Buffalo Hills Elementary

Q: Is Buffalo Hills Elementary a good school?

Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks 75 th of 459 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Buffalo Hills Elementary is a public elementary school in Kearney, Nebraska, serving 316 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Kearney Public Schools district.

Buffalo Hills Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Nebraska, with students significantly outperforming state and district averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. The school's academic performance is exceptional, with 69-80% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 79-80% proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to state averages of 55-63% and 58-65%, respectively. However, the school's student population is relatively homogeneous, with 87.97% of students identifying as White, in contrast to nearby schools like Bryant Elementary (56.85% White) and Northeast Elementary (71.11% White). Additionally, Buffalo Hills Elementary serves a more affluent student population, with only 21.2% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the district average.

The higher per-student spending of $12,178 at Buffalo Hills Elementary, compared to the district average of $11,367 for Meadowlark Elementary, the highest-performing school in the district, suggests that the school may have access to additional resources and funding. This could contribute to the school's strong academic performance, but it also raises questions about the equity of resource distribution across the district and whether the school's academic success is equitably distributed across all student subgroups.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

6110 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845-2303

(308) 698-8290

District: Kearney Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
75^th of 459 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,178

Students who attend Buffalo Hills Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Horizon Middle School
High:	Kearney High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.2

Number of students: 316

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.0%

Hispanic:

7.9%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 21.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks better than 83.7% of elementary schools in Nebraska. It also ranks 3^rd among 10 ranked elementary schools in the Kearney Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 79.25. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (88%), Hispanic (7.9%), two or more races (2.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 21.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Buffalo Hills Elementary is 16.2. 5 elementary schools in the Kearney Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Buffalo Hills Elementary employs 19.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Buffalo Hills Elementary is $12,178. 5 elementary schools in the Kearney Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Buffalo Hills Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Buffalo Hills Elementary 75^th of 459 Nebraska public elementary schools. (See Buffalo Hills Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Kearney Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Kearney Public Schools 44^th of 212 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Buffalo Hills Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Buffalo Hills Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2015	88.20	28^th	488	94.3%
2016	86.53	33^rd	480	93.1%
2017	73.03	117^th	459	74.5%
2018	80.66	64^th	450	85.8%
2019	82.75	58^th	452	87.2%
2021	85.41	42^nd	442	90.5%
2022	82.96	58^th	457	87.3%
2023	79.25	75^th	459	83.7%

See the entire list of Nebraska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Buffalo Hills Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	77.63	44^th	312	85.9%

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

Rank History for Female students at Buffalo Hills Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	78.15	52^nd	341	84.8%
2019	75.65	71^st	349	79.7%
2021	78.76	47^th	318	85.2%
2022	88.84	20^th	337	94.1%
2023	83.70	42^nd	349	88.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Buffalo Hills Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	75.28	63^rd	347	81.8%
2019	82.44	52^nd	367	85.8%
2021	81.33	41^st	328	87.5%
2022	71.68	85^th	356	76.1%
2023	74.26	86^th	366	76.5%

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

Rank History for White students at Buffalo Hills Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	79.52	51^st	391	87.0%
2019	80.34	49^th	391	87.5%
2021	84.30	31^st	368	91.6%
2022	79.65	49^th	388	87.4%
2023	76.23	65^th	385	83.1%

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

Data source: test scores: Nebraska 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: Nebraska Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Buffalo Hills Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2013	119	2	1	4	0	0	0	126
2014	156	2	1	8	1	0	0	168
2015	183	2	2	8	1	0	2	198
2016	204	1	2	8	0	0	0	215
2017	231	7	2	9	0	1	0	250
2018	269	7	1	10	0	0	1	288
2019	284	5	2	15	3	0	1	310
2020	288	4	2	16	1	0	4	315
2021	274	4	2	19	0	0	5	304
2022	273	2	2	27	0	0	8	312
2023	278	3	1	25	1	0	8	316

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 Hills Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	126	8.0	15.7	28.6
2014	168	9.5	17.5	27.4
2015	198	11.0	18.0	19.7
2016	215	12.0	17.9	15.3
2017	250	13.3	18.6	14
2018	288	15.4	18.6	16
2019	310	17.4	17.7	16.8
2020	315	17.4	18.0	18.4
2021	304	19.2	15.7	21.1
2022	312	19.2	16.2	16.7
2023	316	19.4	16.2	21.2

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 Hills Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	126	8.0	15.7	28.6
2014	168	9.5	17.5	27.4
2015	198	11.0	18.0	19.7
2016	215	12.0	17.9	15.3
2017	250	13.3	18.6	14
2018	288	15.4	18.6	16
2019	310	17.4	17.7	16.8
2020	315	17.4	18.0	18.4
2021	304	19.2	15.7	21.1
2022	312	19.2	16.2	16.7
2023	316	19.4	16.2	21.2

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 Hills Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$249 (2.6%)	$7,712 (81.9%)	$9,419
2020	$153 (1.6%)	$8,083 (83.5%)	$9,683
2021	$430 (4.0%)	$8,835 (81.6%)	$10,825
2022	$522 (4.5%)	$9,345 (80.1%)	$11,664
2023	$141 (1.2%)	$10,048 (82.5%)	$12,178

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Buffalo Hills Elementary

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 58^th of 452 Elementary schools	Ranks 75^th of 459 Elementary schools	3.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Buffalo Hills Elementary)	74	69	5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Kearney Public Schools)	64	74	10%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	56	63	7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Buffalo Hills Elementary)	76	79	3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Kearney Public Schools)	62	75	13%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	55	58	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Buffalo Hills Elementary)	77	75	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Kearney Public Schools)	65	67	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	58	55	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Buffalo Hills Elementary)	81	78	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Kearney Public Schools)	62	71	9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	51	58	7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Buffalo Hills Elementary)	66	70	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Kearney Public Schools)	56	71	15%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	48	56	8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Buffalo Hills Elementary)	73	80	7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Kearney Public Schools)	62	79	17%
5th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	54	65	11%
5th Grade Science (Buffalo Hills Elementary)	72	87	15%
5th Grade Science (Kearney Public Schools)	76	86	10%
5th Grade Science (Nebraska)	68	76	8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	310	316	1.9%
African American	5	3	40%
American Indian	3	1	66.7%
Asian	2	1	50%
Hispanic	15	25	66.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	284	278	2.1%
Two or More Races	1	8	700%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	16.8%	21.2%	4.4%

Schools Near Buffalo Hills Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				NSCAS English Language Arts (2023)			NSCAS Mathematics (2023)			NSCAS Science (2023)	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 (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NSCAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NSCAS Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Buffalo Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6110 11th Avenue	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8290	316	19	16.2	21.2%	278 (88.0%)	3 (0.9%)	25 (7.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.5%)	79.3	75^th of 459 public elementary schools	83.7%		83	58^th of 457 public elementary schools	87.3%	17	69.0	75.0	70.0	79.0	78.0	80.0	87.0	$12,178	$141	$10,048
Windy Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4211 20th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8220	259	15	17.4	19.7%	233 (90.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.9%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	91	17^th of 459 public elementary schools	96.3%		87.1	31^st of 457 public elementary schools	93.2%	14	83.0	76.0	90.0	85.0	82.0	95.0	95.0	$11,269	$141	$9,840
Glenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8105 9th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8240	131	8	16.3	17.6%	126 (96.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	77.8	89^th of 459 public elementary schools	80.6%		73.5	95^th of 457 public elementary schools	79.2%	6	67.0	75.0	67.0		83.0	81.0		$11,782	$141	$10,475
Meadowlark Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1010 E 53rd St	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8210	408	23	17.3	15.7%	357 (87.5%)	6 (1.5%)	27 (6.6%)	8 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	94.2	5^th of 459 public elementary schools	98.9%		95.2	6^th of 457 public elementary schools	98.7%	1	94.0	83.0	86.0	88.0	91.0	93.0	97.0	$11,367	$141	$9,940
Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3000 7th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8280	282	15	18.6	35.5%	236 (83.7%)	6 (2.1%)	23 (8.2%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.0%)	78.8	81^st of 459 public elementary schools	82.4%		86	36^th of 457 public elementary schools	92.1%	45	74.0	62.0	96.0	69.0	64.0	96.0	93.0	$11,339	$295	$9,936
Northeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	910 E 34th St	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8230	398	27	14.6	46.7%	283 (71.1%)	6 (1.5%)	89 (22.4%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (3.5%)	48.2	244^th of 459 public elementary schools	46.8%		45.6	258^th of 457 public elementary schools	43.5%	14	66.0	55.0	44.0	67.0	62.0	56.0	75.0	$12,266	$1,054	$10,062
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	300 W 24th St	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8040	254	19	13.4	67.7%	135 (53.1%)	7 (2.8%)	88 (34.6%)	6 (2.4%)	7 (2.8%)	4 (1.6%)	7 (2.8%)	68.4	142^nd of 459 public elementary schools	69.1%		64.4	150^th of 457 public elementary schools	67.2%	8	63.0	64.0	74.0	68.0	68.0	75.0	82.0	$16,481	$782	$12,551
Emerson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2705 Ave E	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8270	241	17	14.2	65.1%	159 (66.0%)	9 (3.7%)	62 (25.7%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.7%)	45.3	269^th of 459 public elementary schools	41.4%		36.6	310^th of 457 public elementary schools	32.2%	41	61.0	54.0	61.0	39.0	58.0	61.0	78.0	$13,749	$1,210	$11,107
Bryant Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1611 Ave C	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8190	241	19	12.5	71.4%	137 (56.8%)	5 (2.1%)	87 (36.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	9 (3.7%)	50.3	238^th of 459 public elementary schools	48.1%		35.9	311^th of 457 public elementary schools	31.9%	73	72.0	47.0	51.0	67.0	53.0	62.0	80.0	$15,089	$1,356	$12,261
Kenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	915 16th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8200	381	25	15.0	37.3%	319 (83.7%)	5 (1.3%)	40 (10.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (3.9%)	74.3	105^th of 459 public elementary schools	77.1%		65.6	141^st of 457 public elementary schools	69.1%	36	73.0	66.0	65.0	84.0	65.0	82.0	84.0	$12,390	$142	$10,604

Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo Hills Elementary

Is Buffalo Hills Elementary a good school?

Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks 75^th of 459 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Buffalo Hills Elementary?

Students at Buffalo Hills Elementary are 88% White, 8% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Buffalo Hills Elementary attend?

Students who attend Buffalo Hills Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Horizon Middle School
High : Kearney High School

What district is Buffalo Hills Elementary in?

Kearney Public Schools

How many students attend Buffalo Hills Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 316 students attended Buffalo Hills Elementary.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Nebraska Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.