The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School is a kindergarten-through-twelfth-grade charter school serving a community-based student population in downtown Buffalo. The school enrolls a student body that is roughly half Black, about a quarter Asian, and about an eighth Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's high poverty rate and demographic composition reflect the neighborhood it serves.
Academically, Buffalo Academy of Science reports mixed results across tested grades and subjects. In the early grades, third and fourth graders show modest proficiency in both math and English language arts, with a slight edge in language arts over math. Performance drops notably in the middle grades. By fifth grade, proficiency rates decline sharply in both subjects and in science, falling to roughly a quarter of students. Sixth and seventh graders show similar challenges, with middle-grade math proficiency around a quarter of students and language arts proficiency in the low forties. Eighth grade shows measurably better results in language arts, reaching the low forties. The school did not report tested students in eighth-grade math or science, so those grade-level results are not available.
When measured against other districts in Erie County, the school's overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile, indicating that academic performance here is below the county median across tested subjects and grades. This is a soft spot a parent may want to explore further with the school, including by asking about any supports in place to raise middle-grade achievement and whether tutoring, intervention programs, or curriculum adjustments are underway.
The school serves a relatively small enrollment spread evenly across grade levels, creating a K-12 setting where students can grow from early childhood through high school graduation in one organization. The charter operates as its own district rather than as a school within a district, and in 2024 relocated its high school program to the former Medaille University campus on North Buffalo, consolidating two separate high schools onto a larger, college-style campus. The school secured a five-year renewal from the State Board of Regents in 2025, confirming operating stability. That campus transition and the renewal signal institutional continuity for families committing to the school over multiple years.
Buffalo itself is an urban city with walkable neighborhoods, strong public transit, and an active redevelopment phase centered on downtown and the East Side. Housing in the school's zip code runs above the state median but reflects a mixed market with both renovation activity and older, affordable stock. The city's major employers span state government, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, anchoring the local economy.
The school's charter status means families can enroll from anywhere in the state, but the majority of students live locally. Academic strengths in early grades provide a foundation, though the performance dip in the middle years is a real consideration for a family looking at a K-12 pathway. The school's science focus and stated plans for a robotics and AI discovery center at the new high school campus suggest intentional programming around those disciplines, though current science proficiency data are limited.
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