Summary:
The 11 public schools in zip code 72956 (Van Buren, Arkansas) serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade within the Van Buren School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks 123rd out of 251 districts in the state.
There is a significant performance gap between schools in this area. The top-performing schools are Oliver Springs Elementary School (4 stars, 78th percentile), Parkview Elementary School (4 stars, 71st percentile), and Northridge Middle School (4 stars, 74th percentile). In contrast, King Elementary School (1 star, 11th percentile) and Butterfield Trail Middle School (1 star, 27th percentile) face the most challenges. Van Buren High School shows a positive trend, moving to the 69th percentile, with a strong 89.5% graduation rate and a very low 0.4% dropout rate, though it struggles in Geometry (14.4% proficient). The Van Buren Freshman Academy is an anomaly, with a surprisingly high 61.6% proficiency in Geometry, more than double the state average.
Spending does not predict success here. Central Elementary School spends the most per student ($13,624) but ranks in the 35th percentile, while Oliver Springs Elementary spends significantly less ($9,564) and is a top performer. The free/reduced lunch rate varies widely, from 51% at Northridge Middle School to over 86% at King Elementary, highlighting a strong link between poverty and lower academic performance. Despite these challenges, schools like Rena Elementary School and James R. Tate Elementary School also achieve 3-star ratings, serving as bright spots within the district.
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