Van Buren Independent School District

490 South Paw Paw St
Lawrence, MI 49064-9328
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Van Buren Independent School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 149 students in Van Buren Independent School District. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in Michigan.
Public Schools in Van Buren Independent School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Michigan public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public school average of 37% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
4 Schools
3,509 Schools
# Students
149 Students
1,376,331 Students
# Teachers
73 Teachers
82,379 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
4:1
4:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Van Buren Independent School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 851 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 20% has decreased from 50% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#153 out of 866 school districts
(Top 20%)
40-49%
34%
50-59%
45%
40-59%
38%
≤20%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.52
0.56
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
16%
9%
% Black
9%
18%
% White
67%
63%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $387,973 is higher than the state median of $18,510. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $372,034 is higher than the state median of $17,693. The school district spending/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$58 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$55 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$387,973
$18,510
Spending / Student
$372,034
$17,693

Best Van Buren Independent School District Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Bert Goens Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
701 S Paw Paw St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 539-5032
Grades: PK-12
| 72 students
Rank: #22.
Communitybased Transition Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
811 Hazen St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 415-0270
Grades: 10-12
| 45 students
Rank: #33.
Maple Creek Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
30 S Walnut St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-7961
Grades: K-12
| 32 students
Rank: n/an/a
Van Buren Technical
Vocational School
250 South St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Grades: 11-12
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Van Buren Independent School District?
Van Buren Independent School District manages 4 public schools serving 149 students.
What is the rank of Van Buren Independent School District?
Van Buren Independent School District is ranked #177 out of 851 school districts in Michigan (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Michigan school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%) and Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Van Buren Independent School District?
67% of Van Buren Independent School District students are White, 16% of students are Hispanic, 9% of students are Black, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Van Buren Independent School District?
Van Buren Independent School District has a student/teacher ratio of 4:1, which is lower than the Michigan state average of 17:1.
What is Van Buren Independent School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $372,034 is higher than the state median of $17,693. The school district spending/student has grown by 19% over four school years.

Recent Articles

Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 149 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 4:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 33%
  • : ≤20% (Btm 50% in MI)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 40-49% (Top 20%)
  • : 50-59% (Top 20%)
  • : 40-59% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

Quick Links