New Buffalo Elementary School

New Buffalo Elementary School is an intimate elementary campus in NEW BUFFALO, Michigan, one of the schools within New Buffalo Area Schools. The school works with 211 students in grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 369 students per school, that is 43% below typical.

Across the 3 schools in New Buffalo Area Schools (516 students total), New Buffalo Elementary School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

In terms of who attends, New Buffalo Elementary School lists that nearly all students (82%) are White. The remainder is composed of 11% Hispanic, 3% Black. By comparison, Berrien County as a whole is about 74% White, so the school skews visibly more White than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, On paper, New Buffalo Elementary School has 19 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 11.1:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 15.8:1, putting New Buffalo Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 34% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is south of Berrien County's rate of about 55%.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), New Buffalo Elementary School is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 51.2%; this one delivers 72.5%, a residual of +21.4 points.

In the broader community, census data for Berrien County shows median household earnings sit near $65,425, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. In all, Berrien County runs 75 public schools (combined enrollment of about 21,027 students), of which New Buffalo Elementary School is one.

The closest other public school is New Buffalo Middle School, roughly 1.7 miles away. Within five miles, there are 3 other public schools. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), New Buffalo Elementary School ranks 1st on composite proficiency, above the local average of 34.3%.

The campus sits in a commuter-belt setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at New Buffalo Elementary School has declined 7%, going from 228 students in 2018 to 211 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, the feed for New Buffalo Elementary School typically covers sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.