Needs Improvement
#1188 of 1,280 schools in IA
Van Buren Elementary School
Elementary School · Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Cedar Rapids, IA
A Cedar Rapids Comm School District elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
2525 29th St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
- Math 50% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 42% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Van Buren Elementary School score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 21 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 46% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
86.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Van Buren Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 54Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 25Some Transit
- Bike 33Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,957/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cedar Rapids), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$62,304
Median home value
$159,700
Median rent
$885/mo
College educated
22.5%
Homeownership
67.4%
Poverty rate
12.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 52404; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasalle Catholic Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | PK–4 | 1.1 mi | 142 | Compare → |
| Cleveland Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 2.8 | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 277 | Compare → |
| Hoover Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–5 | 1.4 mi | 396 | Compare → |
| Hiawatha Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 343 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Cedar Rapids Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 34
- Rank in district
- #27 of 31
- District spending per student
- $14,623NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Van Buren Elementary School is listed in Cedar Rapids Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Van Buren Elementary School
Van Buren Elementary School is a public elementary school in Cedar Rapids, IA, part of Cedar Rapids Comm School District, serving approximately 409 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,188 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Van Buren Elementary School
What grades does Van Buren Elementary School serve?
Van Buren Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Van Buren Elementary School?
Van Buren Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 409 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Van Buren Elementary School rank in IA?
Van Buren Elementary School ranks #1,188 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Van Buren Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Van Buren Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Van Buren Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Van Buren Elementary School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Van Buren Elementary School a charter school?
No, Van Buren Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Van Buren Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Van Buren Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Van Buren Elementary School?
86.3% of students at Van Buren Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 409
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Linn County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.5%
- Phone
- (319) 558-2377
- Area population (ZIP 52404)
- 42,582
- Area average commute
- 18.6 min
- Area median age
- 33.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 52404; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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