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Van Buren Middle

Q: Is Van Buren Middle a good school?

Van Buren Middle ranks in the bottom 1.0% 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

190^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 192 New Mexico Middle Schools

Better than 1% of New Mexico middle schools

Summary

Van Buren Middle is a public middle school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving 331 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Albuquerque school district, which is ranked 54 out of 82 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. Unfortunately, Van Buren Middle has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of New Mexico middle schools over the past several years, with a ranking between 164-236 out of 165-239 schools and a 0-1 star rating.

Academically, Van Buren Middle significantly underperforms compared to the Albuquerque and New Mexico averages across all grade levels and subject areas. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 16.46% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 43.65% for Albuquerque and 44.19% for the state. In mathematics, the proficiency rate was just 7.55%, compared to 26.48% for Albuquerque and 26.81% for the state. The school also struggles to effectively serve its diverse student population, ranking in the bottom 25% of New Mexico middle schools for most student subgroups.

Despite being located in the same district, Van Buren Middle is in close proximity to several higher-performing middle schools, such as Jefferson Middle and Grant Middle, which significantly outperform Van Buren Middle in academic achievement. The high percentage of students from low-income families, as indicated by the free/reduced lunch rates, may be a significant factor contributing to the academic challenges at Van Buren Middle. Additionally, the school's consistent low performance over the years suggests that there may be systemic issues or challenges within the school that need to be addressed.

344

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,473

Per pupil spending ?

98.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

700 Louisiana SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108

(505) 268-3833

District: Albuquerque

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 — 17th percentile in 2014 → 1st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Mexico average (12% vs 35% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school12%

District avg35%

New Mexico avg35%

190^th of 192

New Mexico public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 19 pts since 2015

From bottom 20% (2015) to bottom 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^th of 27Middle Schools in the Albuquerque

54^th of 82Albuquerque 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
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
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
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
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
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

Female (2024)2nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)1st percentile~ school

White (2025)1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2024)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs New Mexico (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts16%-28 vs state

Science14%-21 vs state

Mathematics8%-19 vs state

4.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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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

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NM-ASR Science (2025)	NM-MSSA English Language Arts (2025)				NM-MSSA Mathematics (2025)				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	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	NM-ASR Science 8th 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 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	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 268-3833	344	27	12.8	98.3%	25 (7.3%)	20 (5.8%)	259 (75.3%)	4 (1.2%)	16 (4.7%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (5.5%)	8.4	190^th of 192 public middle schools	1.0%		7.4	164^th of 165 public middle schools	0.6%	26	13.9	16.7	11.2	21.5	16.5		8.4	9.3	7.6	$11,473
Voz Collegiate Preparatory Charter School	Public, Charter	6-9	955 San Pedro SE	Albuquerque	87108	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(505) 336-5559	134	12	11.2	22.4%	21 (15.7%)	3 (2.2%)	95 (70.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.5%)								(n/a)		41.2		41.2	32.2				12.5
Wilson Middle	Public	6-8	1138 Cardenas Dr SE	Albuquerque	87108	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 268-3961	359	33	11.0	97.5%	25 (7.0%)	32 (8.9%)	247 (68.8%)	5 (1.4%)	27 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.4%)	7.9	192^nd of 192 public middle schools	0.0%		9.2	162^nd of 165 public middle schools	1.8%	30	11.8	15.4	15.1	27.5	19.7	6.8	8.6	6.7	7.3	$10,299
Hayes Middle	Public	6-8	1100 Texas St NE	Albuquerque	87110	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 265-7741	372	39	9.5	99.7%	32 (8.6%)	8 (2.2%)	296 (79.6%)	6 (1.6%)	19 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.0%)	8	191^st of 192 public middle schools	0.5%		11.3	156^th of 165 public middle schools	5.5%	35	11.8	16.8	23.3	30.2	23.9	7.5	7.8		5.9	$12,050
Grant Middle	Public	6-8	1111 Easterday NE	Albuquerque	87112	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 299-2113	286	27	10.6	99.3%	51 (17.8%)	14 (4.9%)	158 (55.2%)	17 (5.9%)	29 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.9%)	37.1	108^th of 192 public middle schools	43.8%		39.3	76^th of 165 public middle schools	53.9%	32	39.4	41.8	27.4	53.2	41.3	19.8	22.6	17.0	19.7	$13,116
Kennedy Middle	Public	6-8	721 Tomasita NE	Albuquerque	87123	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 298-6701	296	29	10.3	98.3%	30 (10.1%)	14 (4.7%)	196 (66.2%)	6 (2.0%)	33 (11.1%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (5.4%)	9.1	188^th of 192 public middle schools	2.1%		16.1	140^th of 165 public middle schools	15.2%	48	11.4	23.0	20.2	32.6	25.5				4.9	$10,766
Jefferson Middle	Public	6-8	712 Girard NE	Albuquerque	87106	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 255-8691	615	50	12.3	99.3%	147 (23.9%)	25 (4.1%)	372 (60.5%)	13 (2.1%)	36 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.6%)	63.8	56^th of 192 public middle schools	70.8%		66.5	25^th of 165 public middle schools	84.8%	31	39.8	55.3	56.4	52.7	54.8	48.3	39.1	21.7	36.8	$8,449
Jackson Middle	Public	6-8	10600 Indian School Rd NE	Albuquerque	87112	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 299-7377	380	27	13.9	99.7%	86 (22.6%)	17 (4.5%)	196 (51.6%)	16 (4.2%)	37 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.4%)	37.3	107^th of 192 public middle schools	44.3%		42.4	67^th of 165 public middle schools	59.4%	40	29.4	40.5	42.6	54.0	45.8	21.4	29.6	8.7	19.6	$8,926
Madison Middle	Public	6-8	3501 Moon St NE	Albuquerque	87111	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	No	(505) 299-4735	532	40	13.4	99.6%	128 (24.1%)	22 (4.1%)	291 (54.7%)	20 (3.8%)	36 (6.8%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.2%)	47.4	81^st of 192 public middle schools	57.8%		51.5	44^th of 165 public middle schools	73.3%	37	41.9	46.3	49.7	47.2	47.7	37.5	23.3	16.1	25.0	$8,278
McKinley Middle	Public	6-8	4500 Comanche Rd NE	Albuquerque	87110	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 881-9390	434	42	10.3	99.5%	34 (7.8%)	18 (4.1%)	281 (64.7%)	7 (1.6%)	70 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.5%)	9.4	187^th of 192 public middle schools	2.6%		16.7	137^th of 165 public middle schools	17.0%	50	15.0	24.1	21.7	30.5	25.5	11.6	7.0		7.1	$10,829

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Buren Middle

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.

Is Van Buren Middle a good school?

Van Buren Middle ranks in the bottom 1.0% of New Mexico middle schools.

How many students attend Van Buren Middle?

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

What high school do graduates of Van Buren Middle attend?

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

What district is Van Buren Middle in?

Albuquerque

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

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.