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Martin Van Buren Elementary

Q: Is Martin Van Buren Elementary a good school?

Martin Van Buren Elementary ranks 3190 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

3190^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of California elementary schools

Summary

Martin Van Buren Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 533 students in the Desert Sands Unified School District in Indio, CA, and while it currently holds a middle-of-the-road state ranking, it stands out as a strong performer compared to many of its immediate neighbors.

When looking at nearby schools within the same district, such as John F. Kennedy Elementary, Andrew Jackson Elementary, Herbert Hoover Elementary, and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary, Martin Van Buren achieves significantly higher academic results in both math and English, despite serving a student population with similar economic needs. The school also manages these outcomes while spending less per student than several of these peers, suggesting efficient use of resources. Furthermore, the school has made impressive progress in improving student attendance, which is a key factor in its recent academic recovery.

While the school's performance dipped after the pandemic, it is now on an upward trend. Its math scores are a particular area of strength relative to the district. However, parents should note there is an unusual performance gap between male and female students that the school may be addressing, and science scores are an area for growth. Compared to some high-performing schools in the neighboring Coachella Valley Unified district, like Peter Pendleton Elementary, there is room for improvement, but within its own district, Martin Van Buren is a standout school that is effectively supporting its students.

533

Students ?

24.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,066

Per pupil spending ?

92.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

47-733 Van Buren St.
Indio, CA 92201-7144

(760) 775-3870

District: Desert Sands Unified

Students who attend Martin Van Buren Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Thomas Jefferson Middle
High:	Indio High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

93.8%

Two or more races:

3.4%

White:

1.3%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Martin Van Buren Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 73rd percentile in 2013 → 46th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (36% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 27 percentile points since 2013

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg33%

California avg41%

3,190^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 19Elementary Schools in the Desert Sands Unified

989^th of 1,543Desert Sands Unified among California 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	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.4	3190 of 5857	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.4	3482 of 5869	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.7	3819 of 5859	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.9	2755 of 5883	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.4	1583 of 5789	72.7%	★★★★☆
2018	73.0	1439 of 5662	74.6%	★★★★☆
2017	72.2	1462 of 5692	74.3%	★★★★☆
2016	52.8	2352 of 5614	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	45.8	2693 of 5611	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	71.2	1518 of 5530	72.5%	★★★★☆
2012	73.6	1351 of 5390	74.9%	★★★★☆
2011	70.7	1466 of 5377	72.7%	★★★★☆
2010	62.1	1876 of 5314	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	61.1	1871 of 5193	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.3	1611 of 5113	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	33.6	3322 of 5113	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	19.3	4053 of 4818	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	12.0	4527 of 4822	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	12.7	4502 of 4809	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	64.4	617 of 2585	76.1%	★★★★☆
2018	52.4	723 of 2128	66.0%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	63.7	585 of 3162	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	45.9	1425 of 3245	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.0	471 of 3311	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	86.2	228 of 3275	93.0%	★★★★★
2018	83.8	275 of 3246	91.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.6	3496 of 5597	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.2	4136 of 5612	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.0	4128 of 5609	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	42.0	2878 of 5635	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.5	1675 of 5492	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.4	1272 of 5413	76.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	55.4	1954 of 5107	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.8	2209 of 5107	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.0	2487 of 5087	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.8	1440 of 5084	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	86.2	461 of 4963	90.7%	★★★★★
2018	86.7	427 of 4830	91.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.6	2219 of 5460	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.8	2835 of 5517	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.0	2904 of 5363	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.3	1780 of 5264	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.7	591 of 5173	88.6%	★★★★☆
2018	86.4	433 of 5084	91.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.1	2728 of 5628	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.7	2841 of 5643	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.4	3306 of 5638	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.0	2498 of 5663	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.2	1468 of 5510	73.4%	★★★★☆
2018	67.7	1575 of 5431	71.0%	★★★★☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.3	55 of 78	29.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	31.7	1907 of 2847	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.5	1677 of 2635	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2024)81st percentile+41 vs school

Disabled (2019)76th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)62nd percentile+16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)59th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2025)52nd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)38th percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2025)33rd percentile-13 vs school

Migrant (2025)29th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy42%-7 vs state

Mathematics35%~ state avg

Science22%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Martin Van Buren Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Martin Van Buren Elementary	Public	K-5	47-733 Van Buren St.	Indio	92201	Riverside County	Desert Sands Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 775-3870	533	22	24.2	92.5%	7 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	500 (93.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	18 (3.4%)	40.4	3190^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.5%		35.4	3482^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	40.7%	292	22.5		22.5	34.4	42.0	49.0				42.0	34.8	32.5	36.7				34.8						$24,066	$22,204	$1,862
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary	Public	K-5	83-200 Dr. Carreon Blvd.	Indio	92201	Riverside County	Desert Sands Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 775-3860	490	22	22.2	90.4%	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	460 (93.9%)	9 (1.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.1%)	16.7	5135^th of 5857 public elementary schools	12.3%		13.1	5475^th of 5869 public elementary schools	6.7%	340	17.1		17.1	30.0	11.1	27.9				22.5	23.2	9.6	22.2				17.9	96.7					$26,973	$24,926	$2,047
Cesar Chavez Elementary	Public	K-6	49-601 Avenida de Oro	Coachella	92236	Riverside County	Coachella Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 398-2004	622	29	21.3	91.5%	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	613 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	19.9	4833^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	17.5%		19.7	4892^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	16.6%	59	9.8		9.8	19.8	17.7	29.3	42.7			27.4	31.1	14.6	15.9	20.8			20.6						$22,213	$16,912	$5,301
Imagine Schools Riverside County	Public, Charter	K-8	50-930 Calhoun St.	Coachella	92236	Riverside County	Imagine Schools Riverside County District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 391-9200	1,454	63	23.0	72.8%	31 (2.1%)	20 (1.4%)	1,382 (95.0%)	5 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (0.8%)	26.1	4304^th of 5857 public elementary schools	26.5%		20	4869^th of 5869 public elementary schools	17.0%	565	21.5	26.7	23.1	31.1	33.9	34.9	31.2	45.1	54.7	35.9	34.2	31.6	12.8	15.6	22.0	18.7	23.4	97.8
Coral Mountain Academy	Public	K-6	51-375 Van Buren St.	Coachella	92236	Riverside County	Coachella Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 398-3525	815	34	23.8	83.3%	14 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	795 (97.5%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	32.9	3732^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	36.3%		30.6	3887^th of 5869 public elementary schools	33.8%	155	13.6		13.6	26.2	32.1	38.2	44.8			35.8	33.6	33.9	26.0	32.6			31.5	97.2			97.2		$24,444	$19,300	$5,144
Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Junior Academy	Public	K-5	47-368 Monroe St.	Indio	92201	Riverside County	Desert Sands Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 863-1544	592	26	22.7	81.1%	13 (2.2%)	3 (0.5%)	546 (92.2%)	17 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	8 (1.4%)	30.5	3918^th of 5857 public elementary schools	33.1%		30.2	3907^th of 5869 public elementary schools	33.4%	11	25.8		25.8	32.0	39.5	33.3				34.7	27.8	32.5	23.7				27.8	97.5	98.4	98.4	97.5	98.4	$27,585	$25,424	$2,161
Palm View Elementary	Public	K-6	1390 Seventh St.	Coachella	92236	Riverside County	Coachella Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 398-2861	561	26	21.3	94.8%	7 (1.2%)	4 (0.7%)	547 (97.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	25	4391^st of 5857 public elementary schools	25.0%		23.9	4478^th of 5869 public elementary schools	23.7%	87	9.1		9.1	22.7	24.0	15.2	40.9			25.4	42.7	28.6	11.6	31.9			29.6						$22,805	$17,570	$5,235
Andrew Jackson Elementary	Public	K-5	82-850 Kenner Ave.	Indio	92201	Riverside County	Desert Sands Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 775-3830	750	33	22.7	88.8%	24 (3.2%)	4 (0.5%)	691 (92.1%)	9 (1.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.7%)	12.8	5431^st of 5857 public elementary schools	7.3%		16.8	5134^th of 5869 public elementary schools	12.5%	297	13.0		13.0	16.8	21.6	23.3				20.6	21.7	18.4	8.6				16.3	95.7		97.8	97.1		$23,898	$22,238	$1,660
Peter Pendleton Elementary	Public	K-6	84-750 Calle Rojo	Coachella	92236	Riverside County	Coachella Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 398-0178	499	21	23.5	96.2%	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	491 (98.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	64.3	1873^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	68.0%		48.8	2629^th of 5869 public elementary schools	55.2%	756	30.5		30.5	52.9	40.5	57.6	51.4			50.0	62.3	40.0	55.2	58.1			53.4						$24,285	$19,002	$5,283
Herbert Hoover Elementary	Public	K-5	44-300 Monroe St.	Indio	92201	Riverside County	Desert Sands Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 775-3820	326	14	24.1	96.9%	6 (1.8%)	2 (0.6%)	298 (91.4%)	6 (1.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.0%)	12.8	5434^th of 5857 public elementary schools	7.2%		16.9	5128^th of 5869 public elementary schools	12.6%	306	14.3		14.3	14.0	25.4	20.0				20.4	14.0	20.3	8.2				14.6	92.3			92.3		$30,664	$28,866	$1,798

Frequently Asked Questions about Martin Van Buren Elementary

What schools do graduates of Martin Van Buren Elementary attend?

Students who attend Martin Van Buren Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Thomas Jefferson Middle
High : Indio High

What district is Martin Van Buren Elementary in?

Desert Sands Unified

Is Martin Van Buren Elementary a good school?

Martin Van Buren Elementary ranks 3190^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Martin Van Buren Elementary?

Students at Martin Van Buren Elementary are 94% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% White.

How many students attend Martin Van Buren Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 533 students attended Martin Van Buren Elementary.

Rate Martin Van Buren Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of 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.