Excellent
#96 of 1,226 schools in OR
Top 8% in state
Buff Elementary School
Elementary School · Jefferson County SD 509J
375 SE Buff St, Madras, OR 97741
Enrollment
251
Student-Teacher
13.9:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
251
Student-Teacher
13.9:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Madras
#1 of 6
public schools
Oregon elementary schools
#84 of 689
In district
#1 of 7
Jefferson County SD 509J
School environment
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Buff Elementary School
Buff Elementary School is a public elementary school in Madras, OR, part of the Jefferson County SD 509J. The school serves approximately 251 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.9:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 92.3th percentile among OR schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 40% proficiency in math, 8 points above the state average and 45% in reading/language arts, 2 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.3/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $69,696, where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a remote town setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Buff Elementary School — Students at Buff Elementary School score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
94%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores OR OSAS (2024-25)
Based on 8 test records from OR state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.5/10.
How Buff Elementary School Compares
See how Buff Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 37% (2019) to 31.9% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 47% (2019) to 47.9% (2025).
Location
375 SE Buff St, Madras, OR 97741
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Buff Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. John Tuck Elementary School (rated 8.5/10, 24.4 miles away, in nearby Redmond), with a very similar rating. Another option is Culver Elementary School (rated 7.1/10, 8.5 miles away, in nearby Culver), a more accessible option. Additionally, Terrebonne Community School (rated 7.0/10, 19.3 miles away, in nearby Terrebonne), a more accessible option. For more schools in Madras, see our Madras schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 25.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Madras High School Madras | 0.1 mi | 5.6 |
| Madras Elementary School Madras | 0.3 mi | 5.1 |
| Bridges High School Madras | 0.5 mi | 7.1 |
| 509J On-Line Madras | 0.5 mi | — |
| Jefferson County Middle School Madras | 0.9 mi | 7.2 |
| Metolius Elementary School Madras | 3.8 mi | 5.6 |
| Culver Elementary School Culver | 8.5 mi | 7.1 |
| Culver Middle School Culver | 8.6 mi | 6.7 |
| Culver High School Culver | 8.6 mi | 5.3 |
| Warm Springs K-8 Academy Warm Springs | 11.2 mi | 6.6 |
| Terrebonne Community School Terrebonne | 19.3 mi | 7.0 |
| Tom McCall Elementary School Redmond | 22.6 mi | 6.7 |
| Elton Gregory Middle School Redmond | 22.6 mi | 5.9 |
| ST THOMAS ACADEMY Redmond | 23.5 mi | 6.5 |
| John Tuck Elementary School Redmond | 24.4 mi | 8.5 |
| Hugh Hartman Elementary Redmond | 24.5 mi | 6.3 |
| EVERGREEN ACADEMY Redmond | 24.8 mi | — |
| Redmond Proficiency Academy Redmond | 24.8 mi | 3.5 |
| Redmond High School Redmond | 24.9 mi | 3.7 |
| COIC -REDMOND Redmond | 25.1 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 97741 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$69,696
Median Home Value
$308,900
Median Rent
$993/mo
Population
13,750
College Educated
21.3%
Homeownership
65.5%
Avg Commute
21.9 min
Poverty Rate
11.6%
Median Age
39.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Buff Elementary School has a median household income of $69,696. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $308,900, with a median rent of $993/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.6%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Cedar Mill Elementary School Portland, OR | 8.6 |
| Cloverdale Elementary School Turner, OR | 8.6 |
| Douglas Gardens Elementary School Springfield, OR | 8.6 |
| Helman Elementary School Ashland, OR | 8.6 |
| Jacksonville Elementary School Jacksonville, OR | 8.6 |
| Sauvie Island School Portland, OR | 8.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Buff Elementary School
What grades does Buff Elementary School serve?
Buff Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Buff Elementary School?
Buff Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 251 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buff Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Buff Elementary School is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Buff Elementary School rank in OR?
Buff Elementary School is ranked #96 out of 1,226 schools in OR.
What is Buff Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Buff Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Buff Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Buff Elementary School has 39.5% math proficiency and 44.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Buff Elementary School a charter school?
No, Buff Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Buff Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Buff Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Buff Elementary School?
94.0% of students at Buff Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Madras). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 251
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 94.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Jefferson County
- Phone
- (541) 475-2457
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Jefferson County SD 509J- District Enrollment
- 2,740
- Schools in District
- 9
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,372
- District Rank
- #1 of 7
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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