- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Palmetto, FL
Buffalo Creek Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Buffalo Creek Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120123007312
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buffalo Creek Middle School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Florida schools.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Palmetto · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.3:1
- large classes for Florida
- 37.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Buffalo Creek Middle School has class sizes larger than 82% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buffalo Creek Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Palmetto, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Buffalo Creek Middle School held near 1,122 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 55.0 → 57.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 120123007312 · Palmetto, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
1,171 enr · 21.3:1 · 37.4% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Lakewood Ranch High School (2,422 students)
Buffalo Creek Middle School held near 1,122 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 55.0 → 57.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Buffalo Creek Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch High School
2,422 students
- Parrish Commun
Parrish Community High School
2,266 students
- Palmetto High
Palmetto High School
2,185 students
- Manatee School
Manatee School for the Arts
2,051 students
- Manatee High S
Manatee High School
1,998 students
- This school
Buffalo Creek Middle School
1,171 students
What this shows Buffalo Creek Middle School reports 1,171 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buffalo Creek Middle School compares
Buffalo Creek Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.3:1 | ▲ 20% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.4% | ▼ 28% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,171 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,171
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 82% in Florida - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
38.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,381
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 390 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
333
in-school suspensions + 254 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 28.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 50.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 58.7%
Hispanic or Latino 18.6%
African American 15.2%
Two or More 4.9%
Asian 2.6%
Largest group: White at 58.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.5, Buffalo Creek Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Manatee reports $11,381 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buffalo Creek Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood Ranch High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parrish Community High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palmetto High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manatee School for the Arts | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Manatee High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buffalo Creek Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,266
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,185
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,998
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,171 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Creek Middle School
How many students attend Buffalo Creek Middle School?
Buffalo Creek Middle School has 1,171 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Palmetto, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,127 (2022-23) → 1,122 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Creek Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Creek Middle School is 21.3:1, which is 20% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buffalo Creek Middle School?
37.4% of students at Buffalo Creek Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buffalo Creek Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Buffalo Creek Middle School is White at 58.7% of enrollment, in Palmetto, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buffalo Creek Middle School?
Buffalo Creek Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Buffalo Creek Middle School rank among middle schools in Palmetto?
By Resource Investment Index, Buffalo Creek Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Palmetto, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Palmetto on the city page.
What other schools are in Manatee?
Besides Buffalo Creek Middle School, Manatee also operates Lakewood Ranch High School (2,422 students), Parrish Community High School (2,266 students), and Palmetto High School (2,185 students). See the Manatee district page for the complete list.