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Van Buren Middle

Q: Is Van Buren Middle a good school?

Van Buren Middle ranks in the bottom 0.0% of New Mexico middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Van Buren Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 344 students attended Van Buren Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Van Buren Middle?

Students at Van Buren Middle are 75% Hispanic, 7% White, 6% African American, 6% Two or more races, 5% American Indian, 1% Asian.

Q: What high school do graduates of Van Buren Middle attend?

Students who attend Van Buren Middle usually go on to attend Highland High

Public Grades 6-8

191^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 191 New Mexico Middle Schools

Better than 0% of New Mexico middle schools

Summary

Van Buren Middle is a grades 6–8 school serving 344 students at 700 Louisiana SE in southeast Albuquerque, part of Albuquerque Public Schools, and it is the lowest-ranked middle school in New Mexico — 191st of 191 in 2025–2026 with 0 stars. That is not a one-year dip: the school has not climbed above the 9th percentile in nine years, and its only star came back in 2014–2015.

Proficiency is far below district and state levels. In 2025–2026, 16.36% of students met the standard in language arts, 4.78% in math, and 12.05% in 8th-grade science, against state rates of about 43%, 26%, and 34%. Math is the deeper problem: every grade — 6, 7, and 8 — is reported as under 10% proficient, so no grade reached even that ceiling. These results sit below even the closest, most similar schools. Wilson Middle, 0.71 miles away, posts 18.25% ELA and 7.31% math, and Kennedy Middle and Wilson rank 190th and 189th — New Mexico's three lowest middle schools are within about 2.7 miles. Meanwhile Jefferson Middle (50.47% ELA / 34.38% math) and Madison Middle (48.36% / 28.17%) serve similarly high-poverty populations with comparable staffing and achieve two to seven times Van Buren's rates.

Class size is not the explanation: Van Buren's 12.8 student–teacher ratio is mid-pack locally, and neighbors with smaller classes, such as Hayes Middle at 9.5, do not post better results. The trajectory is flat to declining — ELA has hovered in the mid-teens for four years, while math slipped from 7.55% to 4.80%. Results are broad-based, with nearly every student group ranked at or near the bottom statewide, and the school sits about 27 points below its own district in ELA and 21 points below in math. The charter South Valley Prep, with comparable student needs and a less favorable 15.3 ratio, reaches 36.61% ELA — more than double Van Buren's. Bottom line: this is the state's lowest-ranked middle school, with no sign of recovery, and its outcomes are not explained by demographics, since nearby schools with similar students and staffing do far better.

344

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,473

Per pupil spending ?

68.3%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2024-25)

All students in New Mexico receive free school meals.

700 Louisiana SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108

(505) 268-3833

District: Albuquerque Public Schools

Students who attend Van Buren Middle usually attend:

High:

Highland High

Feeder schools for Van Buren Middle:

Elementary:	Emerson Elementary
	Manzano Mesa Elementary
	Sandia Base Elementary
	Wherry Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

75.3%

White:

7.3%

African American:

5.8%

See top rated New Mexico middle schools

Compare Van Buren Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 20th percentile in 2015 → <1st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Mexico average (11% vs 36% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (<1st percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school11%

District avg36%

New Mexico avg36%

191^st of 191

New Mexico public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 7% (2016) to bottom 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

26^th of 26Middle Schools in the Albuquerque Public Schools

55^th of 87Albuquerque Public Schools among New Mexico 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	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	4.9	191 of 191	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.4	190 of 192	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.4	164 of 165	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.3	236 of 239	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.5	211 of 232	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.4	181 of 200	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.7	182 of 186	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	10.8	171 of 176	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	17.0	194 of 208	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	24.7	165 of 207	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	23.0	185 of 222	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	22.6	154 of 193	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	18.0	154 of 178	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	19.3	150 of 173	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	15.1	162 of 179	9.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.8	155 of 178	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	24.1	139 of 172	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	25.0	136 of 171	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	17.4	141 of 156	9.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	22.6	128 of 157	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	8.2	105 of 108	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.4	68 of 69	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.0	20 of 21	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	2.8	136 of 136	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.1	158 of 162	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.0	212 of 213	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.5	186 of 220	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.6	133 of 160	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.1	140 of 156	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	2.6	143 of 143	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.4	147 of 148	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.9	153 of 154	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.5	204 of 204	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.9	184 of 214	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.8	140 of 150	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.1	148 of 149	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	7.5	131 of 133	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.2	173 of 173	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.0	142 of 144	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.0	225 of 227	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.4	190 of 223	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.5	155 of 175	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.7	165 of 168	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	7.6	161 of 161	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.2	220 of 221	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.0	184 of 213	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.5	151 of 152	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.2	150 of 151	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	5.2	17 of 18	5.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	35 of 37	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	9.2	25 of 27	7.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.6	51 of 53	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	25.3	55 of 65	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	25.6	48 of 67	28.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	13.6	69 of 78	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	3.5	170 of 170	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	6.4	177 of 178	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.5	142 of 142	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.0	228 of 229	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	28.8	138 of 187	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.2	61 of 121	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.6	79 of 120	34.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Native American (2022)28th percentile+19 vs school

Special Education (2024)12th percentile+11 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)7th percentile+7 vs school

Military Connected (2024)6th percentile+5 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)3rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2024)<1st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)<1st percentile~ school

White (2026)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs New Mexico (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts16%-28 vs state

Science12%-22 vs state

Mathematics5%-23 vs state

4.0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Thursday, May 3, 2012

This school sometimes gets a bad rap largely because of the neighborhood it serves, 'the warzone'. It is the area in the whole city with the highest crime and generally some of the bleaker and more bitter conditions. Van Buren has improved greatly over the last 2 years under new administration. The students test scores and general academic and have been rising precipitously. Generally staff commitment is at least as good as anywhere and perhaps better. Its a tough area, and a tough job, but the job is getting done to serve the youth of the SE Abq area. Close Quote

Schools Near Van Buren Middle

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NM-ASR Science (2026)			NM-MSSA English Language Arts (2026)						NM-MSSA Mathematics (2026)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NM-ASR Science 5th Grade	NM-ASR Science 8th Grade	NM-ASR Science All Grades	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts All Grades	NM-MSSA Mathematics 4th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 5th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 6th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 7th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 8th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Van Buren Middle	Public	6-8	700 Louisiana SE	Albuquerque	87108	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 268-3833	344	27	12.8	68.3%	25 (7.3%)	20 (5.8%)	259 (75.3%)	4 (1.2%)	16 (4.7%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (5.5%)	4.9	191^st of 191 public middle schools	0.0%		8.4	190^th of 192 public middle schools	1.0%	1		12.2				10.6	20.0	19.1	16.4			< 10%	< 10%	< 10%	4.8	$11,473
Wilson Middle	Public	6-8	1138 Cardenas Dr SE	Albuquerque	87108	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 268-3961	359	33	11.0	80.5%	25 (7.0%)	32 (8.9%)	247 (68.8%)	5 (1.4%)	27 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.4%)	6.4	189^th of 191 public middle schools	1.0%		7.9	192^nd of 192 public middle schools	0.0%	3		< 10%	< 10%			15.5	22.0	16.9	18.5			< 10%	9.2	< 10%	7.2	$10,299
Hayes Middle	Public	6-8	1100 Texas St NE	Albuquerque	87110	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 265-7741	372	39	9.5	81.7%	32 (8.6%)	8 (2.2%)	296 (79.6%)	6 (1.6%)	19 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.0%)	11.8	181^st of 191 public middle schools	5.2%		8	191^st of 192 public middle schools	0.5%	10		17.1				17.7	29.4	28.1	25.2			9.9	12.8	8.4	10.4	$12,050
Grant Middle	Public	6-8	1111 Easterday NE	Albuquerque	87112	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 299-2113	286	27	10.6	73.4%	51 (17.8%)	14 (4.9%)	158 (55.2%)	17 (5.9%)	29 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.9%)	27.2	135^th of 191 public middle schools	29.3%		37.1	108^th of 192 public middle schools	43.8%	27		20.2				29.7	45.3	32.1	35.2			18.7	28.0	19.3	21.7	$13,116
Kennedy Middle	Public	6-8	721 Tomasita NE	Albuquerque	87123	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 298-6701	296	29	10.3	80.4%	30 (10.1%)	14 (4.7%)	196 (66.2%)	6 (2.0%)	33 (11.1%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (5.4%)	5.6	190^th of 191 public middle schools	0.5%		9.1	188^th of 192 public middle schools	2.1%	2		8.1				13.3	19.5	23.9	18.9			< 10%	< 10%	< 10%	3.1	$10,766
Jefferson Middle	Public	6-8	712 Girard NE	Albuquerque	87106	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 255-8691	615	50	12.3	52.8%	147 (23.9%)	25 (4.1%)	372 (60.5%)	13 (2.1%)	36 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.6%)	60.5	64^th of 191 public middle schools	66.5%		63.8	56^th of 192 public middle schools	70.8%	8		47.7				44.3	56.9	50.8	50.5			34.4	39.5	29.0	34.4	$8,449
Jackson Middle	Public	6-8	10600 Indian School Rd NE	Albuquerque	87112	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 299-7377	380	27	13.9	73.9%	86 (22.6%)	17 (4.5%)	196 (51.6%)	16 (4.2%)	37 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.4%)	33.8	111^th of 191 public middle schools	41.9%		37.3	107^th of 192 public middle schools	44.3%	4		34.6				29.9	47.4	51.9	42.8			15.4	16.7	17.6	16.5	$8,926
Madison Middle	Public	6-8	3501 Moon St NE	Albuquerque	87111	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	No	(505) 299-4735	532	40	13.4	62.0%	128 (24.1%)	22 (4.1%)	291 (54.7%)	20 (3.8%)	36 (6.8%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.2%)	51.3	78^th of 191 public middle schools	59.2%		47.4	81^st of 192 public middle schools	57.8%	3		36.5				41.7	49.3	55.8	49.6			31.3	32.1	24.4	29.0	$8,278
McKinley Middle	Public	6-8	4500 Comanche Rd NE	Albuquerque	87110	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 881-9390	434	42	10.3	85.3%	34 (7.8%)	18 (4.1%)	281 (64.7%)	7 (1.6%)	70 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.5%)	11.9	180^th of 191 public middle schools	5.8%		9.4	187^th of 192 public middle schools	2.6%	7		19.4				24.8	26.5	25.0	25.5			16.5	7.5	7.4	10.5	$10,829
Renaissance Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	4-8	10301 Candelaria Rd NE	Albuquerque	87112	Bernalillo County	Renaissance Academy Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 296-7677	124	13	9.2	54.0%	36 (29.0%)	3 (2.4%)	56 (45.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (20.2%)	62.1	60^th of 191 public middle schools	68.6%		61.1	61^st of 192 public middle schools	68.2%	1		54.1	37.9			36.4	51.7	62.2	47.0				25.0	29.7	21.1	$9,538

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