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Van Buren County High School

Q: Is Van Buren County High School a good school?

Van Buren County High School ranks 84 th of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-12

84^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 79% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Van Buren County High School, located in Spencer, Tennessee, is a combined middle and high school serving 384 students in grades 6 through 12 as part of the Van Buren County Schools district. Over the past decade, the school has undergone a remarkable transformation, climbing from near the bottom of Tennessee’s high school rankings to the top quarter—now ranked 84th out of 400 high schools statewide with a 4-star rating.

Parents considering this school will find standout graduation outcomes: the 2024–2025 graduation rate was 98.0%, well above the state average of 90.5% and far ahead of nearby Bledsoe County High School (88.7%) and White County High School (89.4%). The dropout rate of 2.0% is less than one-third of the state average. Academically, Van Buren outperforms Bledsoe County High—just 18 miles away—on every shared end-of-course exam, including Biology I (56.8% vs. 44.2%), English II (63.6% vs. 50.0%), and Algebra II (40.9% vs. 36.8%). Math is a clear strength, with 46.0% proficiency across all grades versus 43.0% statewide, and 8th graders hit 60% proficiency compared to 38.3% statewide. The school also ranks 7th out of 308 schools statewide for outcomes among economically disadvantaged students, a 98th-percentile result.

There are challenges worth noting. English language arts proficiency sits at 30.7% versus 40.6% statewide, and 8th-grade science (18% vs. 44.3%) and social studies (28% vs. 47.6%) lag significantly. Chronic absenteeism is also elevated at 23.9% compared to 18.3% statewide, even though academic results remain strong. Still, the trajectory is impressive: the school went from a 0-star rating in 2016–2017 to 4 stars today, and per-pupil spending of $13,937 sits between Bledsoe’s $15,025 and White County’s $11,944—suggesting strong return on investment relative to its neighbors.

384

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,937

Per pupil spending ?

98%

Free/discounted lunch ?

337 Sparta Street
Spencer, TN 38585

(931) 946-2442

District: Van Buren County Schools

Feeder schools for Van Buren County High School:

Elementary:

Spencer Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.9%

Hispanic:

1.3%

Asian:

0.5%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Van Buren County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 23rd percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 21% of Tennessee high schools

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the Tennessee average (90%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 56 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

!Science scores 12 pts below the Tennessee average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg41%

Tennessee avg44%

Middle school

325^th of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Bottom 45%▲ up 26 pts since 2017

From bottom 19% (2017) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

84^th of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Top 21%▲ up 56 pts since 2016

From bottom 23% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

70^th of 141Van Buren County Schools among Tennessee districts

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

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	45.5	325 of 594	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.1	285 of 583	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.1	198 of 587	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.0	248 of 594	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.8	308 of 569	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.8	311 of 576	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.2	274 of 574	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.9	385 of 563	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	30.8	292 of 362	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	35.1	389 of 492	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	29.3	389 of 485	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	39.2	370 of 475	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.3	381 of 466	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	66.6	149 of 462	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	34.3	321 of 435	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	46.9	292 of 546	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.3	210 of 554	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.6	242 of 560	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.0	248 of 552	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.5	285 of 538	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.6	222 of 529	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	56.2	16 of 31	48.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	91.8	1 of 23	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	72.5	3 of 26	88.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	54.8	190 of 478	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	67.1	111 of 490	77.3%	★★★★☆
2024	80.0	45 of 510	91.2%	★★★★★
2023	68.0	100 of 514	80.5%	★★★★☆
2022	55.4	169 of 495	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.2	241 of 483	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.5	307 of 490	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.1	369 of 481	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	49.2	260 of 550	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.4	180 of 560	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.1	240 of 557	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.5	316 of 540	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.9	299 of 529	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.0	327 of 523	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	60.8	65 of 332	80.4%	★★★★☆
2024	67.1	43 of 299	85.6%	★★★★☆
2023	52.1	75 of 288	74.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	30.9	365 of 494	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.8	317 of 492	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.2	243 of 504	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.3	279 of 503	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.9	330 of 500	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.5	333 of 496	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.6	293 of 484	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.2	389 of 481	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	70.4	84 of 400	79.0%	★★★★☆
2025	64.5	100 of 389	74.3%	★★★★☆
2024	48.4	178 of 392	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.1	215 of 384	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.9	154 of 358	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.5	209 of 347	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.7	265 of 342	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.8	229 of 341	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	16.6	257 of 273	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	27.0	271 of 351	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	48.9	191 of 300	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	48.1	171 of 296	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	57.2	127 of 285	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	37.3	209 of 269	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	67.5	83 of 273	69.6%	★★★★☆
2010	54.5	141 of 267	47.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	58.0	125 of 365	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.6	88 of 365	75.9%	★★★★☆
2023	38.7	224 of 366	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.6	168 of 350	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.2	224 of 340	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.8	240 of 337	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	87.8	2 of 23	91.3%	★★★★★
2023	44.5	9 of 14	35.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	89.6	7 of 308	97.7%	★★★★★
2025	28.0	248 of 324	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.9	208 of 337	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.4	228 of 330	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.7	121 of 322	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.1	178 of 317	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.8	256 of 302	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	51.2	100 of 308	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	63.6	90 of 368	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	26.0	277 of 366	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.3	196 of 359	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.8	106 of 349	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.5	160 of 332	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	18.4	282 of 329	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	58.9	107 of 330	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.8	120 of 323	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.2	190 of 326	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.8	230 of 325	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.3	177 of 312	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.6	225 of 306	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.3	274 of 301	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	27.2	259 of 307	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

Special Education (2025)80th percentile+29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)60th percentile+15 vs school

Male (2025)53rd percentile~ school

Homeless (2025)48th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)47th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)26th percentile-19 vs school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)98th percentile+19 vs school

Homeless (2024)91st percentile+37 vs school

Male (2025)76th percentile~ school

White (2026)68th percentile-11 vs school

Female (2025)66th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II64%+5 vs state

Biology I57%+7 vs state

Mathematics46%+3 vs state

English I45%+8 vs state

Geometry44%~ state avg

Algebra II41%+4 vs state

Social Studies41%-11 vs state

Science35%-12 vs state

English Language Arts31%-10 vs state

Algebra I26%-7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, September 1, 2009

I attended this school and my son just graduated from this school in the top ten of his class. I think it is an excellent school because it is small, rural and in touch with reality(something lacking in most of society today)The staff is caring and concerned about the students. The quality of education rivals that of some of the better private schools. My nephew is a prime example of one who has reaped the benefits of this small school. He graduated in the top ten of his class after coming from a neighboring school system where he couldn't read very well even in second grade. He is now finishing up his last semester in college and has not suffered at all from his backwoods rural education. My son just embarked on his academic career at Tennessee Technological University in Mechanical Engineering and I expect that he will be as well prepared for this as anyone new to the school.(That is a comforting thought for any parent) Close Quote

Schools Near Van Buren County High School

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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)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)				TNReady English Language Arts (2026)				TNReady Algebra I (2026)		TNReady Algebra II (2026)		TNReady Biology I (2026)			TNReady Integrated Math I (2026)		TNReady Integrated Math II (2026)			TNReady Integrated Math III (2026)		TNReady US History (2026)	TNReady English I (2026)		TNReady English II (2026)		TNReady Geometry (2026)		TNReady Science (2026)				TNReady Social Studies (2026)				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 (2016)	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	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math I 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math III 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III All Grades	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Van Buren County High School	Public	6-12	337 Sparta Street	Spencer	38585	Van Buren County	Van Buren County Schools	No	No	No	No	(931) 946-2442	386	33	11.6	98.0%	376 (97.4%)	2 (0.5%)	6 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	70.4	84^th of 400 public high schools	79.0%		64.5	100^th of 389 public high schools	74.3%	16	38.6	39.3	60.0	46.0	43.2	25.0	26.0	30.7	25.5	25.5	41.9	40.9	56.4		56.8									45.1	45.1	63.6	63.6	44.2	44.2	50.0	37.5	18.0	34.7	43.2	50.0	28.0	40.7	$13,937	$813	$12,208
White County High School	Public	9-12	267 Allen Drive	Sparta	38583	White County	White County Schools	No	No	No	No	(931) 836-3214	1,067	75	14.1	60.5%	947 (88.8%)	34 (3.2%)	43 (4.0%)	13 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.6%)	73.5	72^nd of 400 public high schools	82.0%		73.6	62^nd of 389 public high schools	84.1%	10													57.8	7.1	53.3	38.3	37.3	49.2	6.3	44.8	68.7	70.4	7.1	40.4	39.8	61.8	60.5											$11,944	$493	$10,636
Bledsoe County High School	Public	9-12	877 Main Street	Pikeville	37367	Bledsoe County	Bledsoe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 447-6851	488	33	15.0	82.6%	454 (93.0%)	4 (0.8%)	26 (5.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	54.9	158^th of 400 public high schools	60.5%		62.1	113^th of 389 public high schools	71.0%	45									22.5	22.1	39.6	36.8		43.8	44.2									34.2	34.2	51.0	50.0	37.9	37.3									$15,025	$1,296	$12,521

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Buren County High School

What is the racial makeup of Van Buren County High School?

Students at Van Buren County High School are 98% White, 1% Hispanic.

What district is Van Buren County High School in?

Van Buren County Schools

How many students attend Van Buren County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 384 students attended Van Buren County High School.

Is Van Buren County High School a good school?

Van Buren County High School ranks 84^th of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Van Buren County High School?

Van Buren County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Spencer Elementary School

Rate Van Buren County High School!

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresNewAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

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