Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools School District
School District · Buffalo, Minnesota
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
10
6 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
5,282
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
10
6 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
5,282
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
Evaluating Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Northwinds Elementary
Buffalo · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Hanover Elementary
Hanover · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Parkside Elementary
Buffalo · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Minnesota rank
#206 of 386
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Minnesota avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,682
$926 vs Minnesota median
District size
5,282 students
Much larger than Minnesota median
The short answer
Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools ranks #206 of 386 Minnesota districts by overall school rating. Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools's schools with real test data average 6.3/10 across 9 schools. Its top-rated schools are Northwinds Elementary (8.2/10), Hanover Elementary (7.9/10), and Parkside Elementary (7.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.2/10 despite 28% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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-hanover-montrose Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (9 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwinds Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Hanover Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Parkside Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Buffalo Community Middle | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Montrose Elementary School of Innov | 6.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Tatanka Elementary Stem School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Buffalo Senior High | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Discovery Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Phoenix Learning Center | 4.6 / 10 |
See all 10 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools
Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools is a Buffalo, Minnesota school district serving 10 schools.The district educates 5,282 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17.1:1. District-level spending was $13,682 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.3/10, Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Northwinds Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.
In standardized testing, Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools students show an average math proficiency of 62.4% and ELA proficiency of 66.5%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools with test data.
Schools in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools
10 schoolsElementary Schools6
Middle Schools1
High Schools2
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Minnesota
- City
- Buffalo
- Total Enrollment
- 5,282
- Teachers (FTE)
- 309
- District spending per student
- $13,682NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 5.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools?
Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools has 10 schools in total — 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools?
The average composite rating for Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools is 6.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools?
Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools's district-level spending was $13,682 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools is 17.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools?
Northwinds Elementary is the highest-rated school in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What are the test scores in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools?
Across schools in Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 62.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 66.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools compare to other districts in Minnesota?
Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools has an average school rating of 6.3/10 across 10 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Minnesota by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 62.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 66.5%
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 rateOther School Districts in MN
Compare Buffalo-hanover-montrose Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Saint Paul Public Schools (102)
- Minneapolis Public School District (98)
- Anoka-hennepin School District (51)
- Intermediate School District 287 (50)
- Rochester Public School District (49)
- Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan (40)
- Osseo Public School District (34)
- Elk River Public School District (31)
- South Washington County Schools (29)
- Robbinsdale Public School District (28)
- Duluth Public School District (27)
- Mounds View Public School District (27)
- Region 6 and 8-sw/wc Service Coop (27)
- St. Cloud Public School District (27)
- Mankato Public School District (26)
- White Bear Lake School District (25)
- Bloomington Public School District (23)
- Eastern Carver County Public School (23)
- North St. Paul-maplewood Oakdale (23)
- Wayzata Public School District (21)
- Burnsville-eagan-savage Schools (20)
- Lakeville Area Schools (20)
- Cambridge-isanti Public School Dist (18)
- Centennial Public School District (18)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Minnesota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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