Enrollment
498
New York · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Buffalo, NY
West Buffalo Charter School
Federal NCES profile for West Buffalo Charter School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 360105506298Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Buffalo Charter School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of New York schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York schools.
- #17 of 20
- elementary schools in Buffalo · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.1:1
- large classes for New York
- 85.5%
- free-lunch eligible
West Buffalo Charter School has class sizes larger than 87% of New York schools. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Buffalo Charter School ranks #17 of 20 elementary schools in Buffalo, NY.
School address
District: West Buffalo Charter School · New York
NCES ID 360105506298 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 11.8:1 New York avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
85.5%
vs 56.2% New York avg
+52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Buffalo Charter School compares with New York and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Buffalo Charter School
West Buffalo Charter School is a high-poverty, mid-sized charter elementary school in Buffalo, New York, enrolling 498 students.
Class loads run heavy: 15.1:1 is larger than about 87% of New York schools and 28% above the 11.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 85.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 498 students, its enrollment sits close to the New York median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 91% of the 4,801 New York schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 926 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New York schools statewide, it ranks #713, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (37%) and African American (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding West Buffalo Charter School spends $14,905 per pupil, 44% below the New York average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
West Buffalo Charter School is a single-school charter district, so West Buffalo Charter School operates independently rather than alongside district-mates.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How West Buffalo Charter School compares
West Buffalo Charter School on the metrics families compare, against New York and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New York | New York avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▲ 28% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.5% | ▲ 52% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 498 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
498
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
85.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% above the New York average of 56.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 87% in New York - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
42.2%
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
$14,905
per pupil, district-wide
- below New York avg of $26,410
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints 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 + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 36.9%
African American 24.5%
Asian 17.9%
White 15.5%
Two or More 4.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.6, West Buffalo Charter School is more mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Buffalo Charter School, which includes West Buffalo Charter School.
$14,905
Per student
-44%
vs New York
Avg $26,410
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New York, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~498 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Buffalo Charter School's federal record.
- Compare West Buffalo Charter School against another school. Compare schools
- West Buffalo Charter School's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about West Buffalo Charter School
How many students attend West Buffalo Charter School?
West Buffalo Charter School has 498 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Buffalo, NY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Buffalo Charter School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Buffalo Charter School is 15.1:1, which is 28% higher than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Buffalo Charter School?
85.5% of students at West Buffalo Charter School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Buffalo Charter School?
The largest demographic group at West Buffalo Charter School is Hispanic or Latino at 36.9% of enrollment, in Buffalo, NY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Buffalo Charter School?
West Buffalo Charter School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Buffalo Charter School rank among elementary schools in Buffalo?
By Resource Investment Index, West Buffalo Charter School ranks #17 of 20 elementary 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 elementary schools in Buffalo on the city page.
Is West Buffalo Charter School a good school?
West Buffalo Charter School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of New York schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in West Buffalo Charter School?
None; West Buffalo Charter School is a single-school charter district, and West Buffalo Charter School is its only campus.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.