Buffalo Public Schools

Buffalo Public Schools serves approximately 31,000^[4] students in Buffalo, New York, It is located in Erie County of western New York and operates nearly 70 facilities.^[5]

Buffalo Public Schools
Address
712 City Hall Buffalo , New York, 14202 United States
Coordinates	42°53′11.73″N 78°52′45.49″W
District information
Type	Public
Grades	Pre-K-12 and Adult education
Established	1838; 187 years ago (1838)
Superintendent	Pascal Mubenga[1]
Schools	Elementary:45 High School:18 Adult Ed:2
Budget	$1.9 billion (2025-2026)[2]
NCES District ID	3605850[3]
Students and staff
Students	33,299 (2019–2020)[3]
Teachers	3,254.41 (FTE)[3]
Student–teacher ratio	10.23[3]
Other information
Website	buffaloschools.org

History

The Buffalo Public School System was started in 1838, 13 years after the completion of the Erie Canal and only 6 years after the 1832 incorporation of the City of Buffalo. Buffalo was the first city in the state of New York to have a free public education system supported by local taxes. Although New York City had a free public education system prior to 1838, NYC obtained additional funding through private donations and sources.^[6] Buffalo Public Schools' first Superintendent of Schools, Oliver Gray Steele (1805–1879), was a prominent and successful businessman. Originally from Connecticut, Steele relocated to Buffalo in 1827. He held three different terms as Superintendent between 1838 and 1852, during which twelve new elementary facilities were built, bringing the total to 15 elementary buildings. A building for a dedicated high school was also purchased during this time. Steele is credited as being the "Father of the Public Schools of Buffalo" as his reorganization of the schools in Buffalo enabled children to have access to a free public education.^[6] Over 35 people have held the position of Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools since that time.

Between 1870 and 1900, the population of Buffalo more than doubled. The school population grew along with it, straining existing facilities. Around this time, the city embarked on a campaign of expansion, constructing four public high schools in the first decades of the twentieth century.^[7] Additionally, several primary schools were designed by the architectural firm of Louise Bethune, the first woman to be a professional architect in the United States.^[8]

On April 26, 2025, Richard Hy, a detective with the Buffalo Police Department, who had previously been found liable for police misconduct by the Office of the Attorney General of New York,^[9] claimed on the Unsubscribe podcast that the Buffalo Public Schools district covered up and refused to work with law enforcement with cases of sexual assaults and abuse.^[10] Hy also stated that Buffalo Public Schools officials and attorneys obstructed evidence and ignored subpoenas and court orders to cover up child abuse and sexual abuse within the district.^[11] Hy also stated that the Erie County District Attorney's office and his superiors were also frustrated to which they replied no comment with concerns about compromising ongoing investigations.^[12] In May 2025, Richard Hy again made additional allegations of misconduct. Representatives of Buffalo Public Schools and the Buffalo Teachers Federation have disputed Hy's claims.^[13] In late May 2025, Missouri-based lawyer Kayla Ferrel Onder was retained by 12 clients to who claimed they had been abused by BPS to file a legal complaint.^[14] In June, the School Board selected Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations.^[15]

Administration

The Board of Education of the Buffalo City School District is the policy-making body for the Buffalo Public Schools,^[16] as provided by the Constitution of New York, and is under the general supervision of the New York State Education Department.^[17] The board consists of nine members elected by popular vote of District residents.

Schools

Elementary schools

Except where noted, all schools serve Grades PreK-8

• D'Youville Porter Campus School, Front Park
• Buffalo Elementary School of Technology, Willert Park
• Early Childhood Center 17, Cold Springs
• Dr. Antonia Pantoja Community School of Academic Excellence, Front Park
• Native American Magnet School, Grant Ferry
• Hillery Park Elementary School, Seneca
• Frank A. Sedita Academy, Front Park
• Harriet Ross Tubman School, Emslie
• Bennett Park Montessori School, Willert Park
• Bilingual Center, First Ward
• Marva J. Daniel Futures Preparatory School, Medical Park
• Lovejoy Discovery School, Lovejoy
• International School, Grant Ferry
• School 48 @ MLK, Medical Park
• North Park Community School, North Park
• Community School, Kingsley
• Dr. George E. Blackman School of Excellence, #54, Parkside
• Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet, MLK Park
• Annex 59, Polonia
• Arthur O. Eve School of Distinction, Leroy
• Frederick Law Olmsted School, Park Meadow
• Roosevelt Early Childhood Center, Riverside
• Discovery School, South Abbott
• Houghton Academy, Kaisertown
• Lorraine Elementary School, Abbott McKinley
• Hamlin Park Claude & Ouida Clapp Academy, Hamlin Park
• Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy, Columbus
• William J. Grabiarz School of Excellence, Military
• Highgate Heights School, Kensington
• School 81, North Park
• Early Childhood Center 82, Kenfield
• Health Care Center for Children, Grider
• Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence, Grider
• B.U.I.L.D. Community School, MLK Park
• Southside Elementary School, Seneca
• West Hertel Academy, Military
• Waterfront Elementary School, Columbus
• Harvey Austin School, Emerson
• Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center, Kingsley

Secondary schools

Except where noted, all schools serve Grades 9-12

List of Secondary Schools
P.S.	School Name	Neighborhood	Principal	Assistant Principal(s)	Description
42	Occupational Training Center	Downtown	Tom Vitale		Vocational training for students with disabilities until age 21
131	The Academy School	Leroy	Casey Young-Welch	Jamie St. John Bert Stevenson	Alternative education for suspended students (7-12)
156	Frederick Law Olmsted School	Kenfield	Giovanna Claudia-Cotto	Catherine Dulak James Fredo Charlie Durmaj	Gifted & talented middle/high school program (5-12)
192	Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts	Masten Park	Jody Covington	Rebecca Ryan Jon Welka	Magnet school for fine and performing students (5-12)
195	City Honors School	Medical Park	Bill Kresse	Tandy Hamilton Angela Hannah Carla McDow	School for high-performing students with IB program and AP classes (5-12)
196	Math, Science, Technology Preparatory School	Medical Park	Beth Brown	Elizabeth Dirr	Annex to PS 197 housed at School 48 (5-8)
197		Grider	Kevin Eberle	Sarah Cosgrove Danielle Womack	Health Information Technology and Medical Pathways programs (9-12)
198	The International Preparatory School	Front Park	Ella Dunne	Marty Buchnowski Amy Chase Patrick Doyle	West Side community school with CTE programs in business and architecture
206	South Park High School	Triangle	Michael Morris	Molly Forero Martin Lyonga Katey Thomas Tracey Travis	South Buffalo community school with CTE programs in Solar Technology and Horticulture
207	Lafayette International High School	Forest	John Starkey	Jen Springer	West Side community school with ENL programs for immigrant and refugee students
208	Riverside Academy	Riverside	Teena Jones	Elena Collins Carlos Wallace	Riverside community school with CTE programs in aquaculture and tourism
212	Leonardo da Vinci High School	Front Park	Greg Lodinsky	Lizzy Crispin	Students take classes on campus from D'Youville College
301	Burgard Vocational High School	Leroy	Charlene Watson	Andrew Drouin Eric Johnson Fred Sales	CTE programs in Automotive/Machine Tool Technology and Welding in partnership with Alfred State College
302	Emerson School of Hospitality	Downtown	Debbie Stokes	Aarin Pellitieri	Students learn hospitality/culinary skills with an on-site restaurant
304	Hutchinson Central Technical High School	Columbus	Gabriella Morquecho	Pedro Estrada Dennis Lesniak Greg Stefanone Dan Zack	Technology prep school with concentrations in Biochemistry and Engineering
305	McKinley Vocational High School	Black Rock	Carmelita Burgin [interim]	Josh Miller John Pilato Danielle Ware Karen Kibler [interim]	CTE programs in Aquatic ecology and applied trades (Carpentry, Electricity, HVAC, Printing and Plumbing)
309	East Community High School	MLK Park	Traci Cofield	Janice Bowden Moustafa Khalil	CTE programs in Law Enforcement and Public Safety
335	Middle Early College High School	Starin Central	David Potter	Bill Merriman	Students take 5 years of high school via Erie Community College
355	Buffalo School of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management	Downtown	Katie Schuta	Daniel Bass Colleen Cunningham	Annex to Emerson School of Hospitality
357	Pathways Academy	MLK Park	Valarie Kent	Maria Conrad	Virtual and in-person alternative education for undercredited students
363	Lewis J. Bennett School of Innovative Technology	Starin Central	Carlos Alvarez	Jamie Barden Erich Wheeler	CTE programs in Computer Science and Programming
366	Research Laboratory High School		Angela Cullen	Chris Spence	Bioinformatics/Life Science research

Defunct schools

List of Defunct Schools
P.S.	School Name	Neighborhood	Low Grade	High Grade	Year Closed	Building Status
1	School 1	Lakeview	K	8	1976	Demolished
2	School 2	Downtown	K	8	1961	Demolished
4	Harbor Heights Elementary School	First Ward	K	8	2002	Houses The Academy School
5	School 5	Kaisertown	K	8	1955	Demolished
7	School 7	Babcock	K	8	1950	Demolished
8	Follow Through Urban Learning Lab School	Masten Park	K	8	2004	Vacant
9	School 9	Schiller Park	K	8	1980	Demolished
10	School 10	Downtown	K	8	1955	Demolished
11	Poplar Academy	Schiller Park	K	4	2009	Buffalo Academy of Science Middle School
12	Harriet Ross Tubman Early Childhood Center	Willert Park	K	4	2005	House Office of Special Education
13	School 13	Downtown	K	12	2003	Private Apartments/Office Space
14	School 14	Downtown	K	8	1930s	Demolished
15	School 15	Downtown	K	8	1965	Demolished
16	School 16	Bryant	K	8	1976	Private Apartments
20	School 20	Black Rock	K	8	1935	Demolished
21	School 21	North Park	K	8	1980	Demolished
22	School 22	Central Park	K	8	1980	Private Apartments
23	School 23	Genesee Moselle	K	8	1980	Demolished
24	School 24	Broadway-Fillmore	K	8	2002	Redeveloped as apartments[18]
25	School 25	Babcock	K	8	1949	Demolished
26	School 26	Babcock	K	8	1982	Demolished
28	Triangle Academy	Triangle	K	8	1949	Houses BPS' Center for Innovation, Technology and Training
29	School 29	South Park	K	8	1980	Vacant
30	School 30	Elmwood Village	K	8	1976	Demolished
34	School 34	First Ward	K	8	1976	Demolished
35	School 35	South Ellicott	K	8	1933	Demolished
36	Days Park Early Childhood Center	Allentown	PreK	4	2009	Houses Elmwood Village Charter School
39	Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Institute	Medical Park	PreK	8	2016	Houses School 48 and MST Prep Annex
40	School 40	Babcock	PreK	6	2006	Houses Buffalo Academy of Science Elementary School
41	School 41	Johnson	PreK	8	1976	Demolished
42	School 42	Black Rock	PreK	8	1979	Community Center/Apartments
44	Lincoln Academy	Lovejoy	K	8	2005	Vacant
47	School 47	Willert Park	PreK	8	1978	Demolished
48	School 48	Masten Park	K	8	1979	Demolished
49	School 49	Front Park	K	8	1980	Community Services building
50	School 50	Emslie	Special	Education	1975	Demolished
51	Black Rock Academy	Black Rock	PreK	8	2005	Vacant
52	School 52	Forest	K	8	1980	Demolished
55	School 55	Broadway-Fillmore	K	8	1955	Demolished
56	School 56	Albright	PreK	8	2007	Under reconstruction (apartments & office space) [19]
57	Broadway Village Elementary School	Broadway-Fillmore	PreK	6	2003	Under reconstruction (Lt. Matt Urban Center) [20]
58	School 58	Broadway-Fillmore	K	8	1961	Demolished
59	School 59	MLK Park	K	8	1976	Demolished
60	School 60	Riverside	PreK	4	2002	Serves as low-income aparts
62	School 62	MLK Park	K	8	1980	Houses Crucial Human Services
63	School 63	LaSalle	PreK	8	2007	Houses The Lofts at University Heights [21]
70	Indian Park Academy	Cazenovia Park	K	8	2002	Houses Western New York Maritime Charter Middle School
71	WEB Early Childhood Center	Schiller Park	PreK	4	2007	Houses King Center Charter School
73	School 73	Columbus	K	8	1970	Demolished
75	School 75	Emslie	K	8	1979	Vacant
77	School 77	Front Park	PreK	4	2006	Senior housing and West Side community center[22]
78	School 78	LaSalle	PreK	8	2008	Vacant
79	School 79	Military	K	8	1976	Northwest Community Center
83	School 83	University Heights	K	4	1976	Houses Anderson Gallery for University at Buffalo
85	School 85	Kensington	K	4	1976	Houses Charter School for Inquiry
86	St. Lawrence Academy	Starin Central	PreK	4	2004	Houses BPS' Adult Learning Program
87	School 87	Willert Park	5	12	2007	Houses Office of Curriculum & Instruction
88	School 88	North Park	K	4	1979	North Buffalo Community Center
93	School 93	Masten Park	K	4	1970's	Community Action Organization
96	Campus West School	Black Rock	PreK	8	2011	Used by Buffalo State College
142	Fulton Academic Complex	Perry	K	8	1982	Houses Schofield Adult Day Healthcare Center
171	WEB Middle School	Schiller Park	5	8	2006	Houses Buffalo Public Schools Commissionary
192	Buffalo Traditional School	Masten Park	5	12	2005	Houses Buffalo Academy for Visual & Performing Arts
200	Bennett High School	Starin Central	9	12	2017	Houses Bennett Campus
202	Grover Cleveland High School	Front Park	9	12	2011	Houses The International Preparatory School
203	Kensington High School	Kenfield	9	12	2003	Houses Frederick Law Olmsted High School
204	Lafayette High School	Forest	9	12	2018	Houses Lafayette Community School Campus
205	Riverside Institute of Technology	Riverside	9	12	2019	Houses Riverside Academy
302	Emerson Vocational High School	Emerson	9	12	2002	Houses Harvey Austin School
306	Seneca Vocational High School	Grider	9	12	2003	Houses Math Science Technology Campus
307	East High School	MLK Park	9	12	2018	Houses East Community School Campus
307	Buffalo Vocational Technical Center	MLK Park	9	12	2003	Houses East Campus