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Van Buren High School

Q: Is Van Buren High School a good school?

Van Buren High School ranks 66 th of 291 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 10-12

66^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 291 Arkansas High Schools

Better than 77% of Arkansas high schools

Summary

Van Buren High School is a public high school serving grades 10-12 in Van Buren, Arkansas, with a total enrollment of 1,228 students. The school is part of the Van Buren School District, which is ranked 102 out of 250 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Van Buren High School has shown strong academic performance, ranking 66th out of 291 Arkansas high schools in the 2024-2025 school year and receiving a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Reading, and Biology are consistently higher than the state averages. Additionally, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 10.1 to 11.6 over the past few years, which is lower than the state average and may contribute to the school's academic success. However, the school's Geometry proficiency rates have consistently been below the state average, an area the school may want to focus on improving.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Lavaca High School, Southside High School, and Cedarville High School, Van Buren High School generally outperforms its peers in academic metrics. The school's spending per student for the 2018-2019 school year was $10,557, which is higher than the state average and may also contribute to its academic success. However, the school has seen an increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 43.9% in 2021-2022 to 50.49% in 2023-2024, suggesting a growing population of economically disadvantaged students that the school may need to allocate additional resources to support.

1,232

Students ?

10.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,386

Per pupil spending ?

57.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2001 Pointer Trail
Van Buren, AR 72956

(479) 474-6821

District: Van Buren School District

Feeder schools for Van Buren High School:

Elementary:	Central Elementary School
	James R. Tate Elementary School
	King Elementary School
	Oliver Springs Elementary School
	More...
	Parkview Elementary School
	Rena Elementary School
Middle:	Butterfield Trail Middle School
	Northridge Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.9%

Hispanic:

24.9%

Two or more races:

7.1%

See top rated Arkansas high schools

Compare Van Buren High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 41st percentile in 2015 → 77th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 23% of Arkansas high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 36 percentile points since 2015

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Geometry scores 13 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg36%

Arkansas avg34%

66^th of 291

Arkansas public high schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 36 pts since 2015

From bottom 41% (2015) to top 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

102^nd of 250Van Buren School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2025	66.4	66 of 291	77.3%	★★★★☆
2024	61.5	100 of 305	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.8	109 of 295	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.0	71 of 282	74.8%	★★★★☆
2021	72.3	53 of 290	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	72.0	45 of 282	84.0%	★★★★☆
2018	71.3	48 of 263	81.7%	★★★★☆
2017	57.6	102 of 264	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	58.8	96 of 269	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	38.4	157 of 267	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	44.8	165 of 268	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	43.5	165 of 271	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.3	141 of 266	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	49.7	137 of 266	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	42.3	161 of 262	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	60.8	69 of 261	73.6%	★★★★☆
2008	41.1	156 of 256	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	42.2	145 of 258	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	30.9	169 of 232	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts43%+8 vs state

Reading42%+6 vs state

Biology41%+3 vs state

Geometry8%-13 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, March 2, 2010

This school offers much more to the students as far as athletics, art, clubs, etc. My nieces have both attended Van Buren and involved in Track, Soccer, JROTC, plays and fine arts, Band, Math Competitions, etc. They have been much more challenged and involved in their school. My children have attended Mountainburg and the only things really focused on in Mountainburg were basketball, track, and football. I wish Mountainburg had more to offer. If your focus is on your child succeeding to be more than just a high school graduate then Van Buren is the best choice. Close Quote

Schools Near Van Buren High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2025)			ATLAS Reading (2025)			ATLAS Mathematics (2025)	ATLAS Algebra (2025)		ATLAS Geometry (2025)			ATLAS Biology (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 9th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 10th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 9th Grade	ATLAS Reading 10th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 9th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Geometry 9th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 10th Grade	ATLAS Geometry All Grades	ATLAS Biology 9th Grade	ATLAS Biology 10th Grade	ATLAS Biology 11th Grade	ATLAS Biology All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Van Buren High School	Public	10-12	2001 Pointer Trail	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 474-6821	1,232	115	10.7	57.9%	750 (60.9%)	31 (2.5%)	307 (24.9%)	34 (2.8%)	19 (1.5%)	3 (0.2%)	88 (7.1%)	66.4	66^th of 291 public high schools	77.3%		61.5	100^th of 305 public high schools	67.2%	34		42.8	42.8		41.8	41.8					8.5	8.5		41.1		40.9	$12,386	$536	$11,850
Western Arkansas Technical Center	Public	9-12	5210 Grand Ave	Fort Smith	72913	Sebastian County	Westark Technical Center	No	No	No	No	(479) 788-7720	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Institute For The Creative Arts School	Public, Charter	9-12	1101 Riverfront Drive	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Institute For The Creative Arts	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(479) 434-2114	49	13	3.7	34.7%	40 (81.6%)	1 (2.0%)	2 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.1%)								(n/a)	43.4	53.3	47.3	47.8	46.7	47.4		11.2	10.0		0.0	11.8				45.5
Future School Of Fort Smith	Public, Charter	9-12	622 N 7th St	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Future School Of Fort Smith	Yes	No	No	Yes	(479) 431-8695	235	43	5.5	100.0%	128 (54.5%)	35 (14.9%)	41 (17.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.8%)	27.3	233^rd of 291 public high schools	19.9%		32.2	222^nd of 305 public high schools	27.2%	11	13.9	26.1	20.7	19.4	28.2	24.4		0.0	0.0		6.8	6.4		26.2		26.1	$15,047	$2,893	$12,154
Alma High School	Public	9-12	101 East Main	Alma	72921	Crawford County	Alma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 632-2162	981	120	8.1	41.9%	799 (81.4%)	15 (1.5%)	65 (6.6%)	11 (1.1%)	30 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (6.2%)	75.8	41^st of 291 public high schools	85.9%		73.8	46^th of 305 public high schools	84.9%	5	36.8	42.4	39.3	38.1	37.1	37.6		38.7	39.0	91.9	26.7	37.8		41.8		41.7	$12,932	$738	$12,194
Northside High School	Public	9-12	2301 N B St	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-1171	2,231	199	11.2	77.4%	404 (18.1%)	316 (14.2%)	1,234 (55.3%)	100 (4.5%)	13 (0.6%)	4 (0.2%)	160 (7.2%)	36.1	198^th of 291 public high schools	32.0%		30.8	231^st of 305 public high schools	24.3%	33	18.4	27.1	22.5	18.7	29.1	23.6		17.0	16.9	40.3	14.0	19.6	56.1	29.8	0.0	34.2	$11,877	$1,501	$10,376
Premier High School Of Fort Smith	Public, Charter	9-12	3400 Rogers Ave Ste 126	Little Rock	72202	Sebastian County	Premier High Schools Of Arkansas	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(479) 366-9410	99	31	3.1	40.4%	54 (54.5%)	19 (19.2%)	22 (22.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.0%)	18.5	258^th of 291 public high schools	11.3%		16.6	272^nd of 305 public high schools	10.8%	14	16.7	16.7	16.7	16.7	22.2	19.5
Belle Point Alternative Center	Public	6-12	1501 Dodson Ave	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-7034	39	9	4.1	92.3%	17 (43.6%)	9 (23.1%)	10 (25.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.7%)	2.4	288^th of 291 public high schools	1.0%		8.7	299^th of 305 public high schools	2.0%	11	0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0	0.0										$27,301	$1,478	$25,823
Southside High School	Public	9-12	4100 Gary St	Fort Smith	72903	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 646-7371	2,053	191	10.7	48.3%	1,077 (52.5%)	140 (6.8%)	462 (22.5%)	151 (7.4%)	21 (1.0%)	1 (0.0%)	201 (9.8%)	63.4	77^th of 291 public high schools	73.5%		68	71^st of 305 public high schools	76.7%	6	39.2	36.7	37.9	38.4	36.7	37.6		22.8	23.8	47.7	11.4	23.4	77.4	38.1		51.2	$12,816	$1,943	$10,873
Cedarville High School	Public	9-12	9500 Pirates Point	Cedarville	72932	Crawford County	Cedarville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 474-7021	250	25	10.1	98.8%	203 (81.2%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (6.0%)	3 (1.2%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.4%)	63.9	76^th of 291 public high schools	73.9%		45.5	164^th of 305 public high schools	46.2%	88	34.8	29.1	31.4	37.0	32.3	34.3		48.6	46.2		16.4	21.2		45.2		45.4	$16,413	$1,538	$14,875

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Buren High School

What schools feed into Van Buren High School?

Van Buren High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Central Elementary School
Elementary : James R. Tate Elementary School
Elementary : King Elementary School
Elementary : Oliver Springs Elementary School
Elementary : Parkview Elementary School
Elementary : Rena Elementary School
Middle : Butterfield Trail Middle School
Middle : Northridge Middle School

How many students attend Van Buren High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,232 students attended Van Buren High School.

What is the racial makeup of Van Buren High School?

Students at Van Buren High School are 61% White, 25% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 3% African American, 2% American Indian.

Is Van Buren High School a good school?

Van Buren High School ranks 66^th of 291 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Van Buren High School in?

Van Buren School District

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Schools in Van Buren, AR

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.