- Enrollment
- 1,681
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Buffalo, MN
Discovery Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270720002686
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Minnesota schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #2 of 4
- elementary schools in Buffalo · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.4:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 11.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Elementary has class sizes larger than 77% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Buffalo, MN.
School address
District: Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools · Minnesota
NCES ID 270720002686 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+32 students YoY
Discovery Elementary grew from 224 students in 2022-23 to 256 in 2023-24 (+14.3%).
Teacher FTE added 14.9 → 15.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+32 students YoY 270720002686 · Buffalo, MN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
257 enr · 18.4:1 · 11.6% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Buffalo Senior High (1,681 students)
Discovery Elementary grew from 224 students in 2022-23 to 256 in 2023-24 (+14.3%). Teacher FTE added 14.9 → 15.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Discovery Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Buffalo Senior
Buffalo Senior High
1,681 students
- Buffalo Commun
Buffalo Community Middle
1,160 students
- Northwinds Ele 419
Northwinds Elementary
419 students
- Tatanka Elemen 393
Tatanka Elementary Stem School
393 students
- Hanover Elemen 368
Hanover Elementary
368 students
- This school 257
Discovery Elementary
257 students
What this shows Discovery Elementary reports 257 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery Elementary compares
Discovery Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.4:1 | ▲ 16% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.6% | ▼ 73% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 257 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.4:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
257
Bigger than 26% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
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
18.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 77% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,682
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 98.1%
African American 0.8%
Two or More 0.8%
Hispanic or Latino 0.4%
Largest group: White at 98.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 3.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 3.7, Discovery Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools reports $13,682 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Discovery Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Buffalo Community Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwinds Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tatanka Elementary Stem School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hanover Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,160
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 419
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 393
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 368
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~257 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Elementary
How many students attend Discovery Elementary?
Discovery Elementary has 257 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Buffalo, MN. CCD year-over-year: 224 (2022-23) → 256 (2023-24), up 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary is 18.4:1, which is 16% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery Elementary?
11.6% of students at Discovery Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Elementary is White at 98.1% of enrollment, in Buffalo, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Elementary?
Discovery Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Discovery Elementary rank among elementary schools in Buffalo?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Buffalo, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Buffalo on the city page.
What other schools are in Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools?
Besides Discovery Elementary, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools also operates Buffalo Senior High (1,681 students), Buffalo Community Middle (1,160 students), and Northwinds Elementary (419 students). See the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools district page for the complete list.