Van Buren School District

555 W Columbia Ave
Belleville, MI 48111-2611
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public preschools serving 342 students in Van Buren School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in Michigan.
Public Preschools in Van Buren School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Michigan public pre school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Michigan public preschool average of 41% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
8 Schools
1,089 Schools
# Students
4,206 Students
375,363 Students
# Teachers
245 Teachers
25,301 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Van Buren School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 845 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has decreased from 91% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#547 out of 862 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
23%
35%
35%
45%
29%
38%
82%
81%
(2022-23)
38.2%
33.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.63
0.59
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
6%
9%
% Black
44%
22%
% White
42%
60%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,628 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,606. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,340 is less than the state median of $17,784. The school district spending/student has grown by 16% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$66 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$65 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,628
$18,606
Spending / Student
$15,340
$17,784

Best Van Buren School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Savage Road Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
42975 Savage Rd
Belleville, MI 48111
(734) 699-5050
Gr: PK-4 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Childhood Center Of Vbps
Special Education School
451 W Columbia Ave
Belleville, MI 48111
(734) 699-2180
Gr: PK

Recent Articles

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,206 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 57%
  • : 82% (Top 50% in MI)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 35% (Btm 50%)
  • : 29% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

Quick Links