Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

New York · Public School District
60
Schools
29,507
Students
$34,113
Per-Pupil Spend
+138% nat'l
81.5%
Free Lunch Rate
+29pp vs nat'l
80.1%
Graduation Rate
-6.4pp vs nat'l
District Overview

BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is a public school district in New York serving 29,507 students across 60 schools. It includes 37 elementary, 21 high schools. Its graduation rate of 80.1% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $34,113 is above average for a US public school district. 81% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 39/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (60)
Elementary Schools37 schools
High Schools21 schools
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
PS 42 OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING CENTERUG–UG64
PS 84KG–12155
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$34,113+138% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
63%
State
62.7%
Local (property tax)
10.8%
Federal
26.5%

State funding accounts for 63% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
60
Schools
29,507
Students
81%
Free Lunch
$34K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate80.1%
Opportunity Score39/100
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $34,113 per pupil — 138% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 60 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 80.1%, graduation is 6.4 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
81% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
27% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT has 60 public schools, serving a total of 29,507 students.
What is the graduation rate for BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
The graduation rate is 80.1%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?
BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $34,113 per pupil — 138% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
81% of students in BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
No, BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT serve?
BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT serves grades PK through UG, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
The median opportunity score across schools in BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is 39/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.