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Buffalo Island Central Elementary School

Q: Is Buffalo Island Central Elementary School a good school?

Buffalo Island Central Elementary School ranks 161 st of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

161^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Buffalo Island Central Elementary School in Leachville, AR, serves 404 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade and is part of the Buffalo Island Central School District, which ranks in the top 25% of Arkansas districts.

This school stands out for its exceptional math performance, especially in upper grades. In 2025-2026, 76.9% of 6th graders were proficient in math—a full 31.8 percentage points above the state average. Third graders also shine, with 67.8% proficiency compared to the state's 45.5%. While English and reading scores are above average, math is clearly the school's strength. Interestingly, 4th grade shows a dip across subjects, suggesting a transition point the school may be addressing. Despite serving a population where 67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, Buffalo Island Central achieves results more typical of lower-poverty schools. For comparison, nearby Manila Elementary School has a lower poverty rate (51%) but scores similarly in English and reading, while Buffalo Island Central vastly outperforms it in math (56.7% vs. 37.3%). The school also maintains a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1 and spends slightly above the state average per pupil.

What truly sets Buffalo Island Central apart is its consistency. Over the past six years, it has ranked in the top 30% of Arkansas elementary schools, while nearby schools like Gosnell Elementary School have seen significant drops. This stability, combined with strong math outcomes despite economic challenges, points to effective teaching and leadership. If you're considering schools in the area, Buffalo Island Central offers a reliable, high-performing option, particularly for families who value strong math instruction and smaller class sizes.

404

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,701

Per pupil spending ?

67.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1208 Nelson
Leachville, AR 72438

(870) 486-5411

District: Buffalo Island Central School District

Students who attend Buffalo Island Central Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Buffalo Island Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.9%

Hispanic:

14.6%

Asian:

1.5%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare Buffalo Island Central Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 88th percentile in 2023 → 67th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arkansas average (50% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Above the Arkansas median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 88th-percentile peak (2023) to 67th (2026)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg48%

Arkansas avg42%

161^st of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

63^rd of 251Buffalo Island Central School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	66.3	161 of 491	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.0	140 of 495	71.7%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	121 of 497	75.7%	★★★★☆
2023	83.5	58 of 492	88.2%	★★★★☆
2022	80.5	79 of 487	83.8%	★★★★☆
2021	76.7	103 of 496	79.2%	★★★★☆
2019	74.0	107 of 488	78.1%	★★★★☆
2018	66.5	157 of 480	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.1	131 of 485	73.0%	★★★★☆
2016	59.5	186 of 494	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	32.9	330 of 466	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	58.4	210 of 471	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.1	199 of 476	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	47.4	302 of 468	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	35.5	357 of 471	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	58.3	217 of 457	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	54.7	238 of 445	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	43.4	300 of 439	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	56.9	210 of 440	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	45.4	262 of 402	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	40.5	285 of 411	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics57%+13 vs state

English Language Arts50%+10 vs state

Reading47%+6 vs state

Science45%~ state avg

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, February 23, 2020

Elementary administration is a firm believer of over medicating children and a HUGE sponsor of Life Strategies Counseling Inc. who is on site. If you are not a influential community member, this school district is difficult to get along with compared to others in the area. Close Quote

Schools Near Buffalo Island Central Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2026)					ATLAS Reading (2026)					ATLAS Mathematics (2026)					ATLAS Science (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Buffalo Island Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1208 Nelson	Leachville	72438	Mississippi County	Buffalo Island Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 486-5411	404	29	13.9	67.1%	331 (81.9%)	5 (1.2%)	59 (14.6%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	66.3	161^st of 491 public elementary schools	67.2%		70	140^th of 495 public elementary schools	71.7%	21	57.2	39.6	42.3	57.7	49.5	55.4	37.5	40.4	52.0	46.6	67.8	35.4	44.2	76.9	56.7	55.4	48.0	36.5	40.4	45.2	$12,701	$1,720	$10,981
Manila Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	419 E Olympia Street	Manila	72442	Mississippi County	Manila School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 561-3145	601	35	17.0	50.7%	556 (92.5%)	6 (1.0%)	20 (3.3%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.3%)	60.4	195^th of 491 public elementary schools	60.3%		70.9	135^th of 495 public elementary schools	72.7%	60	54.1	46.2	52.5	39.4	48.1	57.4	37.0	48.8	36.6	44.8	37.7	30.8	32.9	47.9	37.3	59.0	56.9	56.1	36.6	51.9	$11,488	$1,013	$10,475
Riverside East Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	502 West State Street	Caraway	72419	Craighead County	Riverside School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 482-3351	147	11	13.0	73.5%	137 (93.2%)	3 (2.0%)	5 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	33.9	346^th of 491 public elementary schools	29.5%		46.9	278^th of 495 public elementary schools	43.8%	68	7.7	10.6	50.0	38.9	27.9	7.7	15.8	44.4	44.4	29.5	23.1	10.5	33.4	44.4	27.9	38.5	21.1	38.9	44.5	35.3	$14,355	$3,260	$11,095
Riverside West Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2001 Highway 18	Lake City	72437	Craighead County	Riverside School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 237-8222	300	22	13.8	55.0%	271 (90.3%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.0%)	54	234^th of 491 public elementary schools	52.3%		69.7	142^nd of 495 public elementary schools	71.3%	92	54.5	64.5	33.3	41.3	49.7	36.3	57.8	30.7	37.9	41.4	45.4	26.7	10.2	24.1	27.4	61.4	64.4	38.5	43.3	53.2	$10,182	$1,269	$8,913
Baldwin Elementary School	Public	2-4	612 W Mueller St	Paragould	72450	Greene County	Paragould School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 240-2211	221	14	15.6	100.0%	164 (74.2%)	19 (8.6%)	14 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.1%)	15 (6.8%)	39.6	312^th of 491 public elementary schools	36.5%		48	270^th of 495 public elementary schools	45.5%	42	32.0	30.6			31.4	41.3	32.0			36.7	25.4	54.7			40.0	41.3	41.3			41.4	$13,081	$2,332	$10,749
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School	Public	2-4	900 W. Emerson St.	Paragould	72450	Greene County	Paragould School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 240-2231	233	15	15.8	100.0%	151 (64.8%)	17 (7.3%)	23 (9.9%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.4%)	22 (9.4%)	17 (7.3%)	64.4	174^th of 491 public elementary schools	64.6%		66.1	158^th of 495 public elementary schools	68.1%	16	45.5	57.9			51.6	44.2	56.5			50.4	33.8	53.3			43.4	45.5	52.0			48.6	$12,158	$1,401	$10,758
Gosnell Elementary School	Public	K-6	600 Hwy 181	Gosnell	72315	Mississippi County	Gosnell School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 532-4003	648	43	15.1	79.6%	357 (55.1%)	182 (28.1%)	52 (8.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	55 (8.5%)	49.2	262^nd of 491 public elementary schools	46.6%		66.5	155^th of 495 public elementary schools	68.7%	107	29.5	29.7	44.3	45.7	37.4	28.4	28.5	41.7	43.6	35.7	52.3	36.9	40.5	71.2	51.0	38.7	32.1	45.6	45.7	40.6	$12,181	$2,289	$9,892
Paragould Primary School	Public	PK, KG-1	1600 Country Club Road	Paragould	72450	Greene County	Paragould School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 240-2201	602	31	19.3	100.0%	451 (74.9%)	47 (7.8%)	32 (5.3%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.2%)	27 (4.5%)	37 (6.1%)								(n/a)																					$15,934	$2,333	$13,601
Brookland Primary School	Public	PK-K	100 W School	Brookland	72417	Craighead County	Brookland School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(870) 932-2080	384	29	13.2	40.4%	336 (87.5%)	13 (3.4%)	18 (4.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (3.6%)								(n/a)
Brookland Elementary School	Public	1-3	220 N. Oak St.	Brookland	72417	Craighead County	Brookland School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 932-2080	728	43	16.8	38.2%	612 (84.1%)	34 (4.7%)	44 (6.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (4.8%)	89.6	32^nd of 491 public elementary schools	93.5%		90.1	33^rd of 495 public elementary schools	93.3%	1	63.0				63.0	58.8				58.8	69.8				69.8	63.0				63.0	$10,618	$921	$9,697

Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo Island Central Elementary School

What district is Buffalo Island Central Elementary School in?

Buffalo Island Central School District

Is Buffalo Island Central Elementary School a good school?

Buffalo Island Central Elementary School ranks 161^st of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Buffalo Island Central Elementary School?

Students at Buffalo Island Central Elementary School are 82% White, 15% Hispanic, 1% Asian, 1% African American.

How many students attend Buffalo Island Central Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 404 students attended Buffalo Island Central Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Buffalo Island Central Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Buffalo Island Central Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Buffalo Island Central High School

Rate Buffalo Island Central Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary 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.