Is Buffalo Trail Elementary School a good school?

Buffalo Trail Elementary School ranks 522 nd of 943 Colorado elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Buffalo Trail Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 597 students attended Buffalo Trail Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Buffalo Trail Elementary School?

Students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School are 45% White, 21% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 12% African American, 8% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Buffalo Trail Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Buffalo Trail Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : Fox Ridge Middle School High : Cherokee Trail High School

Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Summary:

Buffalo Trail Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Aurora, Colorado, serving grades PK-6 with a student population of 597. The school is part of the Cherry Creek School District No. 5, which is ranked 28 out of 116 school districts in Colorado and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Buffalo Trail Elementary School faces several challenges, including a diverse student population, lower academic performance compared to the district and state, and a higher percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The school's racial diversity is higher than nearby schools, with a larger percentage of African American, Hispanic, and students of two or more races. However, its academic performance, as measured by CMAS test scores, is generally lower than the district and state averages across all grades and subjects. Additionally, Buffalo Trail has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher proportion of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The school's student-teacher ratio is also relatively high compared to the district average.

Interestingly, Buffalo Trail's performance on CMAS tests varies significantly across different student subgroups, with its ranking for Hispanic students being much higher than its ranking for White students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The school also has a strong Gifted and Talented program, ranking 1 out of 110 Colorado elementary schools in 2018-2019. However, when compared to nearby schools in the Cherry Creek School District, such as Black Forest Hills Elementary School, Coyote Hills Elementary School, and Pine Ridge Elementary School, Buffalo Trail generally underperforms academically. The school's statewide ranking has also steadily declined over the years, from being a top-performing school to a below-average school, suggesting that it may need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to improve student outcomes and better serve its community.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

24300 East Progress Drive
Aurora, CO 80016-5930

(720) 886-4000

District: Cherry Creek School District No. 5

SchoolDigger Rank:
522^nd of 943 Colorado Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,849

Students who attend Buffalo Trail Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Fox Ridge Middle School
High:	Cherokee Trail High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.7

Number of students: 597

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.4%

Hispanic:

20.9%

Two or more races:

13.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 26.1%

See top rated Colorado elementary schools

Compare Buffalo Trail Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Buffalo Trail Elementary School ranks worse than 55.4% of elementary schools in Colorado. It also ranks 30^th among 46 ranked elementary schools in the Cherry Creek School District No. 5. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 40.43. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Buffalo Trail Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Cherry Creek School District No. 5. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Buffalo Trail Elementary School is $14,849. 31 elementary schools in the Cherry Creek School District No. 5 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Buffalo Trail Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Buffalo Trail Elementary School 522^nd of 943 Colorado public elementary schools. (See Buffalo Trail Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Cherry Creek School District No. 5:

SchoolDigger ranks Cherry Creek School District No. 5 28^th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Buffalo Trail Elementary School?

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Rank History for Buffalo Trail Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2010	64.85	347^th	925	62.5%
2011	53.36	484^th	935	48.2%
2012	56.53	442^nd	935	52.7%
2013	71.07	268^th	954	71.9%
2014	71.28	259^th	962	73.1%
2015	81.10	152^nd	938	83.8%
2016	73.61	216^th	914	76.4%
2017	71.60	237^th	929	74.5%
2018	60.08	332^nd	917	63.8%
2019	57.25	386^th	965	60.0%
2021	63.09	281^st	710	60.4%
2022	52.09	413^th	921	55.2%
2023	47.66	457^th	933	51.0%
2024	40.43	522^nd	943	44.6%

See the entire list of Colorado Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	73.69	40^th	308	87.0%
2019	51.75	145^th	332	56.3%
2024	20.51	310^th	365	15.1%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	48.85	322^nd	690	53.3%
2019	51.65	337^th	758	55.5%
2021	59.32	169^th	351	51.9%
2022	45.13	318^th	595	46.6%
2023	40.15	377^th	642	41.3%
2024	36.57	433^rd	684	36.7%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	81.40	1^st	110	99.1%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	53.75	274^th	693	60.5%
2019	49.31	354^th	764	53.7%
2021	46.33	234^th	352	33.5%
2022	39.96	345^th	594	41.9%
2023	36.02	399^th	649	38.5%
2024	25.71	486^th	683	28.8%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	83.85	13^th	172	92.4%
2019	63.10	76^th	270	71.9%
2023	61.45	66^th	197	66.5%
2024	36.58	148^th	242	38.8%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CO State Percentile
2018	38.73	200^th	337	40.7%
2019	44.68	329^th	596	44.8%
2021	53.00	157^th	288	45.5%
2022	30.54	348^th	454	23.3%
2023	27.53	413^th	525	21.3%
2024	22.11	456^th	539	15.4%

See the entire list of Best Colorado Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Colorado Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Buffalo Trail Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2008	324	63	38	51	0	n/a	n/a	476
2009	453	77	51	64	1	n/a	n/a	646
2010	544	87	68	75	0	n/a	n/a	774
2011	333	57	39	69	0	1	28	527
2012	399	67	41	68	1	1	40	617
2013	402	67	45	80	1	3	37	635
2014	405	60	37	90	1	1	37	631
2015	428	55	45	89	2	1	40	660
2016	409	56	53	92	1	2	42	655
2017	377	75	52	117	1	3	53	678
2018	395	67	57	115	2	2	71	709
2019	372	64	52	102	2	2	74	668
2020	349	72	48	118	1	4	69	661
2021	310	74	40	113	2	1	71	611
2022	276	69	45	108	3	1	68	570
2023	271	73	46	125	1	1	80	597

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	476	21.0	22.7	11.3
2009	646	30.3	21.3	9.1
2010	774	34.7	22.2	9.8
2011	527	27.5	19.1	17.1
2012	617	30.5	20.2	15.7
2013	635	33.0	19.2	15
2014	631	34.0	18.5	14.3
2015	660	39.0	16.9	17.1
2016	655	36.0	18.1	14.5
2017	678	37.0	18.3	16.2
2018	709	38.8	18.2	19.6
2019	668	39.3	16.9	15.4
2020	661	39.7	16.6	20
2021	611	35.0	17.4	23.2
2022	570	36.6	15.5	23.5
2023	597	35.6	16.7	26.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	476	21.0	22.7	11.3
2009	646	30.3	21.3	9.1
2010	774	34.7	22.2	9.8
2011	527	27.5	19.1	17.1
2012	617	30.5	20.2	15.7
2013	635	33.0	19.2	15
2014	631	34.0	18.5	14.3
2015	660	39.0	16.9	17.1
2016	655	36.0	18.1	14.5
2017	678	37.0	18.3	16.2
2018	709	38.8	18.2	19.6
2019	668	39.3	16.9	15.4
2020	661	39.7	16.6	20
2021	611	35.0	17.4	23.2
2022	570	36.6	15.5	23.5
2023	597	35.6	16.7	26.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$11,401
2020	$12,107
2021	$11,633
2022	$13,885
2023	$14,849

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Buffalo Trail Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 386^th of 965 Elementary schools	Ranks 457^th of 933 Elementary schools	9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	45	38.5	6.5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	48.5	46.1	2.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	41.3	39.9	1.4%
3rd Grade Math (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	35.5	46.2	10.7%
3rd Grade Math (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	49.9	47.8	2.1%
3rd Grade Math (Colorado)	41	40.4	0.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	57	37.4	19.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	53.9	49.3	4.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48	43.8	4.2%
4th Grade Math (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	38.9	29.8	9.1%
4th Grade Math (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	39.6	36.4	3.2%
4th Grade Math (Colorado)	33.6	32.7	0.9%
5th Grade Science (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	38.3	36.5	1.8%
5th Grade Science (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	41.1	39.4	1.7%
5th Grade Science (Colorado)	35.9	33.9	2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	51.6	46.2	5.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	51.8	54.9	3.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Colorado)	48.4	47.8	0.6%
5th Grade Math (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	42.2	38.2	4%
5th Grade Math (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	42.1	42.7	0.6%
5th Grade Math (Colorado)	35.7	36.5	0.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	51.3	40.5	10.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	50.8	49.7	1.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Colorado)	45.8	43.7	2.1%
All Grades Math (Buffalo Trail Elementary School)	39	37.5	1.5%
All Grades Math (Cherry Creek School District No. 5)	43.1	39.9	3.2%
All Grades Math (Colorado)	34.7	32.9	1.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	668	597	10.6%
African American	64	73	14.1%
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	52	46	11.5%
Hispanic	102	125	22.5%
Pacific Islander	2	1	50%
White	372	271	27.2%
Two or More Races	74	80	8.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	15.4%	26.1%	10.7%

Schools Near Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				CMAS English Language Arts (2024)				CMAS Math (2024)				CMAS Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CMAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Math 3rd Grade	CMAS Math 4th Grade	CMAS Math 5th Grade	CMAS Math All Grades	CMAS Science 5th Grade	Total
Buffalo Trail Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	24300 East Progress Drive	Aurora	80016	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-4000	597	36	16.7	26.1%	271 (45.4%)	73 (12.2%)	125 (20.9%)	46 (7.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	80 (13.4%)	40.4	522^nd of 943 public elementary schools	44.6%		47.7	457^th of 933 public elementary schools	51.0%	65	36.1	37.9	46.7	40.6	40.3	32.9	30.0	34.0	27.6	$14,849
Antelope Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5455 South Tempe Street	Aurora	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3300	566	36	15.5	29.0%	313 (55.3%)	43 (7.6%)	128 (22.6%)	41 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (7.1%)	56.6	387^th of 943 public elementary schools	59.0%		50.4	429^th of 933 public elementary schools	54.0%	42	48.5	53.1	49.4	50.2	54.3	26.2	40.4	40.6	39.1	$15,519
Canyon Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6070 South Versailles Parkway	Aurora	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3600	455	34	13.5	31.4%	215 (47.3%)	49 (10.8%)	102 (22.4%)	32 (7.0%)	3 (0.7%)	4 (0.9%)	50 (11.0%)	48.4	462^nd of 943 public elementary schools	51.0%		37.4	540^th of 933 public elementary schools	42.1%	78	47.5	32.1	52.3	43.1	39.0	30.4	39.1	35.6	42.2	$16,882
Mountain Vista Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	22200 East Radcliff Parkway	Centennial	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-2700	651	40	16.1	21.8%	332 (51.0%)	97 (14.9%)	93 (14.3%)	68 (10.4%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (8.3%)	48.5	461^st of 943 public elementary schools	51.1%		53.3	404^th of 933 public elementary schools	56.7%	57	40.2	37.6	44.3	41.1	51.5	31.4	35.3	39.5	39.7	$15,072
Pine Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6525 S. Wheatlands Parkway	Aurora	80016	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-8800	757	46	16.5	15.5%	419 (55.4%)	56 (7.4%)	136 (18.0%)	75 (9.9%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (9.0%)	65.9	306^th of 943 public elementary schools	67.6%		74.8	210^th of 933 public elementary schools	77.5%	96	44.9	50.5	56.9	51.1	43.3	44.1	55.8	48.1	47.1	$13,597
Coyote Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	24605 E Davies Way	Aurora	80016	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3900	526	32	16.4	19.0%	281 (53.4%)	50 (9.5%)	101 (19.2%)	42 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	50 (9.5%)	71.5	245^th of 943 public elementary schools	74.0%		73.8	217^th of 933 public elementary schools	76.7%	28	41.6	52.7	75.3	55.8	43.3	40.0	66.7	50.2	68.1	$14,789
Timberline Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5500 South Killarney Street	Centennial	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3200	576	30	19.1	24.7%	297 (51.6%)	65 (11.3%)	111 (19.3%)	34 (5.9%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (11.1%)	35.5	558^th of 943 public elementary schools	40.8%		34.4	562^nd of 933 public elementary schools	39.8%	4	27.5	41.5	36.5	35.6	35.7	37.0	26.0	32.9	25.7	$13,917
Black Forest Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	25233 E. Glasgow Dr	Aurora	80016	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-8900	593	34	17.5	10.8%	366 (61.7%)	32 (5.4%)	74 (12.5%)	59 (9.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (10.1%)	79	175^th of 943 public elementary schools	81.4%		82.7	138^th of 933 public elementary schools	85.2%	37	53.3	63.6	57.6	58.3	56.0	55.8	58.5	56.7	54.7	$13,344
Aspen Crossing Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4655 S Himalaya Street	Centennial	80015	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3700	628	32	19.3	24.0%	238 (37.9%)	93 (14.8%)	121 (19.3%)	96 (15.3%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	74 (11.8%)	43.9	491^st of 943 public elementary schools	47.9%		49.9	436^th of 933 public elementary schools	53.3%	55	40.2	41.5	44.7	42.2	41.4	25.3	36.6	34.2	34.4	$13,507
Dakota Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3950 South Kirk Way	Aurora	80013	Arapahoe County	Cherry Creek School District No. 5	No	No	No	No	(720) 886-3000	539	35	15.6	28.0%	283 (52.5%)	61 (11.3%)	111 (20.6%)	42 (7.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (7.6%)	46.2	477^th of 943 public elementary schools	49.4%		55.2	387^th of 933 public elementary schools	58.5%	90	52.7	46.3	40.3	46.5	46.1	31.7	22.9	33.8	28.6	$15,311

Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Buffalo Trail Elementary School:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Cherry Creek School District No. 5:

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Rank History for Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rank History for all students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rank History for Female students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rank History for Male students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rank History for White students at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Enrollment information for Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Student/Teacher Ratio Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Impact of COVID-19 on Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Buffalo Trail Elementary School

Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo Trail Elementary School

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