Buffalo Public Schools & the Regents: A Guide for Western New York Students
Buffalo Public Schools is the largest district in Western New York and one of the state's "Big Five" city school districts. For students here, the path to a diploma runs through the same Regents exams as the rest of the state — but a few things about Buffalo are worth knowing.
One of New York's Big Five
Like New York City, Buffalo is a fiscally dependent city district, so its budget is tied to the city's. It serves the Buffalo–Niagara region and offers a wide mix of neighborhood, magnet, and themed schools.
Criteria-based and magnet schools
Buffalo runs a number of criteria-based and magnet schools that admit students through an application or qualifying process. City Honors School, for example, is a long-respected academically selective school. These programs are separate from the Regents, but students in all of them still earn their diplomas by passing Regents exams.
A welcoming home for New Americans
Buffalo is a well-known refugee-resettlement city, and its classrooms include many students from immigrant and refugee families speaking a wide range of home languages. The district provides English Language Learner support — and studying core concepts in the language you think in can help while your test-day English grows.
How to prepare
- Diagnose first with a full practice exam, then focus on your weakest NYS topics.
- Aim above a 65 — the raw-to-scale curve is unknown until exam day, so a margin is your safety net.
- Review every miss with its explanation.
NY Regents Quiz offers NYS-aligned multiple-choice practice in five languages with instant explanations and full-length mock exams. Browse the subjects and start free.
NY Regents Quiz is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with Buffalo Public Schools or the New York State Education Department. District programs and rules change over time — confirm current details with the district or your school counselor.