- Enrollment
- 1,681
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Buffalo, MN
Tatanka Elementary Stem School
Federal NCES profile for Tatanka Elementary Stem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270720001875
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Tatanka Elementary Stem School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median.
- #4 of 4
- elementary schools in Buffalo · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- students per teacher
- 32.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Tatanka Elementary Stem School has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Tatanka Elementary Stem School ranks #4 of 4 elementary schools in Buffalo, MN.
School address
District: Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools · Minnesota
NCES ID 270720001875 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Tatanka Elementary Stem School shrank from 452 students in 2022-23 to 420 in 2023-24 (-7.1%).
Teacher FTE held 30.9 → 30.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 270720001875 · Buffalo, MN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
393 enr · 13.1:1 · 32.1% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Buffalo Senior High (1,681 students)
Tatanka Elementary Stem School shrank from 452 students in 2022-23 to 420 in 2023-24 (-7.1%). Teacher FTE held 30.9 → 30.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Tatanka Elementary Stem School 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
- This school 393
Tatanka Elementary Stem School
393 students
- Hanover Elemen 368
Hanover Elementary
368 students
- Montrose Eleme 363
Montrose Elementary School of Innov
363 students
What this shows Tatanka Elementary Stem School reports 393 students on the CCD universe file.
How Tatanka Elementary Stem School compares
Tatanka Elementary Stem School 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 | 13.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.1% | ▼ 25% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 393 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
393
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 38% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 62% 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
9
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 76.6%
African American 8.1%
Two or More 6.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.1%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 76.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.8, Tatanka Elementary Stem School 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 Tatanka Elementary Stem School 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 |
| Hanover Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Montrose Elementary School of Innov | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Tatanka Elementary Stem School'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
- 368
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 363
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 (~393 students)
Frequently asked questions about Tatanka Elementary Stem School
How many students attend Tatanka Elementary Stem School?
Tatanka Elementary Stem School has 393 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Buffalo, MN. CCD year-over-year: 452 (2022-23) → 420 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Tatanka Elementary Stem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Tatanka Elementary Stem School is 13.1:1, which is 17% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 17% 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 Tatanka Elementary Stem School?
32.1% of students at Tatanka Elementary Stem School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Tatanka Elementary Stem School?
The largest demographic group at Tatanka Elementary Stem School is White at 76.6% of enrollment, in Buffalo, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Tatanka Elementary Stem School?
Tatanka Elementary Stem School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Tatanka Elementary Stem School rank among elementary schools in Buffalo?
By Resource Investment Index, Tatanka Elementary Stem School ranks #4 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 Tatanka Elementary Stem School, 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.