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Buffalo High School

Q: Is Buffalo High School a good school?

Buffalo High School ranks 36 th of 107 West Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

36^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 107 West Virginia High Schools

Better than 66% of West Virginia high schools

Summary

Buffalo High School is a small, rural high school in Buffalo, WV, serving 382 students in grades 9-12 as part of the highly regarded Putnam County Schools district, which ranks 2nd out of 54 districts in the state.

The most impressive thing about Buffalo High is its perfect 100% graduation rate for the most recent school year—a figure that beats every nearby school, including Winfield High School (98.1%) and Hurricane High School (97.7%), and far exceeds the state average of 92.8%. The school also shines when it comes to supporting students who often face extra challenges: it ranks in the 88th percentile for special education students and the 76th percentile for students from low-income families. That's a real strength, especially compared to other schools in the area. However, test scores tell a more complicated story. While English Language Arts proficiency (52.7%) is close to the state average, math proficiency (29.7%) lags behind the district average, and science proficiency dropped dramatically to just 13.5%—well below both district and state averages. The school's overall state ranking has also been volatile, swinging from 14th place a couple of years ago to 39th most recently, which is common for smaller schools where a single cohort can shift results significantly.

One thing parents should know is that Buffalo spends more per student ($13,345) than larger district peers like Hurricane ($10,861) and Winfield ($11,872), yet those bigger schools consistently rank in the top 10 statewide. A recent concern is a sharp drop in female student performance—from the 76th percentile to the 9th percentile—which is worth asking the school about. Still, for families in this rural area, Buffalo offers a supportive, close-knit environment with an outstanding graduation rate, and it clearly outperforms the nearby Hannan Junior/Senior High School in the lower-ranked Mason County Schools district.

382

Students ?

15.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,580

Per pupil spending ?

42.4%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

19005 Charleston Road
Buffalo, WV 25033

(304) 937-2661

District: Putnam County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.1%

Two or more races:

1.3%

Asian:

0.8%

See top rated West Virginia high schools

Compare Buffalo High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 58th percentile in 2016 → 66th in 2026

Strengths

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the West Virginia average (93%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the West Virginia median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 10 pts below the West Virginia average

!Near the bottom of Putnam County Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg43%

West Virginia avg32%

36^th of 107

West Virginia public high schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to top 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4High Schools in the Putnam County Schools

2^nd of 55Putnam County Schools among West Virginia 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	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	57.2	36 of 107	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.9	47 of 111	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	81.8	14 of 112	87.5%	★★★★☆
2023	39.5	67 of 112	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.9	35 of 112	68.8%	★★★★☆
2021	72.8	23 of 113	79.6%	★★★★☆
2019	67.4	31 of 114	72.8%	★★★★☆
2018	64.7	35 of 115	69.6%	★★★★☆
2017	45.2	72 of 122	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.8	50 of 119	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	47.8	59 of 117	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	41.9	69 of 115	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	46.8	61 of 114	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	65.1	28 of 113	75.2%	★★★★☆
2011	87.3	9 of 113	92.0%	★★★★★
2010	82.0	9 of 112	92.0%	★★★★★
2009	79.6	10 of 111	91.0%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	23.6	64 of 82	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2022	79.3	8 of 91	91.2%	★★★★★
2021	98.4	1 of 84	98.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.5	96 of 106	9.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	59.9	40 of 107	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.1	26 of 110	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	31.7	73 of 108	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	65.3	36 of 108	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	77.6	15 of 110	86.4%	★★★★☆
2019	67.8	30 of 109	72.5%	★★★★☆
2018	49.9	57 of 111	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.9	68 of 119	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	67.9	26 of 106	75.5%	★★★★☆
2025	77.1	18 of 109	83.5%	★★★★☆
2024	68.9	30 of 110	72.7%	★★★★☆
2023	74.0	20 of 107	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	41.0	69 of 109	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	72.9	23 of 111	79.3%	★★★★☆
2018	69.9	27 of 112	75.9%	★★★★☆
2017	45.5	71 of 121	41.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	76.7	20 of 106	81.1%	★★★★☆
2025	51.6	51 of 106	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	82.5	18 of 109	83.5%	★★★★☆
2023	46.8	50 of 108	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	46 of 108	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.1	47 of 110	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.6	35 of 109	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.9	31 of 111	72.1%	★★★★☆
2017	48.6	62 of 122	49.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	78.1	10 of 83	88.0%	★★★★☆
2025	54.6	36 of 92	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	79.9	13 of 89	85.4%	★★★★☆
2023	77.4	16 of 89	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	35.4	53 of 85	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.3	53 of 103	48.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.9	17 of 118	85.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	54.1	43 of 107	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.8	52 of 111	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.8	25 of 111	77.5%	★★★★☆
2023	35.9	71 of 112	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.8	40 of 111	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.0	31 of 113	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	64.5	36 of 112	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.1	38 of 113	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.9	72 of 122	41.0%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2022)91st percentile+22 vs school

Special Education (2026)88th percentile+22 vs school

Male (2026)81st percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile+9 vs school

White (2026)60th percentile-7 vs school

African American (2017)22nd percentile-19 vs school

Female (2026)9th percentile-57 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts53%~ state avg

Mathematics30%+9 vs state

Science14%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Buffalo High 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)				WV Assessment Mathematics (2026)				WV Assessment English Language Arts (2026)				WV Assessment Science (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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	WV Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics All Grades	WV Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 11th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts All Grades	WV Assessment Science 8th Grade	WV Assessment Science 11th Grade	WV Assessment Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Buffalo High School	Public	9-12	19005 Charleston Road	Buffalo	25033	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 937-2661	382	24	15.9	42.4%	371 (97.1%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	57.2	36^th of 107 public high schools	66.4%		57.9	47^th of 111 public high schools	57.7%	11			29.7				52.7			13.5		$10,580	$461	$10,118
Hannan Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	1 Wildcat Way	Ashton	25503	Mason County	Mason County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 743-3212	193	19	10.1	55.4%	188 (97.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.1%)								(n/a)	12.5	15.2	13.8	13.8	37.5	30.3	44.8	37.2	18.2	13.8	16.1	$12,285	$690	$11,595
Putnam Career & Technical Center	Public	9-12	300 Roosevelt Blvd.	Eleanor	25070	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 586-3494	2	24	.0	—	2 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Winfield High School	Public	9-12	11268 Winfield Rd	Winfield	25213	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 586-3279	743	54	13.8	26.1%	676 (91.0%)	12 (1.6%)	19 (2.6%)	12 (1.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.0%)	97	5^th of 107 public high schools	95.3%		99.3	3^rd of 111 public high schools	97.3%	2			39.0				70.6			33.7		$10,482	$583	$9,899
Hurricane High School	Public	9-12	3350 Teays Valley Rd	Hurricane	25526	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 562-9851	1,141	78	14.6	34.8%	1,024 (89.7%)	34 (3.0%)	21 (1.8%)	16 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	45 (3.9%)	98.2	4^th of 107 public high schools	96.3%		98.9	4^th of 111 public high schools	96.4%				40.0				70.2			36.7		$9,882	$612	$9,269
Poca High School	Public	9-12	1 Dot Way	Poca	25159	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 755-3951	410	32	12.8	55.4%	401 (97.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	44.2	51^st of 107 public high schools	52.3%		37.7	74^th of 111 public high schools	33.3%	23			19.4				48.4			17.2		$12,621	$820	$11,801
Nitro High School	Public	9-12	1300 Park Ave	Nitro	25143	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 755-4321	818	40	20.4	39.4%	699 (85.5%)	53 (6.5%)	17 (2.1%)	6 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.3%)	70.8	25^th of 107 public high schools	76.6%		86.6	12^th of 111 public high schools	89.2%	13			26.3				55.1			23.1		$5,996	$235	$5,761
Cabell Midland High School	Public	9-12	11315 US Route 60	Ona	25545	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 743-7400	1,638	103	15.9	32.7%	1,533 (93.6%)	13 (0.8%)	22 (1.3%)	12 (0.7%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (3.4%)	85.7	11^th of 107 public high schools	89.7%		93.1	7^th of 111 public high schools	93.7%	4			26.6				59.5			32.1		$8,253	$1,038	$7,215
Saint Albans High School	Public	9-12	2100 Kanawha Ter	Saint Albans	25177	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 722-0212	882	47	18.7	48.8%	772 (87.5%)	46 (5.2%)	12 (1.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (5.7%)	80.7	16^th of 107 public high schools	85.0%		89.4	8^th of 111 public high schools	92.8%	8			32.5				55.2			26.6		$6,809	$394	$6,415
Sissonville High School	Public	9-12	6100 Sissonville Dr	Charleston	25312	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 348-1954	564	37	15.2	47.0%	549 (97.3%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.2%)	62.1	30^th of 107 public high schools	72.0%		67.4	25^th of 111 public high schools	77.5%	5			25.6				46.7			24.8		$7,797	$62	$7,735

Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo High School

What district is Buffalo High School in?

Putnam County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Buffalo High School?

Students at Buffalo High School are 97% White, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Buffalo High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 382 students attended Buffalo High School.

Is Buffalo High School a good school?

Buffalo High School ranks 36^th of 107 West Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Buffalo High School!

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Latest West Virginia data All new data »

2019–20 through 2024–25 school spending dataAug 24, 2026

2025–26 WV Assessment scoresAug 12, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 9, 2026

2024–25 WV Assessment scoresAug 13, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the West Virginia Department of 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.