- Enrollment
- 1,663
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kearney, NE
Buffalo Hills Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Buffalo Hills Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 317239002265
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buffalo Hills Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nebraska median.
- #2 of 12
- schools in Kearney · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 14.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Buffalo Hills Elementary has class sizes near the Nebraska median. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks #2 of 12 schools in Kearney, NE.
School address
District: Kearney Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 317239002265 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
Buffalo Hills Elementary shrank from 316 students in 2022-23 to 298 in 2023-24 (-5.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 19.5 → 18.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-18 students YoY 317239002265 · Kearney, NE Other · SMALL · TRAD
272 enr · 14.3:1 · 14.9% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Kearney High School (1,663 students)
Buffalo Hills Elementary shrank from 316 students in 2022-23 to 298 in 2023-24 (-5.7%). Teacher FTE lost 19.5 → 18.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Nebraska schools → · Find another →
Buffalo Hills Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kearney High S
Kearney High School
1,663 students
- Horizon Middle 648
Horizon Middle School
648 students
- Sunrise Middle 536
Sunrise Middle School
536 students
- Meadowlark Ele 417
Meadowlark Elementary School
417 students
- Kenwood Elemen 398
Kenwood Elementary School
398 students
- This school 272
Buffalo Hills Elementary
272 students
What this shows Buffalo Hills Elementary reports 272 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buffalo Hills Elementary compares
Buffalo Hills Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.3:1 | ▲ 6% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.9% | ▼ 52% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 272 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
272
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 63% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
7.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,473
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $18,497
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
Two or More 3.7%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 88.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.9, Buffalo Hills Elementary is less mixed than the Nebraska school average of 34.9.
Programs
District finance for Kearney Public Schools reports $11,473 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buffalo Hills Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Meadowlark Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kenwood Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buffalo Hills Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 417
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 398
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Nationwide other 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 (~272 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Hills Elementary
How many students attend Buffalo Hills Elementary?
Buffalo Hills Elementary has 272 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kearney, NE. CCD year-over-year: 316 (2022-23) → 298 (2023-24), down 18.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Hills Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buffalo Hills Elementary is 14.3:1, which is 6% higher than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 9% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buffalo Hills Elementary?
14.9% of students at Buffalo Hills Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buffalo Hills Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Buffalo Hills Elementary is White at 88.6% of enrollment, in Kearney, NE.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buffalo Hills Elementary?
Buffalo Hills Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 Hills Elementary rank among schools in Kearney?
By Resource Investment Index, Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks #2 of 12 schools in Kearney, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kearney on the city page.
What other schools are in Kearney Public Schools?
Besides Buffalo Hills Elementary, Kearney Public Schools also operates Kearney High School (1,663 students), Horizon Middle School (648 students), and Sunrise Middle School (536 students). See the Kearney Public Schools district page for the complete list.