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Honest take: what's the hardest part about being a student at BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
1,171
Middle
DISTRICT 686 · STATE 794
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·MANATEE·NCES 120123007312
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
7320 69TH ST E, PALMETTO, FL 34221 · (941) 721-2260 · Manatee County
GRADES 06–08MIDDLE41-RURALTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL1,171 STUDENTS
B
allk12 Grade
Scored higher than 56% of Florida public middle schools
- BTest scores Share of students meeting the state standard in reading, math, and other tested subjects, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- BBeats expectations How far test scores land above or below what the share of low-income students predicts for a school in this state.
- ·Three-year trend Not available for this school, so the grade uses the other parts.
Grades compare a school only with schools in the same state, because every state gives its own test. How grades work · Top-graded Florida public middle schools
Student : Teacher
21.7:1
54 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 18.8:1 · STATE 19.6:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
49%
579 students
DISTRICT 55% · STATE 50%
Community
6
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other middle schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 374 | 32% |
| Grade 7 | 413 | 35% |
| Grade 8 | 384 | 33% |
Student demographics
60%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 66% · STATE 70% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
FAST / B.E.S.T. 2024-25 . % at Level 3 or AboveEnglish Language Arts
57.0%
FL avg 56.7% . +0.4pp since 2023
Math
58.6%
FL avg 58.9% . -4.6pp since 2023
What this means: On the FAST / B.E.S.T., Florida's statewide test, about 57 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 59 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Florida schools, those numbers are about 57 and 59. Reading and writing scores have held steady since 2023, while math scores are down about 5 points.
FAST / B.E.S.T. results by year
| School year | English Language Arts | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 57.0% | 58.6% |
| 2023-24 | 56.6% | 63.2% |
% at Level 3 or Above, all students and all tested grades.
Source: FAST / B.E.S.T.. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
56.2%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
56.4%
based on FL schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
-0.2pp
below demographic expectation
What this means: About 56% of students here test proficient in math and reading, compared with the roughly 56% typical for Florida schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations measures results against demographically similar schools rather than by raw scores, and this school falls within the typical range, neither among Florida's top nor bottom 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL's state test result (56.2% proficient) is higher than 3 of the 5 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL this school | 1,171 | 49.4% | 56.2% |
| WOODLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL NORTH PORT | 1,040 | 51.2% | 58.2% |
| CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL WEST MELBOURNE | 1,059 | 53.1% | 51.0% |
| ORMOND BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL ORMOND BEACH | 1,007 | 50.1% | 60.2% |
| RIVER SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL ORANGE CITY | 1,218 | 50.4% | 47.4% |
| SILVER SANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL PORT ORANGE | 1,199 | 54.5% | 54.7% |
Matched among Florida middle schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL ranks
Among middle schools| Measure | This school | In Florida | In Manatee County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 56.2% | #238 of 560 | #5 of 10 |
| Math proficiency ranked highest first | 58.6% | #265 of 560 ▼ 80 | #6 of 10 no change |
| Reading proficiency ranked highest first | 57.0% | #241 of 560 ▼ 59 | #5 of 10 no change |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,171 | #68 of 584 | #1 of 12 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 21.7:1 | #457 of 547 | #8 of 10 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 59.5% | #266 of 553 | #7 of 10 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 49.4% | #310 of 565 | #6 of 10 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked fastest growth first | +16.1% | #48 of 137 | N/A |
Ranked against other public middle schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
1,171
-101 (-8%) vs 2020
+32% since 2010-11, when it was 884
Student : Teacher
21.7:1
was 19.0:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 1,171 | 54 | 21.7:1 | 49% (579) |
| 2023-24 | 1,122 | 57 | 19.7:1 | 46% (519) |
| 2022-23 | 1,127 | 55 | 20.5:1 | 44% (501) |
| 2020-21 | 1,272 | 67 | 19.0:1 | 50% (632) |
| 2017-18 | 1,009 | 54 | 18.7:1 | 56% (563) |
| 2015-16 | 1,033 | 58 | 17.8:1 | 55% (572) |
| 2010-11 | 884 | 48 | 18.4:1 | 50% (440) |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL.
About BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL is a medium-sized middle school in PALMETTO, Florida. The latest federal count shows 1,171 students in grades 6 through 8. The average for middle schools in Florida is about 794 students, so this school is 47% larger than average.
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL falls under MANATEE, which has 80 schools enrolling 54,215 students.
At BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL, White students make up 59% of the student body. Next come 19% Hispanic, 15% Black, 5% multiracial, and 3% Asian. The county population is about 72% White. BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL's diversity index is 60%, against a US figure of 70%.
Its 54 full-time-equivalent teachers give the school a ratio of 21.7:1. This ratio sits 2.1 above the 19.6:1 average for middle schools in Florida. Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is 49%. That tracks the 51% average for public schools in Manatee County.
allk12 grades BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL a B. The grade compares the school only with Florida public middle schools, because each state gives its own test.
Compared with Florida schools that have similar shares of low-income students, BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL's results are within a point of predicted: 56.2% against 56.4%.
Among Manatee County residents, the median household income is $78,457, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and about 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL is one of 86 public schools in the county.
VIRGIL MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.1 miles away. The five-mile area around BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL holds at least 8 other public schools. BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL ranks 5th of 9 among nearby schools on average proficiency, with 56.2% against a local average of 57.1%.
The National Center for Education Statistics classifies the school's location as Rural: Fringe, meaning it is in rural territory close to an urban area.
Over 4 years, BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL's enrollment declined 8%, to 1,171. The school's ratio rose from 19.0:1 to 21.7:1 between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
Conversations here can range across enrollment questions, class placement, and PTA news. Reviews and ratings from people who know the school are welcome.
Manatee County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
429,792
Census ACS
Median income
$78,457
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
35%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
6%
Below federal line
Schools in county
86
54,208 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in MANATEE
- LAKEWOOD RANCH HIGH SCHOOLHigh · 2,422 students
- PARRISH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOLHigh · 2,266 students
- PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOLHigh · 2,185 students
- MANATEE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTSHigh · 2,051 students
- MANATEE HIGH SCHOOLHigh · 1,998 students
- BRADEN RIVER HIGH SCHOOLHigh · 1,705 students
Other schools in PALMETTO
- PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOLHigh · 2,185 students
- MANATEE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTSHigh · 2,051 students
- VIRGIL MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementary · 863 students
- IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOL AT NORTH MANATEEElementary · 853 students
- JAMES TILLMAN ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOLElementary · 614 students
- PALM VIEW K-8 SCHOOLElementary · 606 students
Nearby schools
- VIRGIL MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL0.1 mi · 863
- PARRISH CHARTER ACADEMY0.8 mi · 891
- IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOL AT NORTH MANATEE2.2 mi · 853
- PARRISH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL3.0 mi · 2,266
- BARBARA A HARVEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL3.1 mi · 1,356
- BLACKBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL3.9 mi · 452
Frequently asked questions
About BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOLHow large is BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL?
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL enrolls approximately 1,171 students in grades 06-08.
Is BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL an elementary, middle, or high school?
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL is a middle school covering grades 06-08.
What is the student-teacher ratio at BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL?
The student-to-teacher ratio at BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL is approximately 21.7:1 (54 FTE teachers).
What is the student diversity at BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Student demographics at BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL are roughly 59% White, 19% Hispanic, 15% Black, 3% Asian, 5% Two or more.
What district is BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL in?
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL is part of MANATEE.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.