Buffalo Hills Elementary

Q: Is Buffalo Hills Elementary a good school?

Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks 49 th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Buffalo Hills Elementary is a public elementary school located in Kearney, Nebraska, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 316 students. The school is part of the Kearney Public Schools district, which is ranked 44 out of 182 districts in Nebraska and is rated 4 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

Buffalo Hills Elementary has consistently performed well, ranking in the top 15% of Nebraska elementary schools for the past several years. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school ranked 49th out of 428 Nebraska elementary schools and received a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school consistently outperforms the Kearney Public Schools district and the state of Nebraska in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 5th grade, 92.42% of students at Buffalo Hills Elementary were proficient or better in NSCAS/Science, compared to 90.95% for the Kearney Public Schools district and 82.59% for the state of Nebraska.

In addition to strong academic performance, Buffalo Hills Elementary has lower chronic absenteeism rates compared to the Kearney Public Schools district and the state of Nebraska, with a rate of 3.7% in the 2020-2021 school year. The school also has a higher spending per student compared to the district average, which may contribute to its success in supporting the academic achievement of diverse learners, including female, male, white, and low socioeconomic status students.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

6110 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845-2303

(308) 698-8290

District: Kearney Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
49^th of 428 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: 15.7

Number of students: 298

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.6%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Two or more races:

3.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 25.8%

See top rated Nebraska elementary schools

Compare Buffalo Hills Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks better than 88.6% of elementary schools in Nebraska. It also ranks 4^th among 10 ranked elementary schools in the Kearney Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 83.38. (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 Racial makeup is: White (87.6%), Hispanic (7.4%), two or more races (3.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 25.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Buffalo Hills Elementary is 15.7. 5 elementary schools in the Kearney Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Buffalo Hills Elementary employs 18.9 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 2024 Rankings:

Buffalo Hills Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Buffalo Hills Elementary 49^th of 428 Nebraska public elementary schools. (See Buffalo Hills Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Kearney Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Kearney Public Schools 44^th of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

What do you think?

Your rating for Buffalo Hills Elementary?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Buffalo Hills Elementary

Compare

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%
2024	83.38	49^th	428	88.6%

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%
2024	72.08	51^st	203	74.9%

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%
2024	74.35	45^th	203	77.8%

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%
2024	76.66	48^th	261	81.6%

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

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Buffalo Hills Elementary.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Buffalo Hills Elementary, submit a rating!

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Buffalo Hills Elementary

Compare

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
2024	261	2	2	22	1	0	10	298

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

Compare

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
2024	298	18.9	15.7	25.8

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

Compare

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
2024	298	18.9	15.7	25.8

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 (2024)				Ranking (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 (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	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	298	19	15.7	25.8%	261 (87.6%)	2 (0.7%)	22 (7.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.4%)	83.4	49^th of 428 public elementary schools	88.6%		79.3	75^th of 459 public elementary schools	83.7%	26	$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	255	15	16.6	20.8%	219 (85.9%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.0%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	86.2	36^th of 428 public elementary schools	91.6%		91	17^th of 459 public elementary schools	96.3%	19	$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	126	8	15.8	13.5%	120 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	76.4	91^st of 428 public elementary schools	78.7%		77.8	89^th of 459 public elementary schools	80.6%	2	$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	399	23	17.3	20.8%	345 (86.5%)	8 (2.0%)	29 (7.3%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.5%)	96	1^st of 428 public elementary schools	99.8%		94.2	5^th of 459 public elementary schools	98.9%	4	$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	275	16	17.7	36.0%	229 (83.3%)	8 (2.9%)	22 (8.0%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.0%)	83.8	47^th of 428 public elementary schools	89.0%		78.8	81^st of 459 public elementary schools	82.4%	34	$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	418	30	14.0	54.8%	280 (67.0%)	10 (2.4%)	105 (25.1%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.3%)	58.8	209^th of 428 public elementary schools	51.2%		48.2	244^th of 459 public elementary schools	46.8%	35	$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	271	20	13.8	73.8%	152 (56.1%)	7 (2.6%)	88 (32.5%)	5 (1.8%)	5 (1.8%)	5 (1.8%)	9 (3.3%)	56.5	223^rd of 428 public elementary schools	47.9%		68.4	142^nd of 459 public elementary schools	69.1%	81	$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	211	16	13.2	70.6%	135 (64.0%)	10 (4.7%)	58 (27.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.8%)	47.5	260^th of 428 public elementary schools	39.3%		45.3	269^th of 459 public elementary schools	41.4%	9	$13,749	$1,210	$11,107
Kearney Education Center	Public	PK	1511 5th Avenue	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8033	355	13	26.4	44.2%	289 (81.4%)	3 (0.8%)	52 (14.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	6 (1.7%)								(n/a)
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	243	21	11.7	73.7%	146 (60.1%)	3 (1.2%)	84 (34.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	52.5	243^rd of 428 public elementary schools	43.2%		50.3	238^th of 459 public elementary schools	48.1%	5	$15,089	$1,356	$12,261

Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo Hills Elementary

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 is the racial makeup of Buffalo Hills Elementary?

Students at Buffalo Hills Elementary are 88% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Buffalo Hills Elementary a good school?

Buffalo Hills Elementary ranks 49^th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Buffalo Hills Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 298 students attended Buffalo Hills Elementary.

What district is Buffalo Hills Elementary in?

Kearney Public Schools

Rate Buffalo Hills Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NENebraska Elementary School Rankings

NENebraska District Rankings

Schools in Kearney, NE

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Buffalo Hills Elementary!

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.