Buffalo United urges SUNY reauthorization, highlights enrollment and test-score gains

Buffalo United Charter School representatives asked the authorizer on Thursday to reauthorize the school's charter, citing rising student proficiency, steady enrollment and stable finances. Principal Vakhi and school leaders told Buffalo Public Schools staff and board members that Buffalo United serves 534 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, had a 77% student re-enrollment rate this year and recorded double-digit gains in test proficiency over the past two years.

The school’s leaders said academic proficiency rose 13 percentage points in English language arts and 16 percentage points in math over the past two years and that Buffalo United “exceeded the state average for academic growth in both ELA and math” in the most recent year. They also said the school returned a clean audit each year and had no debt, crediting a partnership with National Heritage Academies that they said helps keep funds focused in classrooms. "We are incredibly proud of the progress that our students and staff have made during this charter term," the presentation said.

Buffalo United staff and board members emphasized family engagement as a driver of student success. The…