Norwalk/Parkside/Hertel area schools? (Buffalo: city hall, to rent, neighborhood)

[ChelB81]

We are currently looking to rent in this area. We have 2 young children, one of which is in 1st grade. I've done a general google search of the areas schools and I honestly can't tell which ones are decent, public schools that she wouldn't have to test into. I would try calling but we aren't sure where will be living just yet. Does anyone living here know of the elementary school that would accommodate that particular area? I just want her to be safe and happy where she goes as well as LEARN.

Thanx

[BuffaloTransplant]

Originally Posted by ChelB81

We are currently looking to rent in this area. We have 2 young children, one of which is in 1st grade. I've done a general google search of the areas schools and I honestly can't tell which ones are decent, public schools that she wouldn't have to test into. I would try calling but we aren't sure where will be living just yet. Does anyone living here know of the elementary school that would accommodate that particular area? I just want her to be safe and happy where she goes as well as LEARN.

Thanx

Norwalk should be School #81 on Tacoma.
The other school is #54 which is the lower grade school for #66 (UP TO GRADE 8)

Call the Buffalo Board of Ed at City Hall.,

[ckhthankgod]

Don't forget about charter schools as options as well. This could help too: Search for School Profiles

Buffalo Elementary Schools - Buffalo, NY | GreatSchools

https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb/District.do?year=2010&county=ERIE&district=1406000 10000 (broken link)

[JSmith11]

Welcome to the North Park neighborhood!

The closest public elementary school is that area is PS 81 (on Tacoma near Delaware). This is one of the higher-rated schools and well-regarded in the Buffalo school district. However, the school building is being renovated, and the school is temporarily at another site until 9/2012.

Buffalo has a "school choice" system, which means you can apply to any school in the district and the seats are filled by a lottery. Some percentage (25%?) of seats at each school are reserved for students within walking distance. While this means that you're not stuck with a "bad" school if that's the one nearest you, it also means that low-scoring students can go to any school they want, which brings down the test score averages and as a result, the only schools with exceptional test scores in the district are those that can select their students in some way (either by testing in or a couple that still have a large neighborhood component).

I think most of the elementary schools in Buffalo are more or less acceptable. Test scores are lower at some than at others, but that really reflects the economic demographics of the students at each school, and doesn't say much about any individual student's potential. At that age level, I don't think you have to worry about violence or real disruptive behavior. Once you get to junior high and high school I would be much more concerned about which school your child goes to, because that's when you start to have to deal with significant bullying, gangs, drugs, etc.