Best Schools in Van Buren, Arkansas
12 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Van Buren?
Use this page to compare every school in Van Buren by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Rena Elementary School
Elementary · Van Buren School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Van Buren Freshman Academy
Other · Van Buren School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
James R. Tate Elem. School
Elementary · Van Buren School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Van Buren for 2026 are Rena Elementary School (7.5/10), Van Buren Freshman Academy (7.3/10), and James R. Tate Elem. School (7.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
12
11 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$177,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
12
11 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$177,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.0/10 despite 80% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Van Buren schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Van Buren
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rena Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Van Buren Freshman Academy | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | James R. Tate Elem. School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Central Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Van Buren High School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Northridge Middle School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Parkview Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Butterfield Trail Middle Schoo | 5.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Oliver Springs Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 10 | River Valley Virtual Academy | 5.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $60,387
- Median home value
- $177,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 19%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Van Buren compares
Arkansas rank
#78 of 125
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Arkansas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$60k
109% of Arkansas median
Schools in this city
12
Van Buren School District runs Van Buren's public schools
11 public schools. Van Buren School District is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Van Buren is a Van Buren School District school (11 of 11).
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.4 to 7.5 — the spread is inside Van Buren, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Van Buren, Arkansas
Van Buren, Arkansas is home to 12 schools, including 11 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 6.1 out of 10, schools in Van Buren show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Van Buren is Rena Elementary School with a composite score of 7.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Van Buren is served by 1 school district: VAN BUREN SCHOOL DISTRICT. These districts collectively serve 5,809 students.
Van Buren's community shows 19% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $60,387. The poverty rate in the area is 14.7%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 412 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 466 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | 489 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 4 | 436 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.4 | ||
| 5 | 463 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 | ||
| 6 | 443 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.4 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Joshua AcademyPrivate 43 students · Kindergarten–5th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 558 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,228 students · 10th–12th | 6.8 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 470 students · 9th–9th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 105 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 |
Schools in Van Buren
Van Buren, Arkansas · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$60,387
Median Home Value
$177,100
Median Rent
$825/mo
Population
34,102
College Educated
19%
Homeownership
69%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
14.7%
Community Profile
Van Buren has a median household income of $60,387. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $177,100, with a median rent of $825/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.7%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arkansas
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Arkansas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Van Buren, Arkansas
How many schools are in Van Buren, Arkansas?
Van Buren has 12 schools, including 11 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Van Buren, Arkansas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Van Buren is 6.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Van Buren, Arkansas?
The top-ranked school in Van Buren on MySchoolScout is Rena Elementary School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Van Buren, Arkansas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Van Buren on MySchoolScout is Rena Elementary School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Van Buren, Arkansas?
The top-ranked middle school in Van Buren on MySchoolScout is Northridge Middle School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best high school in Van Buren, Arkansas?
The top-ranked high school in Van Buren on MySchoolScout is Van Buren High School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Van Buren, Arkansas?
Van Buren is served by 1 school district: Van Buren School District.
What is the education level in Van Buren, Arkansas?
According to Census data, 19% of adults in Van Buren have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Van Buren, Arkansas?
The median household income in Van Buren is approximately $60,387 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Van Buren, Arkansas?
Yes, Van Buren has 1 private school alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Joshua Academy with a score of 4.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Van Buren, Arkansas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Van Buren is 15.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Van Buren, Arkansas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arkansas Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.