Best Schools in Buffalo, New York
103 schools · 58 Elementary · 4 Middle · 31 High · 10 Other
Choosing a school in Buffalo?
Use this page to compare every school in Buffalo by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School
Elementary · Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ben Franklin Elementary School
Elementary · Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Elementary · Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Buffalo for 2026 are Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School (8.0/10), Ben Franklin Elementary School (7.9/10), and Herbert Hoover Elementary School (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 84 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
103
86 public · 17 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$211,422
home value · ACS
Districts
22
serving the city
Schools
103
86 public · 17 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$211,422
home value · ACS
Districts
22
serving the city
Rates 8.0/10 despite 84% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Buffalo schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +34.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Buffalo schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Buffalo
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 84 rated schools; 103 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Ben Franklin Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Herbert Hoover Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Herbert Hoover Middle School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Ben Franklin Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | City Honors School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | PS 65 Roosevelt Ecc | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | PS 61 Arthur O Eve School of Distinction | 7.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Middle Early College High School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Kenmore West Senior High School | 7.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $52,126
- Median home value
- $211,422
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 44%
15% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Buffalo compares
New York rank
#442 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.1
below New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$52k
56% of New York median
Schools in this city
101
Education Snapshot
Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo's 104 schools across 22 districts enroll approximately 49,803 students. The level mix skews toward elementary: 59 elementary schools and 31 high schools far outnumber the 5 dedicated middle schools. The city's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 5.3/10 across 102 scored schools trails the New York state average of 6.2/10 — a gap of nearly one full rating point that signals below-average performance relative to the rest of the state. With 20 charter schools, roughly one in five Buffalo schools operates outside the traditional district system, giving families more choice within city limits. A median household income of $54,153 sits 42% below the New York state median of $93,975, placing Buffalo well into the lower economic tier statewide. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher account for 34% of the adult population.
Buffalo City School District runs 70% of Buffalo's public schools
Buffalo touches 22 districts, but Buffalo City School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Buffalo City School District accounts for 60 of 86 public schools (70%). The other 21 districts hold the remaining 26.
Among 84 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.1 to 8.0 — the spread is inside Buffalo, not a citywide average.
20 of the 86 public schools are charters (23%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Buffalo City School District60 public · 70%
- Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District6 public · 7%
- Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School1 public · 1%
- Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School Ii1 public · 1%
- Buffalo Commons Charter School1 public · 1%
About Schools in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo's public school system spans 85 ranked schools, with an average score of 4.5 out of 10. That average signals a wide performance range — and for parents, the distance between the top and the middle of that range is where the real decision-making happens.
Only 6 schools — 7% of ranked schools — score 7 or higher. That's a tight cluster at the top. Academy School leads Buffalo's ranked pool with a 7.9, the city's highest score. Middle Early College High School (7.4) and City Honors School (7.1) represent the strongest options at the high school level. Ben Franklin Elementary School (7.2) is the standout at the elementary level. PS 42 Occupational Training Center rounds out the 7-plus group at 7.1, serving a distinct student population through its occupational focus.
The numbers make one thing clear: high-performing public schools in Buffalo are concentrated, not distributed. With 93% of ranked schools scoring below 7, the gap between the top six and the rest is meaningful. Families targeting the high end of the range will find their choices limited, which makes early research essential. Understanding what each of the six high-scoring schools offers, which grade levels they serve, and what the enrollment process looks like should be a first step, not an afterthought.
For parents at the high school stage, three schools cluster near or above 7: Academy School, Middle Early College High School, and City Honors. At the elementary level, Ben Franklin is the lone 7-plus option in the data. The city average of 4.5 puts most of Buffalo's schools in a performance band that warrants close, school-by-school evaluation rather than relying on district-level assumptions. Use school scores as a filter to narrow the list, then go deeper on individual schools that match your child's grade level and needs.
Elementary Schools
58 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 386 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 460 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 599 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 272 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 313 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.1 |
| 6 | 669 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 425 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.5 |
| 8 | 394 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.4 |
| 9 | 434 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.4 |
| 10 | 572 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.2 |
Show all 58 elementary schools in Buffalo
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 764 students · 5th–7th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | 616 students · 5th–7th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 161 students · 5th–8th | 3.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 59 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
31 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,056 students · 5th–12th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 312 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 1,276 students · 8th–12th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 429 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
| 5 | 575 students · 5th–12th | 6.3 |
| 6 | 181 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 7 | 361 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 8 | 614 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
| 9 | 922 students · 5th–12th | 6.0 |
| 10 | 435 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
Show all 31 high schools in Buffalo
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 students · 15–15 | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 1,126 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 3 | 2,312 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 4 | 904 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 5 | 145 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.5 | ||
| 6 | 510 students · Kindergarten–11th | 4.0 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Universal SchoolPrivate 181 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Stanley G Falk SchoolPrivate 554 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Darul Uloom Al MadaniaPrivate 277 students · Pre-K–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 16 students · 2nd–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York · 103 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 19 ZIP codes
Median Income
$52,126
Median Home Value
$211,422
Median Rent
$977/mo
Population
343,276
College Educated
33%
Homeownership
44%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
25.5%
Community Profile
Buffalo has a median household income of $52,126. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $211,422, with a median rent of $977/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 58
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 31
- Other
- 10
Resources
School Districts (22)
CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES
1 school · 2,312 students
KING CENTER CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 401 students
SOUTH BUFFALO CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 905 students
TAPESTRY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 1,126 students
BUFFALO UNITED CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 524 students
ENTERPRISE CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 394 students
BUFFALO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 904 students
WESTERN NEW YORK MARITIME CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 402 students
WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 425 students
ELMWOOD VILLAGE CHARTER SCHOOL DAYS PARK
1 school · 436 students
WEST BUFFALO CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 507 students
HEALTH SCIENCES CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 429 students
ELMWOOD VILLAGE CHARTER SCHOOL HERTEL
1 school · 431 students
PERSISTENCE PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 386 students
REACH ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 695 students
BUFFALO CREEK ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 161 students
BUFFALO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL II
1 school · 510 students
PRIMARY HALL PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 171 students
CHARTER SCHOOL OF INQUIRY
1 school · 287 students
BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
61 schools · 29,866 students
KENMORE-TONAWANDA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
10 schools · 6,486 students
BUFFALO COMMONS CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 89 students
Other Major Cities in New York
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Buffalo, New York
How many schools are in Buffalo, New York?
Buffalo has 103 schools, including 86 public and 17 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Buffalo, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Buffalo is 5.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Buffalo, New York?
The top-ranked school in Buffalo on MySchoolScout is Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Buffalo, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Buffalo on MySchoolScout is Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Buffalo, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Buffalo on MySchoolScout is Herbert Hoover Middle School with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best high school in Buffalo, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Buffalo on MySchoolScout is City Honors School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
How many school districts serve Buffalo, New York?
Buffalo is served by 22 school districts: Charter School for Applied Technologies, 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, West Buffalo Charter School, Health Sciences Charter School, 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, Charter School of Inquiry, Buffalo City School District, Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District, Buffalo Commons Charter School.
What is the education level in Buffalo, New York?
According to Census data, 33% of adults in Buffalo have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Buffalo, New York?
The median household income in Buffalo is approximately $52,126 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Buffalo, New York?
Yes, Buffalo has 17 private schools alongside 86 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Joseph University School with a score of 8.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Buffalo, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Buffalo is 10.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Buffalo, New York?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New York State Education Dept., and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.