Buxton schools were integrated. At its height, there were five schools in Buxton, all two story buildings. Buxton was the only town in Iowa that hired African American teachers. For many years, the principal of one of the elementary schools was African American. Buxton had a high school for a brief period, but it burned down shortly after opening and was never rebuilt. For most of Buxton's existence, students would have to move to another town to continue their education beyond eighth grade.