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Public School Review - Established 2003

Van Buren School District

2221 Pointer Trail E
Van Buren, AR 72956
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
8/
10
Top 30%
Tel: (479) 474-7942
www.vbsd.us

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 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
706 Schools
# Students
5,703 Students
305,192 Students
# Teachers
417 Teachers
19,830 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
Pre-K10048
Kind375112
1437120
2441123
3429127
4442124
5438124
6438125
742174
842353
9106
1086
11186
12235
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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.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (AR)
#66 out of 258 school districts
(Top 30%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearVan Buren School District
2023#66
2022#73
2021#65
2019#101
2018#87
2017#105
2016#122
2015#143
2014#165
2013#161
2012#164
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43%
39%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
202343%39%
202241%38%
202141%36%
201949%47%
201849%47%
201747%47%
201642%44%
201518%25%
201471%73%
201373%75%
201274%78%
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44%
40%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
202244%40%
202141%37%
201945%45%
201849%44%
201753%53%
201648%48%
201530%34%
201473%77%
201376%78%
201279%80%
201173%73%
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37%
36%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
202237%36%
202135%34%
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93%
88%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
202393%88%
202290%88%
202191%87%
202090%88%
201989%86%
201887%88%
201790%87%
201688%86%
201584%84%
201489%86%
201386%84%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.56
0.62

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
20240.540.61
20230.530.60
20220.520.60
20210.510.58
20200.490.58
20190.490.58
20180.480.58
20170.480.58
20160.460.57
20150.450.57
20140.470.55
20130.460.55
20120.470.54
20110.450.53
20100.450.53
20090.390.51
20080.400.51
20070.400.49
20060.380.48
20050.310.47
20040.290.46
20030.270.45
20020.250.45
20010.230.43
20000.210.42
19990.190.42
19980.170.41
19970.150.41
19960.170.40
19950.150.40
19940.140.40
19930.120.39
19920.130.39
19910.120.40
19900.120.38
19890.110.38
19880.110.38
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% American Indian
1%
1%

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
20232%1%
20182%1%
20172%1%
20162%1%
20151%1%
20142%1%
20132%1%
20122%1%
20112%1%
20102%1%
20094%1%
20086%1%
20076%1%
20066%1%
20052%1%
20042%1%
20033%1%
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% Asian
2%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
20242%2%
20233%2%
20222%2%
20212%2%
20203%2%
20193%2%
20182%2%
20172%2%
20162%2%
20152%2%
20143%1%
20133%1%
20123%2%
20113%2%
20103%2%
20093%2%
20083%2%
20073%1%
20063%1%
20053%1%
20043%1%
20033%1%
20023%1%
20013%1%
20003%1%
19993%1%
19983%1%
19973%1%
19963%1%
19953%1%
19943%1%
19932%1%
19923%1%
19913%1%
19903%1%
19893%1%
19883%1%
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% Hispanic
22%
15%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
202421%15%
202320%14%
202219%14%
202119%14%
202018%13%
201918%13%
201818%13%
201718%13%
201617%12%
201517%12%
201416%11%
201316%11%
201216%10%
201115%10%
201015%9%
200914%9%
200813%8%
200712%8%
200611%7%
200510%6%
20049%5%
20038%5%
20027%4%
20016%4%
20005%3%
19994%3%
19983%2%
19973%2%
19963%1%
19951%1%
19941%1%
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% Black
2%
19%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
20242%19%
20232%19%
20223%20%
20213%20%
20203%20%
20193%20%
20183%21%
20173%21%
20163%21%
20153%21%
20142%21%
20132%21%
20122%21%
20112%21%
20102%22%
20092%22%
20082%23%
20073%23%
20062%22%
20052%23%
20042%23%
20031%23%
20022%23%
20012%23%
20001%23%
19992%23%
19981%24%
19971%24%
19962%24%
19952%24%
19941%24%
19931%24%
19921%24%
19911%24%
19902%24%
19891%24%
19882%24%
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% White
63%
57%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
202464%58%
202365%59%
202267%59%
202167%60%
202069%61%
201969%61%
201870%60%
201770%60%
201671%61%
201572%61%
201471%63%
201371%64%
201271%64%
201172%65%
201073%65%
200977%66%
200876%66%
200776%67%
200678%69%
200583%69%
200484%70%
200385%70%
200286%71%
200187%72%
200089%73%
199990%73%
199891%73%
199792%73%
199691%74%
199592%74%
199493%74%
199394%74%
199293%74%
199194%74%
199093%75%
198994%75%
198895%75%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
10%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2010-2024)

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
20249%5%
20238%4%
20228%4%
20217%3%
20205%3%
20195%3%
20185%2%
20175%2%
20165%2%
20155%2%
20146%2%
20136%1%
20126%2%
20116%1%
20105%1%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,365 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,975. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,063 is less than the state median of $12,887. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (AR)
Total Revenue
$71 MM
$6,371 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
2023$71 MM$11 MM
2022$66 MM$11 MM
2021$71 MM$11 MM
2020$66 MM$11 MM
2019$65 MM$10 MM
2018$63 MM$10 MM
2017$61 MM$10 MM
2016$60 MM$10 MM
2015$59 MM$10 MM
2014$58 MM$10 MM
2012$59 MM$10 MM
2011$65 MM$10 MM
2010$59 MM$10 MM
2009$57 MM$9 MM
2008$52 MM$9 MM
2007$51 MM$9 MM
2006$49 MM$8 MM
2005$46 MM$8 MM
2004$40 MM$5 MM
2003$38 MM$5 MM
2002$36 MM$5 MM
2001$33 MM$5 MM
2000$33 MM$4 MM
1999$30 MM$4 MM
1998$29 MM$4 MM
1997$27 MM$4 MM
1996$23 MM$3 MM
1995$21 MM$3 MM
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Spending
$69 MM
$6,327 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
2023$69 MM$12 MM
2022$67 MM$11 MM
2021$69 MM$12 MM
2020$67 MM$11 MM
2019$70 MM$10 MM
2018$62 MM$10 MM
2017$58 MM$10 MM
2016$57 MM$10 MM
2015$60 MM$10 MM
2014$57 MM$9 MM
2012$65 MM$10 MM
2011$88 MM$11 MM
2010$60 MM$10 MM
2009$57 MM$10 MM
2008$56 MM$9 MM
2007$68 MM$9 MM
2006$62 MM$8 MM
2005$48 MM$8 MM
2004$40 MM$5 MM
2003$36 MM$5 MM
2002$35 MM$5 MM
2001$35 MM$4 MM
2000$31 MM$4 MM
1999$30 MM$4 MM
1998$34 MM$4 MM
1997$27 MM$4 MM
1996$22 MM$4 MM
1995$23 MM$3 MM
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Revenue / Student
$12,365
$12,975

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
2023$11,930$12,020
2022$11,521$11,118
2021$12,808$12,189
2020$11,521$11,118
2019$11,192$11,021
2018$11,327$11,290
2017$10,427$11,111
2016$10,257$11,378
2015$9,902$10,220
2014$9,823$10,491
2012$9,816$10,328
2011$10,890$10,347
2010$9,879$10,220
2009$9,575$9,870
2008$8,768$9,520
2007$8,651$8,637
2006$8,576$8,452
2005$8,245$8,139
2004$7,201$7,065
2003$6,830$7,145
2002$6,584$6,837
2001$6,157$6,516
2000$6,154$6,054
1999$5,474$5,561
1998$5,314$5,336
1997$5,058$4,897
1995$4,224$4,288
1992$3,518$3,675
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Spending / Student
$12,063
$12,887

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearVan Buren School DistrictArkansas
2023$11,638$12,274
2022$11,601$11,314
2021$12,494$12,447
2020$11,601$11,314
2019$11,972$11,025
2018$11,234$11,153
2017$9,783$11,126
2016$9,691$10,954
2015$10,089$10,673
2014$9,567$9,876
2012$10,821$11,271
2011$14,611$11,007
2010$10,065$10,673
2009$9,650$10,243
2008$9,426$9,627
2007$11,601$9,013
2006$10,785$8,195
2005$8,600$8,081
2004$7,119$7,325
2003$6,545$6,978
2002$6,439$6,533
2001$6,396$6,138
2000$5,719$5,662
1999$5,442$5,312
1998$6,214$5,208
1997$5,025$4,980
1995$4,609$4,401
1992$4,318$3,747
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Best Van Buren School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Parkview Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
619 Parkview
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:
9/
10
Top 20%
120 Northridge Drive
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:
9/
10
Top 20%
720 Rena Road
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:
9/
10
Top 20%
505 Northridge Drive East
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:
6/
10
Top 50%
411 North 20th St
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:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
310 North 11 St
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:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
913 N 24 St
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:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
406 Catcher Road
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3130
Gr: PK-5 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 31%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 5,703 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 37%
  • : 93% (Top 5% in AR)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 43% (Top 30%)
  • : 44% (Top 30%)
  • : 37% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AR Dept. of Education

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