New YorkSchoolsCOMMUNITY SCHOOL #53

COMMUNITY SCHOOL #53

PublicRegular
BUFFALO, New York · BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Teachers46.0FTE
Ratio10.0:1students per teacher
Students459enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students459
Grade Span
Student:Teacher10.0:1
Free/Reduced Lunch95%
Title INo
SectorPublic
Student : Teacher
9.7:1
3.0%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
48
4.3%vs prior yr
Enrollment
464
1.1%vs prior yr
Years of Data
5
2020–2024
Counselors
1:936
90%vs prior yrASCA max 1:250
Nurses
1:468
NASN max 1:750
Psychologists
1:468
5.1%vs prior yrNASP max 1:500
Social Workers
1:468
5.1%vs prior yrSSWAA max 1:250
Trends & 5-year history below

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

8.3:19.8:111.3:112.9:114.4:115.9:1202020212022202320249.8:18.8:110.0:110.0:19.7:1COMMUNITY SCHOOL #53US public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

450457464471478485444749515356202020212022202320244684834524594644855454648EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment468483452459464
Teacher FTE4855454648
Pupil : Teacher ratio9.8:18.8:110.0:110.0:19.7:115.4:1

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:2021:4041:6071:8091:1,0112015201720201:4931:4931:9361:4931:468Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Nurses & Psychologists — staff to pupils

1:01:1621:3241:4861:6481:8102015201720201:4681:4931:468Nurse : PupilsNASN 1:750Psychologist : PupilsNASP 1:500

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric201520172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)110.5
Nurses (FTE)001
Psychologists (FTE)011
Social Workers (FTE)011
Counselor : Pupils1:4931:4931:9361:250
Nurse : Pupils1:4681:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:4931:4681:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:4931:4681:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20152020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.