Buffalo Public Schools
Encyclopedia
Buffalo Public Schools serves approximately 47,000 students in Buffalo, New York
, the second largest city in the state of New York
. It is located in Erie County
of western New York and operates nearly 70 facilities.
and only 6 years after the 1832 incorporation of the City of Buffalo. Buffalo was the first city in the state of New York to have a free public education system supported by local taxes. Although New York City
had a free public education system prior to 1838, NYC obtained additional funding through private donations and sources.
Buffalo Public School's first Superintendent of Schools, Oliver Gray Steele (1805–1879), was a prominent and successful business man. Originally from Connecticut
, Mr. Steele relocated to Buffalo in 1827. He held three different terms as Superintendent between 1838 and 1852, during which twelve new elementary facilities were built, bringing the total to 15 elementary buildings. A building for a dedicated high school was also purchased during this time. Mr. Steele is credited as being the "Father of the Public Schools of Buffalo" as his reorganization of the schools in Buffalo enabled children to have access to a free public education. Over 35 people have held the position of Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools since that time. Dr. James A. Williams (Ed.D.), the current Superintendent, has been in office since 2005. He has had a career of over 39 years of service in the field of public education as teacher, counselor, administrator, lecturer, and author and is particularly known for his work on curriculum and instruction. The Buffalo School Board has voted to appoint longtime administrator Amber Dixon as Interim Superintendent of the Buffalo School District. Dixon will replace Dr. Williams, in light of his September 2011 retirement amid a highly publicized, tax-sponsored retirement resignation benefits agreement.
The Buffalo Public School System boasts the best academically performing high school in Western New York, the City Honors School
at Fosdick-Masten Park, which is recognized as one of the best high schools in the United States
. The school was recently ranked as the 11th best school in Newsweek
Magazine's 2008 list of "America's Best High Schools". Originally built in 1912 as Masten Park High School, it sits atop the foundation of the original school that was built in 1895, but was destroyed by a fire in 1912. The name was changed in 1927 to Fosdick-Masten Park High School in honor of the first principal Frank Fosdick. The building was used as a girls vocational school from 1953 until 1980 when the City Honors School was moved from P.S. 17 on Main Street over to the current location. City Honors was founded in 1975 for academically gifted and talented high school students, however now accepts students from grades 5- 12.
Another important public high school is Lafayette High School
, completed in 1903. It is the oldest Buffalo public school still in its original building, and is on the National Register of Historic Places
. Lafayette
has the largest and most active alumni association of any Buffalo public high school.
The Buffalo Public School System also has 2 Montessori schools, one of which, Bennett Park Montessori Center, has been in existence for over 25 years. Public Montessori schools are not common in U.S. school districts.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, the second largest city in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is located in Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
of western New York and operates nearly 70 facilities.
History
The Buffalo Public School System was started in 1838, 13 years after the completion of the Erie CanalErie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
and only 6 years after the 1832 incorporation of the City of Buffalo. Buffalo was the first city in the state of New York to have a free public education system supported by local taxes. Although New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
had a free public education system prior to 1838, NYC obtained additional funding through private donations and sources.
Buffalo Public School's first Superintendent of Schools, Oliver Gray Steele (1805–1879), was a prominent and successful business man. Originally from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Mr. Steele relocated to Buffalo in 1827. He held three different terms as Superintendent between 1838 and 1852, during which twelve new elementary facilities were built, bringing the total to 15 elementary buildings. A building for a dedicated high school was also purchased during this time. Mr. Steele is credited as being the "Father of the Public Schools of Buffalo" as his reorganization of the schools in Buffalo enabled children to have access to a free public education. Over 35 people have held the position of Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools since that time. Dr. James A. Williams (Ed.D.), the current Superintendent, has been in office since 2005. He has had a career of over 39 years of service in the field of public education as teacher, counselor, administrator, lecturer, and author and is particularly known for his work on curriculum and instruction. The Buffalo School Board has voted to appoint longtime administrator Amber Dixon as Interim Superintendent of the Buffalo School District. Dixon will replace Dr. Williams, in light of his September 2011 retirement amid a highly publicized, tax-sponsored retirement resignation benefits agreement.
Board of education
The Board of Education of the Buffalo City School District is the policy-making body for the Buffalo Public Schools , as provided by the Constitution of the State of New York, and is under the general supervision of the New York State Education Department. The board consists of 9 members elected by popular vote of District residents. Terms are either 3 or 6 years. The Office of the Board of Education is in room 801 of City Hall in downtown Buffalo and meetings are on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The meetings begin at 5:30 PM and are open to the public.Board Members (2008-2009 Academic Year)
-
- Mary Ruth Kapsiak, Ed.M, S.D.A: President/ Central District Representative
- Dr. Catherine Collins: Vice President of Executive Affairs/ Member-at-Large
- Mr. Christopher Jacobs: Vice President of Student Achievement/ Member-at-Large
- Ms. Vivian Evans, M.S.: East District Representative
- Mrs. Florence Johnson: Member-at-Large
- Mr. Ralph Hernandez: West District Representative
- Catherine Nugent, Esq: Panepinto: North District Representative
- Louis Petrucci: Park District Representative
- Pamela D. Perry-Cahill, B.S., ED. M.B.A: Ferry District Representative
Superintendent & Advisory Cabinet
-
- James A. Williams, Ed. D.: Superintendent of Schools
- Folasade Oladele, Ed.D.: Chief Academic Officer
- Gary Crosby: Chief Financial Officer & Operating Officer
- Valerie DeBerry: Executive Director Human Resources
- Amber Dixon: Executive Director Project Initiatives
- Mark Frazier: Lead Community Superintendent
- James Kane: Chief of Staff
- Stefan Mychajliw: Special Assistant to the Superintendent/Community Relations
- Michael J. Looby, Esq.: General Counsel
Elementary schools
- PS 3 D’Youville Porter Campus School
- PS 6 Buffalo Elementary School of Technology
- PS 11 Poplar Citizenship Academy Early Childhood Center
- PS 17 Early Childhood Center
- PS 18 Dr. Antonia Pantoja Community School of Academic Excellence
- PS 19 Native American Magnet School
- PS 27 Hillery Park Elementary @28
- PS 30 Frank A. Sedita Academy
- PS 31 Harriet Ross Tubman School
- PS 32 Bennett Park Montessori@#63
- PS 33 Bilingual Center
- PS 36 Days Park Bilingual ECC
- PS 37 Futures Academy
- PS 39 Martin Luther King Multicultural Institute
- PS 43 Lovejoy Discovery School at #71
- PS 45 International School@4 & 40
- PS 53 Community School
- PS 54 Dr. George E. Blackman
- PS 56 Frederick Law Olmsted
- PS 59 Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet - Museum Site
- PS 59 Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet - Zoo Site
- PS 61 Early Childhood Center
- PS 64 Frederick Law Olmsted
- PS 65 Roosevelt ECC
- PS 66 North Park Middle Academy
- PS 67 Discovery School
- PS 69 Houghton Academy
- PS 72 Lorraine Elementary
- PS 74 Hamlin Park School
- PS 76 Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy
- PS 78 Montessori School
- PS 79 Pfc. William J. Grabiarz School of Excellence
- PS 80 Highgate Heights
- PS 81 School
- PS 82 Early Childhood Center
- PS 84 Erie County Health Care Center for Children
- PS 89 Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence
- PS 90 Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet E.C.C.
- PS 91 BUILD Academy
- PS 93 Southside Elementary School
- PS 94 West Hertel Academy
- PS 95 Waterfront Elementary School
- PS 96 Campus West
- PS 97 Harvey Austin School
- PS 99 Stanley M. Makowski Early Childhood Center
- PS 131 Academy School @ 44
- PS 192 Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
- PS 195 City Honors School at 56 & 8
- PS 197 Math Science Technology Preparatory School at Seneca
- PS 198 The International Preparatory School at Grover
High schools
- PS 42 Occupational Training Center
- PS 131 Academy School @ 44
- PS 192 Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
- PS 195 City Honors SchoolCity Honors SchoolCity Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park, known colloquially as City Honors, or CHS, is a college preparatory school in Buffalo, New York. City Honors is part of the Buffalo Public Schools system. The school was founded in 1975 by three faculty members from Bennett High School and Clinton Junior...
- PS 197 Math Science Technology Preparatory School at Seneca
- PS 200 Bennett High School
- PS 202 Grover Cleveland High SchoolGrover Cleveland High School (Buffalo, New York)Grover Cleveland High School was a high school located in Buffalo, New York, USA. It generally housed 274 students from Grades 9 - 12 and teaches according to the Board of Regents...
- PS 204 Lafayette High SchoolLafayette High School (Buffalo)Lafayette High School is the oldest public school in Buffalo that remains in its original building; a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style, by architects August Esenwein and James A. Johnson. Although classes began off-site during construction of the...
- PS 205 Riverside Institute of TechnologyRiverside Institute of TechnologyRiverside Institute of Technology is a high school located in Buffalo, New York. It serves Grades 9 - 12 and teaches according to the Board of Regents. The current Principal is Mrs. Denise Clarke, and the current assistant principals are Mrs. Aarin Pellitieri, Mr. Jason Madden, and Mrs...
- PS 206 South Park High SchoolSouth Park High School (Buffalo, New York)South Park High School is a high school located in Buffalo, New York. It serves Grades 9 - 12 and teaches according to the Board of Regents. The current principal is Mrs. Theresa Schuta, and the current assistant principals are Ms. Denise Denz, Ms. Orneice Hill, and Mr. Michael Morris.- History...
- PS 212 Leonardo DaVinci High School
- PS 301 Burgard Vocational High SchoolBurgard Vocational High SchoolBurgard Vocational High School is a vocational high school located in Buffalo, New York, USA. It holds about 800 students from Grades 9 - 12 and teaches according to the Board of Regents. The current Principal is Mr. Brian Wiesinger, and the current Assistant Principals are Mr. Andre Thomas and Ms...
- PS 302 Emerson School of Hospitality
- PS 304 Hutchinson Central Technical High SchoolHutchinson Central Technical High SchoolHutchinson Central Technical High School, informally known as Hutch-Tech, is a high school in the City of Buffalo, New York. Its founding on September 14, 1904 under the name Mechanics Arts High School marked the beginning of technical education on the secondary level in the city of...
- PS 305 McKinley Vocational High SchoolMcKinley Vocational High SchoolMcKinley Vocational High School is a public high school in Buffalo, New York.Mckinley Vocational High School is located in Buffalo, NY and is one of 57 schools in Buffalo City School District...
- PS 307 East High SchoolEast High School (Buffalo, New York)East High School is a comprehensive high school located in the East Side of Buffalo, New York. It serves 610 students from Grades 9-12. The current principal is Dr. Casey Young Welch, and the current assistant principals are Ms. Irene Gelber and Mr. Benjamin Willis.- History :East High School was...
- PS 415 Middle Early College High School
- The International Preparatory School at Grover
Adult Education Facilities
- PS 42 Occupational Training Center
- Adult Education Division
The Buffalo Public School System boasts the best academically performing high school in Western New York, the City Honors School
City Honors School
City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park, known colloquially as City Honors, or CHS, is a college preparatory school in Buffalo, New York. City Honors is part of the Buffalo Public Schools system. The school was founded in 1975 by three faculty members from Bennett High School and Clinton Junior...
at Fosdick-Masten Park, which is recognized as one of the best high schools in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The school was recently ranked as the 11th best school in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
Magazine's 2008 list of "America's Best High Schools". Originally built in 1912 as Masten Park High School, it sits atop the foundation of the original school that was built in 1895, but was destroyed by a fire in 1912. The name was changed in 1927 to Fosdick-Masten Park High School in honor of the first principal Frank Fosdick. The building was used as a girls vocational school from 1953 until 1980 when the City Honors School was moved from P.S. 17 on Main Street over to the current location. City Honors was founded in 1975 for academically gifted and talented high school students, however now accepts students from grades 5- 12.
Another important public high school is Lafayette High School
Lafayette High School (Buffalo)
Lafayette High School is the oldest public school in Buffalo that remains in its original building; a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style, by architects August Esenwein and James A. Johnson. Although classes began off-site during construction of the...
, completed in 1903. It is the oldest Buffalo public school still in its original building, and is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Lafayette
Lafayette High School (Buffalo)
Lafayette High School is the oldest public school in Buffalo that remains in its original building; a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style, by architects August Esenwein and James A. Johnson. Although classes began off-site during construction of the...
has the largest and most active alumni association of any Buffalo public high school.
The Buffalo Public School System also has 2 Montessori schools, one of which, Bennett Park Montessori Center, has been in existence for over 25 years. Public Montessori schools are not common in U.S. school districts.