Public schools in Buffalo, NY
88 open public schools with an address in Buffalo, operated by 22 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
88
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
45,243
87 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.5:1
New York median 11.1:1
Charter schools
20
0 virtual
An overview of Buffalo public schools
The federal directory lists 88 public schools in Buffalo, NY: 54 elementary, 3 middle, 24 high, 7 combined or other. The 87 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 45,243 students, an average of 520 per school. The largest campus is Charter School for Applied Technologies (2,260 students), and the largest elementary school is International School (933).
Buffalo City School District operates the most schools here (62), and 2 regular districts have at least one Buffalo campus, plus 20 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 10.5:1, lower than the statewide school median of 11.1:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 20 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 28 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 20 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 10 of 29 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 80% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Buffalo
Buffalo City School District
Public school district
62 schools in Buffalo
Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District
Public school district
6 schools in Buffalo · 10 total
Brick Buffalo Academy Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School II
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Buffalo Commons Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Buffalo United Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Charter School for Applied Technologies
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Charter School of Inquiry
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Elmwood Village Charter School Days Park
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Elmwood Village Charter School Hertel
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Enterprise Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Health Sciences Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
King Center Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Reach Academy Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
South Buffalo Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Tapestry Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
West Buffalo Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Western New York Maritime Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Westminster Community Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Buffalo
Elementary schools in Buffalo
54| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Franklin Elementary School Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District | KG–04 | 460 | 10.5:1 | |
| Bennett Park Montessori School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 612 | 9.7:1 | |
| Bilingual Center Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 358 | 8:1 | |
| Brick Buffalo Academy Charter School Brick Buffalo Academy Charter School · Charter | KG–03 | 72 | 8.5:1 | |
| Buffalo Commons Charter School Buffalo Commons Charter School · Charter | KG–04 | 114 | 19:1 | |
| Buffalo Elementary School of Technology Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 551 | 10.9:1 | |
| Buffalo United Charter School Buffalo United Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 465 | 11.1:1 | |
| Build Community School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 371 | 8.7:1 | |
| Charles a Lindbergh Elementary School Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District | KG–04 | 496 | 12.8:1 | |
| Charter School of Inquiry Charter School of Inquiry · Charter | KG–06 | 276 | 7.7:1 | |
| Community School #53 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 464 | 9.5:1 | |
| D'Youville-Porter Campus Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 521 | 8.6:1 | |
| Discovery School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 541 | 11.8:1 | |
| Dr a Pantoja Comm Sch Excllnce -#18 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 475 | 10.2:1 | |
| Dr George Blackman ECC Buffalo City School District | PK–04 | 333 | 9.4:1 | |
| Dr Lydia T Wright Sch of Excellence Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 560 | 11:1 | |
| Elmwood Village Charter School Days Park Elmwood Village Charter School Days Park · Charter | KG–08 | 429 | 9.8:1 | |
| Elmwood Village Charter School Hertel Elmwood Village Charter School Hertel · Charter | KG–08 | 416 | 10.5:1 | |
| Enterprise Charter School Enterprise Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 402 | 18.4:1 | |
| Frank a Sedita School #30 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 614 | 10.1:1 | |
| Harriet Ross Tubman Academy Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 550 | 11.3:1 | |
| Harvey Austin School #97 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 487 | 8.7:1 | |
| Herbert Hoover Elementary School Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District | KG–04 | 570 | 11.2:1 | |
| Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 514 | 10:1 | |
| Highgate Heights Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 407 | 11.5:1 | |
| International School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 933 | 10.7:1 | |
| King Center Charter School King Center Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 419 | 10.7:1 | |
| Lorraine Elementary School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 638 | 10.4:1 | |
| Lovejoy Discovery School #43 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 589 | 11.9:1 | |
| Martin Luther King Jr #48 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 413 | 10.6:1 | |
| Marva J Daniel Futures Preparatory School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 369 | 8.9:1 | |
| Native American Magnet Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 367 | 10.4:1 | |
| North Park Community School #50 Buffalo City School District | PK–07 | 437 | 12.6:1 | |
| Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 434 | 14.5:1 | |
| Pfc William J Grabiarz #79 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 518 | 11.1:1 | |
| Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School · Charter | PK–05 | 220 | 14.7:1 | |
| PS 17 Buffalo City School District | PK–04 | 284 | 9.1:1 | |
| PS 27 Hillery Park Academy Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 481 | 8.6:1 | |
| PS 61 Arthur O Eve School of Distinction Buffalo City School District | PK–04 | 315 | 11.2:1 | |
| PS 64 Frederick Law Olmsted Buffalo City School District | PK–04 | 583 | 12.6:1 | |
| PS 65 Roosevelt ECC Buffalo City School District | PK–04 | 250 | 10.3:1 | |
| PS 69 Houghton Academy Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 444 | 10.9:1 | |
| PS 74 Hamlin Park - Claude and Ouida Clapp Academy Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 396 | 9.3:1 | |
| PS 81 Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 739 | 13:1 | |
| PS 90 Buffalo City School District | PK–02 | 179 | 8.5:1 | |
| Reach Academy Charter School Reach Academy Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 805 | 10.1:1 | |
| Ronald Peoples School of Scholars (The) Buffalo City School District | PK–04 | 269 | 10.7:1 | |
| South Buffalo Charter School South Buffalo Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 912 | 13.4:1 | |
| Southside Elementary School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 772 | 10.8:1 | |
| Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center Buffalo City School District | PK–04 | 566 | 10.8:1 | |
| Waterfront Elementary School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 743 | 12.1:1 | |
| West Buffalo Charter School West Buffalo Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 498 | 15.6:1 | |
| West Hertel Elementary School Buffalo City School District | PK–08 | 771 | 12.2:1 | |
| Westminster Community Charter School Westminster Community Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 342 | 9.5:1 |
Middle schools in Buffalo
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Franklin Middle School Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District | 05–07 | 654 | 10:1 | |
| Herbert Hoover Middle School Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District | 05–07 | 772 | 10.7:1 | |
| PS 59 Dr Charles Drew Science Magnet Buffalo City School District | 03–08 | 293 | 8.4:1 |
High schools in Buffalo
24| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy School Buffalo City School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 70 | 2.6:1 | |
| Buffalo Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts Buffalo City School District | 05–12 | 617 | 8.8:1 | |
| Buffalo School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Buffalo City School District · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 436 | 9.9:1 | |
| Burgard High School Buffalo City School District · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 502 | 10.5:1 | |
| City Honors School Buffalo City School District | 05–12 | 1,088 | 14:1 | |
| East Community School Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 386 | 10.5:1 | |
| Emerson School of Hospitality Buffalo City School District · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 399 | 8.9:1 | |
| Erie County Detention Facility Buffalo City School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 13 | — | |
| Frederick Olmsted #156 Buffalo City School District | 05–12 | 928 | 11.8:1 | |
| Health Sciences Charter School Health Sciences Charter School · Charter | 09–12 | 452 | 13.7:1 | |
| Hutchinson Central Technical High School Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 1,140 | 12.5:1 | |
| International Preparatory School (The) Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 640 | 9.5:1 | |
| Kenmore West Senior High School Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District | 08–12 | 1,235 | 10.4:1 | |
| Lafayette International School Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 475 | 7.7:1 | |
| Leonardo Da Vinci High School Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 363 | 10.5:1 | |
| Lewis J Bennett High School of Innovative Technolgy Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 469 | 9.3:1 | |
| Math Science Technology Preparatory School at 197 Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 438 | 10:1 | |
| McKinley Vocational High School Buffalo City School District · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 862 | 9.4:1 | |
| Middle Early College High School Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 302 | 11.1:1 | |
| Pathways Academy Buffalo City School District · Alternative School | 11–12 | 110 | 8.5:1 | |
| Research Laboratory Hs-Bioinformatic Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 174 | 7.5:1 | |
| Riverside Academy High School Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 285 | 7.8:1 | |
| South Park High School Buffalo City School District | 09–12 | 801 | 10.6:1 | |
| Western New York Maritime Charter School Western New York Maritime Charter School · Charter | 05–12 | 392 | 9.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Buffalo
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 899 | 11.6:1 | |
| Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School II Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School II · Charter | KG–12 | 704 | 10.6:1 | |
| Charter School for Applied Technologies Charter School for Applied Technologies · Charter | KG–12 | 2,260 | 11.4:1 | |
| Erie County Holding Center Buffalo City School District · Alternative School | 10–10 | — | — | |
| PS 42 Occupational Training Center Buffalo City School District · Special Education School | UG–UG | 69 | 7.3:1 | |
| PS 84 Buffalo City School District · Special Education School | KG–12 | 151 | 6.6:1 | |
| Tapestry Charter School Tapestry Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 1,120 | 12.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White20.1%
- Hispanic19.1%
- Black41.6%
- Asian13.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 87 Buffalo schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (45,243 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Buffalo
How many public schools are in Buffalo, NY?
The current NCES directory lists 88 open public schools with a location address in Buffalo: 54 elementary, 3 middle, 24 high, 7 combined or other. Together they reported 45,243 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Buffalo?
Schools with an address in Buffalo belong to 22 education agencies, led by Buffalo City School District (62 schools), Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District (6 schools), Brick Buffalo Academy Charter School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Buffalo?
Kenmore West Senior High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Buffalo, with 1,235 students in 2024–25 (grades 08–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Buffalo?
Yes. 20 of the 88 public schools in Buffalo are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Brick Buffalo Academy Charter School, Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School, Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School II. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Buffalo schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Buffalo public schools is 10.5:1, lower than the New York school median of 11.1:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Buffalo guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby New York cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All New York cities