Best Public Schools in Buffalo, IL

The city of Buffalo, Illinois is home to three schools that serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade: Tri-City Elementary School, Tri-City High School, and Tri-City Junior High School, all part of the Tri City CUSD 1 district.

Among the three schools, Tri-City Elementary School stands out as the academic leader, consistently ranking in the top 20% of Illinois elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's students outperform the district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics at all grade levels, with 60-63% of students proficient or better. In contrast, Tri-City High School lags behind the state averages on ACT and SAT assessments, with only 27-42% of students meeting proficiency in ELA, Math, and Science, while Tri-City Junior High School performs better than the high school, with 42-60% proficiency in ELA and Math, but still trails the elementary school.

A concerning trend across all three schools is the high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 25.4%, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the district serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with 43.79% to 47.48% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. By addressing attendance issues and ensuring equitable access to resources and support services, the Tri-City school district has the potential to drive better outcomes for all students and maintain the academic momentum established at the elementary level.