Below Average
#4052 of 4,742 schools in NY
PS 81
Elementary School · Buffalo City School District · Buffalo, NY
A Buffalo City School District elementary school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
140 TACOMA AVE, Buffalo, NY 14216
- Math 18% proficient (2022)
- Reading 36% proficient (2022)
- 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at PS 81 score 27% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NY average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 27% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 32% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 32 test records from NY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
81%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where PS 81 sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 74Very Walkable
- Transit 42Some Transit
- Bike 51Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,549/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Buffalo), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$70,260
Median home value
$260,700
Median rent
$1,152/mo
College educated
54.1%
Homeownership
46.3%
Poverty rate
13.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 14216; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmwood-franklin SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–8 | 0.7 mi | 280 | Compare → |
| Tapestry Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.4 | K–12 | 0.7 mi | 1,126 | Compare → |
| PS 64 Frederick Law OlmstedEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | PK–4 | 0.8 mi | 572 | Compare → |
| Elmwood Village Charter School HertelCharter · enrollment unverified | 3.1 | K–8 | 1.0 mi | 431 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Buffalo City School District
- Schools in district
- 61
- Rank in district
- #44 of 59
- District spending per student
- $30,022NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 27.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
PS 81 is listed in BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About PS 81
PS 81 is a public elementary school in Buffalo, NY, part of Buffalo City School District, serving approximately 756 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #4,052 of 4,742 schools in NY. State assessment records show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about PS 81
What grades does PS 81 serve?
PS 81 serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend PS 81?
PS 81 has an enrollment of approximately 756 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at PS 81?
The student-teacher ratio at PS 81 is 13.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does PS 81 rank in NY?
PS 81 ranks #4,052 of 4,742 schools in NY.
What is PS 81's MySchoolScout rating?
PS 81 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at PS 81?
Based on loaded state assessment records, PS 81 has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is PS 81 a charter school?
No, PS 81 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is PS 81 a Title I school?
No, PS 81 is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for PS 81?
81.0% of students at PS 81 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 756
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 55
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Erie County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 62.7%
- Phone
- (716) 816-4060
- Area population (ZIP 14216)
- 23,221
- Area average commute
- 19.4 min
- Area median age
- 34.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 14216; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.