Top Rankings
Van Buren School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arkansas for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 4,003 students in Van Buren School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in Arkansas.
Public Elementary Schools in Van Buren School District have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the Arkansas public elementary school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arkansas public elementary school average of 43% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (AR)
# Schools
11 Schools
701 Schools
# Students
5,703 Students
304,590 Students
# Teachers
417 Teachers
19,785 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Van Buren School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 256 school districts in Arkansas (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 93% has increased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#66 out of 258 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
39%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
40%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
36%
Graduation Rate
93%
89.9%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)29.1%
22.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.62
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
1%
1%
Showing 2011–2023. Full 24-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
2%
2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
22%
15%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
2%
19%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
63%
57%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
10%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,072 in this school district is less than the state median of $14,739. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,994 is higher than the state median of $14,969. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$80 MM
$7,224 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$86 MM
$7,337 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$14,072
$14,739
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$14,994
$14,969
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Van Buren School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Parkview Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
619 Parkview
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-8730
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-8730
Gr: K-5 | 437 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #22.
Northridge Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
120 Northridge Drive
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3126
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3126
Gr: 6-8 | 713 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #33.
Rena Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
720 Rena Road
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3190
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3190
Gr: K-5 | 414 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #44.
Oliver Springs Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
505 Northridge Drive East
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3120
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3120
Gr: K-5 | 441 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #55.
King Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
411 North 20th St
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-2661
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-2661
Gr: PK-5 | 437 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #66.
Butterfield Trail Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
310 North 11 St
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-6838
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-6838
Gr: 6-8 | 557 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #77.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
913 N 24 St
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-7059
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-7059
Gr: K-5 | 466 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #88.
James R. Tate Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
406 Catcher Road
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3130
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3130
Gr: PK-5 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
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