- Enrollment
- 1,140
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Buffalo, NY
Waterfront Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Waterfront Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 360585000381
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waterfront Elementary School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New York median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York schools.
- #31 of 49
- schools in Buffalo · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 10.9:1
- students per teacher
- 93.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Waterfront Elementary School has class sizes near the New York median. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waterfront Elementary School ranks #31 of 49 schools in Buffalo, NY.
School address
District: Buffalo City School District · New York
NCES ID 360585000381 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Waterfront Elementary School held near 771 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 68.0 → 68.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 360585000381 · Buffalo, NY Other · MID · TRAD
743 enr · 10.9:1 · 93.4% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Hutchinson Central Technical High School (1,140 students)
Waterfront Elementary School held near 771 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 68.0 → 68.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New York schools → · Find another →
Waterfront Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hutchinson Cen
Hutchinson Central Technical High School
1,140 students
- City Honors Sc
City Honors School
1,088 students
- International
International School
933 students
- Frederick Olms
Frederick Olmsted #156
928 students
- Mckinley Vocat
Mckinley Vocational High School
862 students
- This school
Waterfront Elementary School
743 students
What this shows Waterfront Elementary School reports 743 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waterfront Elementary School compares
Waterfront Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New York and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New York | New York avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.9:1 | ▼ 8% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 93.4% | ▲ 66% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 743 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.9:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
743
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
93.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% above the New York average of 56.2%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.9:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 43% in New York - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
84.8%
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
$29,407
per pupil, district-wide
- above New York avg of $28,120
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 110 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 43.6%
Asian 29.1%
Hispanic or Latino 15.1%
White 9.4%
Two or More 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 43.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.3, Waterfront Elementary School is more mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
Programs
District finance for Buffalo City School District reports $29,407 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Waterfront Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson Central Technical High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| City Honors School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| International School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Frederick Olmsted #156 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mckinley Vocational High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waterfront Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 933
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 928
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 862
- Students per teacher
- 9:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
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 (~743 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waterfront Elementary School
How many students attend Waterfront Elementary School?
Waterfront Elementary School has 743 students enrolled. It is a public school in Buffalo, NY. CCD year-over-year: 761 (2022-23) → 771 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waterfront Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waterfront Elementary School is 10.9:1, which is 8% lower than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 31% 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 Waterfront Elementary School?
93.4% of students at Waterfront Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waterfront Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Waterfront Elementary School is African American at 43.6% of enrollment, in Buffalo, NY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waterfront Elementary School?
Waterfront Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Waterfront Elementary School rank among schools in Buffalo?
By Resource Investment Index, Waterfront Elementary School ranks #31 of 49 schools in Buffalo, NY. 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 City School District?
Besides Waterfront Elementary School, Buffalo City School District also operates Hutchinson Central Technical High School (1,140 students), City Honors School (1,088 students), and International School (933 students). See the Buffalo City School District district page for the complete list.