Top Rankings
Van Buren School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arkansas for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 9 public elementary schools serving 4,111 students in Van Buren School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Arkansas.
Public Elementary Schools in Van Buren School District have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the Arkansas public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 39% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 35% 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
710 Schools
# Students
5,809 Students
300,005 Students
# Teachers
428 Teachers
19,966 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Van Buren School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 258 school districts in Arkansas (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#73 out of 259 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
38%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
40%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
36%

Graduation Rate
90%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.54
0.61
# American Indian Students
73 Students
1,684 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
119 Students
5,542 Students
% Asian Students
2%
2%
# Hispanic Students
1,210 Students
43,810 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
15%
# Black Students
132 Students
58,360 Students
% Black Students
2%
19%
# White Students
3,721 Students
172,046 Students
% White Students
64%
57%
# Hawaiian Students
12 Students
3,152 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
542 Students
15,411 Students
% of Two or more races Students
10%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
100
7,260
# Students in K Grade:
443
33,240
# Students in 1st Grade:
435
35,859
# Students in 2nd Grade:
419
37,037
# Students in 3rd Grade:
436
35,957
# Students in 4th Grade:
438
35,919
# Students in 5th Grade:
455
35,951
# Students in 6th Grade:
414
36,175
# Students in 7th Grade:
433
21,041
# Students in 8th Grade:
474
15,262
# Students in 9th Grade:
471
1,598
# Students in 10th Grade:
453
1,565
# Students in 11th Grade:
418
1,649
# Students in 12th Grade:
413
1,433
# Ungraded Students:
7
59
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,140 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,132. The school district revenue/student has declined by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,842 is less than the state median of $13,043. The school district spending/student has declined by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$71 MM
$6,371 MM

Spending
$69 MM
$6,327 MM

Revenue / Student
$12,140
$13,132

Spending / Student
$11,842
$13,043

Best Van Buren School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Parkview Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
605 Parkview St
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-8730
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-8730
Grades: K-5
| 436 students
Rank: #22.
Northridge Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
120 Northridge Dr
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3126
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3126
Grades: 6-8
| 739 students
Rank: #33.
Rena Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
720 Rena Rd
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3190
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3190
Grades: K-5
| 412 students
Rank: #44.
Oliver Springs Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
505 Northridge Drive East
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3120
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3120
Grades: K-5
| 463 students
Rank: #55.
King Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
400 N 19th St
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-2661
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-2661
Grades: PK-5
| 443 students
Rank: #66.
Butterfield Trail Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
310 N 11th St
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-6838
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-6838
Grades: 6-8
| 558 students
Rank: #77.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
501 N 24th St
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-3150
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 474-3150
Grades: K-5
| 489 students
Rank: #88.
James R. Tate Elem. School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
406 Catcher Rd
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3130
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3130
Grades: PK-5
| 466 students
Rank: #99.
River Valley Virtual Academy
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
60 Northridge Drive
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3165
Van Buren, AR 72956
(479) 471-3165
Grades: K-12
| 105 students
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