Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

Schools in Buffalo · Buffalo City School District

Buffalo’s public schools score below 92% of New York districts on tests and graduation

In Buffalo, 23% of tested students are proficient in math, below the New York average (46%). 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 New York, not nationally.

#716of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 80% 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

27%

▼ 22 pts vs NY 49%

2021–22

Math proficiency

23%

▼ 24 pts vs NY 46%

2021–22

Graduate on time

79%

▼ 8 pts vs NY 87%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$31.1K

▼ 10% vs NY $34.6K

FY2024

Students per teacher

10.3

NY 11.2 · smaller classes

Schools in town

27,212 students on the public path

In brief

Buffalo’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 27% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 80% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across New York. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $31,111 per student, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

37 elementary schools, then 15 high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

King Center Charter School, South Buffalo Charter School, Tapestry Charter School, Buffalo United Charter School, Enterprise Charter School, Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School, Western New York Maritime Charter School, Westminster Community Charter School, Elmwood Village Charter School Days Park, Health Sciences Charter School, West Buffalo Charter School, Charter School of Inquiry, Elmwood Village Charter School Hertel, Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School, Reach Academy Charter School, Buffalo Creek Academy Charter School, Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School II, Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School, Buffalo Commons Charter School, Brick Buffalo Academy Charter School, Nichols School (private), Stanley G Falk School (private), Notre Dame Academy (private), St. Mark School (private), Darul Uloom Al Madania (private), Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School (private), Catholic Academy West Buffalo (private), Mount Mercy Academy (private), Buffalo Seminary (private) and Saints Tabernacle School of Excellence (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 8% of New York school districts, #716 of 755 New York towns. Both inputs trail the New York average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 8%

Lower resultsHigher results

New York towns with similar household incomes (440)Better than 7%

A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 12,235 test results and a graduating class of 2,543 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 80% of Buffalo’s students in the tested grades sat them (12,464 in math, 12,006 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.

37 schools teach K in Buffalo’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D− to B+, so check the specific school.

Town	Schools	Main districts
Buffalo	D	Buffalo City
Cheektowaga	D	Cheektowaga Central
Amherst	A⁻	Williamsville Central PK–12 · Sweet Home Central PK–12
West Seneca	B	West Seneca Central
Lackawanna	D	Lackawanna City
Tonawanda	C⁺	Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free
Sloan	C⁻	Cheektowaga-Sloan Union Free

Buffalo’s public schools score below 92% of New York districts on tests and graduation

Buffalo’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

Graduation

Spending and class size

37 elementary schools, then 15 high schools

Choice beyond the district

What’s behind Buffalo’s grade

Where will my kid go?

The district

Well below the state in reading

Buffalo vs. its neighbors

Every school in Buffalo

Questions about Buffalo’s schools

Parents talk