The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Science. The lowest is 29% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center
Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center serves grades pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Buffalo's East Side. The school enrolls a student body that is substantially majority Black, with Asian students comprising the next largest group, and a smaller population of Hispanic and white students. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, reflecting the economic context of the neighborhood.
The school's state test results from the most recent year show proficiency rates below the state median across both math and English language arts in grades three and four, where students are assessed. In third-grade math, a modest proportion of students reached proficiency levels, while in fourth-grade math the rate was lower still. English language arts results followed a similar pattern, with grade three performing somewhat better than grade four. Science assessment data from an earlier year showed higher proficiency, suggesting possible variation across subject areas or shifts over time. A parent may want to look into what the school is doing in science and whether those results have held or changed. Test participation rates have been high, so these results reflect most students in the cohort.
Stanley Makowski sits in the Buffalo City School District, which is currently navigating significant structural budget challenges and considering staffing and operational changes. The district adopted a phonics-based literacy curriculum, including Orton-Gillingham training for early elementary grades, a foundational change in how reading is taught across all elementary schools including this one. All students in the district now receive free breakfast and lunch with no application required as of this school year. Those curriculum and meal shifts are in place here.
Buffalo's East Side, where the school is located, is part of an urban neighborhood with significant residential rehabilitation and new housing development underway. Housing values in the wider zip code area are modest relative to national benchmarks, and rents are moderate; the market has shifted somewhat toward higher supply in recent months. The neighborhood supports walking and public transit, with bus and light-rail service serving the broader city. Employment in the region centers on government, healthcare, finance, and education, with major medical facilities and state offices anchoring the area.
Among other early childhood and elementary schools tested in Erie County, Stanley Makowski's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. For families considering the school, the state test results and the district's current financial pressures are worth exploring directly with school and district leadership to understand current instructional supports, trajectory, and stability.
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