼ 20 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
73%
▼ 14 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.6K
▲ 14% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.7
IA 14.1
Schools in town
1
6,716 students on the public path
In brief

Buffalo’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 53% of tested students were proficient in reading and 44% in math, against 70% and 64% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

73% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,583 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then five middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

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 Buffalo’s grade

D− Test scoresD− Graduation

D−: better than 3% of Iowa school districts. Both inputs trail the Iowa average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 3%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (644)Better than 1%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,003 test results and a graduating class of 1,119 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Buffalo’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,021 in math, 8,985 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Buffalo Elementary SchoolDavenport Community School DistrictC
6–85 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressD to C−

Buffalo’s public schools are run by Davenport Community School District, which also serves Blue Grass, Davenport and Walcott. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Davenport Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 27 schools · 12,812 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 13.7 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$15,583IA $13,713 · FY2024
D−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading53%
State average 69.7% · 8985 students tested
Math44%
State average 63.8% · 9021 students tested

Buffalo vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Buffalo’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BuffaloD−Davenport
DavenportD−Davenport

Every school in Buffalo

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

District schools in Buffaloby address
Buffalo Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
242 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Buffaloin other towns
Sudlow Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Davenport
C−
734 students14:1Rate it →
Wood Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Davenport
D
629 students15:1Rate it →
Williams Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Davenport
D−
577 students11:1Rate it →
Frank L Smart Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Davenport
D−
430 students12:1Rate it →
Walcott Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Walcott
C
322 students12:1Rate it →
West High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Davenport
D
1,304 students15:1Rate it →
Central High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Davenport
C−
1,288 students15:1Rate it →
North High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Davenport
C−
1,190 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Buffalo’s schools

Are Buffalo’s schools good?

On Iowa’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Buffalo children attend score below 97% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 1%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Buffalo in?

Davenport Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 12,812 students in 27 schools (2024–25).

Where do Buffalo kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: West High School, Central High School and North High School.

What is Buffalo’s graduation rate?

73% of the class of 2023 in Davenport Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Buffalo spend per student?

$15,583 in Davenport Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Buffalo families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Buffalo → 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 Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.