Buffalo Public Schools Explained

Buffalo Public Schools
Motto:"Putting children & families first to ensure high academic achievement for all."
Budget:$798,200,000[1]
Superintendent:Tonja M. Williams
Students:33,299 (2019–2020)
Teachers:3,254.41 (FTE)
Ratio:10.23
Schools:Elementary:45
High School:18
20Adult Ed:2
Zipcode:14202
Country:USA
Coordinates:42.8866°N -78.8793°W

Buffalo Public Schools serves approximately 31,000[2] students in Buffalo, New York, It is located in Erie County of western New York and operates nearly 70 facilities.[3]

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.[4] Buffalo Public Schools' first Superintendent of Schools, Oliver Gray Steele (1805–1879), was a prominent and successful business man. 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. Over 35 people have held the position of Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools since that time.

Administration

The Board of Education of the Buffalo City School District is the policy-making body for the Buffalo Public Schools,[5] as provided by the Constitution of New York, and is under the general supervision of the New York State Education Department.[6] 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

Secondary schools

Except where noted, all schools serve Grades 9-12

List of Secondary Schools
P.S.School NameNeighborhoodPrincipalAssistant Principal(s)Description
42 Downtown Tom Vitale Vocational training for students with disabilities until age 21
131 Leroy Casey Young-Welch Jamie St. John
Bert Stevenson
Alternative education for suspended students (7-12)
156 Kenfield Giovanna Claudia-Cotto Catherine Dulak
James Fredo
Charlie Durmaj
Gifted & talented middle/high school program (5-12)
192 Jody Covington Rebecca Ryan
Jon Welka
Magnet school for fine and performing students (5-12)
195 Medical Park Bill Kresse Tandy Hamilton
Angela Hannah
Carla McDow
School for high-performing students with IB program and AP classes (5-12)
196 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 Front Park Ella Dunne Marty Buchnowski
Amy Chase
Patrick Doyle
West Side community school with CTE programs in business and architecture
206 Michael Morris Molly Forero
Martin Lyonga
Katey Thomas
Tracey Travis
South Buffalo community school with CTE programs in Solar Technology and Horticulture
207 John Starkey Jen Springer West Side community school with ENL programs for immigrant and refugee students
208 Riverside Teena Jones Elena Collins
Carlos Wallace
Riverside community school with CTE programs in aquaculture and tourism
212 Front Park Greg Lodinsky Lizzy Crispin Students take classes on campus from D'Youville College
301 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 Debbie Stokes Aarin Pellitieri Students learn hospitality/culinary skills with an on-site restaurant
304 Columbus Gabriella Morquecho Pedro Estrada
Dennis Lesniak
Greg Stefanone
Dan Zack
Technology prep school with concentrations in Biochemistry and Engineering
305 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 MLK Park Traci Cofield Janice Bowden
Moustafa Khalil
CTE programs in Law Enforcement and Public Safety
335 David Potter Bill Merriman Students take 5 years of high school via Erie Community College
355 Downtown Katie Schuta Daniel Bass
Colleen Cunningham
Annex to Emerson School of Hospitality
357 MLK Park Valarie Kent Maria Conrad Virtual and in-person alternative education for undercredited students
363 Starin Central Carlos Alvarez Jamie Barden
Erich Wheeler
CTE programs in Computer Science and Programming
366 Angela Cullen Chris Spence Bioinformatics/Life Science research

Defunct schools

List of Defunct Schools
P.S.School NameNeighborhoodLow GradeHigh GradeYear ClosedBuilding Status
1 School 1 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 K 8 1950 Demolished
8 Masten Park K 8 2004 Vacant
9 School 9 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 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 K 8 1976 Private Apartments
20 School 20 Black Rock K 8 1935 Demolished
21 North Park K 8 1980 Demolished
22 School 22 Central Park K 8 1980 Private Apartments
23 School 23 K 8 1980 Demolished
24 Broadway-Fillmore K 8 2002 Redeveloped as apartments[7]
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 K 8 1980 Vacant
30 School 30 K 8 1976 Demolished
34 School 34 First Ward K 8 1976 Demolished
35 School 35 K 8 1933 Demolished
36 Days Park Early Childhood Center PreK 4 2009 Houses Elmwood Village Charter School
39 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 PreK 8 1976 Demolished
42 School 42 Black Rock PreK 8 1979 Community Center/Apartments
44 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 ForestK 8 1980 Demolished
55 School 55 Broadway-Fillmore K 8 1955 Demolished
56 School 56 PreK 8 2007 Under reconstruction (apartments & office space) [8]
57 Broadway-Fillmore PreK 6 2003 Under reconstruction (Lt. Matt Urban Center) [9]
58 School 58 Broadway-Fillmore K 8 1961 Demolished
59 School 59 MLK Park K 8 1976 Demolished
60 Riverside PreK 4 2002 Serves as low-income aparts
62 School 62 MLK Park K 8 1980 Houses Crucial Human Services
63 PreK 8 2007 Houses The Lofts at University Heights [10]
70 Indian Park Academy 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 Emslie K 8 1979 Vacant
77 Front Park PreK 4 2006 Senior housing and West Side community center[11]
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 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 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 Masten Park 5 12 2005 Houses Buffalo Academy for Visual & Performing Arts
200 Starin Central 9 12 2017 Houses Bennett Campus
202 Front Park 9 12 2011 Houses The International Preparatory School
203 Kenfield 9 12 2003 Houses Frederick Law Olmsted High School
204 Forest 9 12 2018 Houses Lafayette Community School Campus
205 Riverside 9 122019 Houses Riverside Academy
302 Emerson 9 12 2002 Houses Harvey Austin School
306 Grider 9 12 2003 Houses Math Science Technology Campus
307 MLK Park 9 12 2018 Houses East Community School Campus
307 MLK Park 9 12 2003 Houses East Campus

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.buffaloschools.org/files/1632/2007-08%20Budget%20Analysis.pdf
  2. Web site: District / Homepage.
  3. Web site: District . 2009-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090326021953/http://www.buffaloschools.org/district.cfm?subpage=68 . 2009-03-26 . dead .
  4. School Days of Yesterday Buffalo Public School History, by Morton Weed, copyright 2001 G. Morton Reed
  5. http://www.buffaloschools.org/files/93/Bflo%20City%20School%20District%20Policy%20Manual%20Section%201000%20By-Laws.PDF
  6. Web site: New York State Education Department . Nysed.gov . 2022-09-04.
  7. News: Site is undergoing maintenance. Buffalo Rising . 16 March 2015.
  8. Web site: Former School 56 in Buffalo could become apartments - Business - The Buffalo News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150712034420/http://www.buffalonews.com/business/real-estate/former-school-56-in-buffalo-could-become-apartments-20150710. 2015-07-12.
  9. Web site: Site is undergoing maintenance. 13 October 2014.
  10. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-01-25 . 2016-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160203070741/https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-recipients-better-buffalo-fund-incentives . dead .
  11. Web site: Two former Buffalo public schools proposed for low-income housing by nonprofits - Business - The Buffalo News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151016123238/http://www.buffalonews.com/business/two-former-buffalo-public-schools-proposed-for-low-income-housing-by-nonprofits-20151015. 2015-10-16.