- Enrollment
- 1,681
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Buffalo, MN
Parkside Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Parkside Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 270720000283
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Parkside Elementary earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median.
- #1 of 4
- schools in Buffalo · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 35.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Parkside Elementary has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Parkside Elementary ranks #1 of 4 schools in Buffalo, MN.
School address
District: Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools · Minnesota
NCES ID 270720000283 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Parkside Elementary shrank from 362 students in 2022-23 to 340 in 2023-24 (-6.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 26.8 → 26.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-22 students YoY 270720000283 · Buffalo, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
348 enr · 13.4:1 · 35.6% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Buffalo Senior High (1,681 students)
Parkside Elementary shrank from 362 students in 2022-23 to 340 in 2023-24 (-6.1%). Teacher FTE lost 26.8 → 26.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Parkside 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 348
Parkside Elementary
348 students
What this shows Parkside Elementary reports 348 students on the CCD universe file.
How Parkside Elementary compares
Parkside Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 13.4:1 | ▼ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.6% | ▼ 17% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 348 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
348
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 40% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.7%
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
$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
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 82.2%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 2.0%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 82.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.4, Parkside Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
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 Parkside Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Buffalo Community Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwinds Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tatanka Elementary Stem School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hanover Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Parkside 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 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 (~348 students)
Frequently asked questions about Parkside Elementary
How many students attend Parkside Elementary?
Parkside Elementary has 348 students enrolled. It is a public school in Buffalo, MN. CCD year-over-year: 362 (2022-23) → 340 (2023-24), down 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Parkside Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Parkside Elementary is 13.4:1, which is 15% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Parkside Elementary?
35.6% of students at Parkside Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Parkside Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Parkside Elementary is White at 82.2% of enrollment, in Buffalo, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Parkside Elementary?
Parkside Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Parkside Elementary rank among schools in Buffalo?
By Resource Investment Index, Parkside Elementary ranks #1 of 4 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 schools in Buffalo on the city page.
What other schools are in Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools?
Besides Parkside 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.