Best Elementary Schools in Buffalo, NY (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Buffalo, NY, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Buffalo, NY rankings: Elementary Schools
Buffalo, NY elementary schools ranked
How Buffalo, NY's elementary schools compare
A: 2B: 3C: 6D: 9F: 32
10% of the 52 ranked elementary schools in Buffalo, NY earn an A or B (2 A grades, 3 B, 6 C, 9 D, 32 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 18 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (35% here, 70% nationally), and 12 exceed it. On average 28% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 29% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Elmwood Village Charter School Days Park (70% against 31%, A-), Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School (54% against 18%, C+), Elmwood Village Charter School Hertel (59% against 26%, B), Ps 64 Frederick Law Olmsted (75% against 54%, A), Ps 65 Roosevelt Ecc (43% against 23%, C-).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 13): Buffalo City School District (5), Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District (3).
The largest ranked elementary schools: International School (981 students, F, #36), South Buffalo Charter School (882 students, D+, #12), Southside Elementary School (862 students, F, #26).
Of the top 25, 0 are magnet schools and 10 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Buffalo, NY, as grouped on its schools page; the New York ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Buffalo, NY
What is the best elementary school in Buffalo, NY?
Ps 64 Frederick Law Olmsted in Buffalo ranks first among the 52 ranked elementary schools in Buffalo, NY with a SchoolGrade of A, 75% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 54%.
How are elementary schools in Buffalo, NY ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Buffalo, NY have?
SchoolGrade grades 52 public elementary schools in Buffalo, NY; 52 are ranked here.