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Below Average

#1578 of 1,823 schools in IN

Van Buren Elementary School

Elementary School · Brown County School Corporation

4045 State Road 135 South, Nashville, IN 47448

Enrollment

236

Student-Teacher

14.8:1

Score

4.6

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Nashville

#3 of 3

public schools

Indiana elementary schools

#897 of 1,047

In district

#5 of 5

Brown County School Corporation

School environment

8.3 / 10

Very strong

About Van Buren Elementary School

Van Buren Elementary School serves 236 students in grades prekindergarten through fifth grade in the rural community of Nashville, Indiana. With 16 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.8:1, allowing for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking #390 out of 1,831 Indiana elementary schools, placing it in the 79th percentile statewide.

Van Buren's academic score of 7.8 out of 10 reflects strong educational outcomes, with 52% of students achieving proficiency or above in mathematics across all grade levels. Located on State Road 135 South, the school serves families in Brown County's 47448 ZIP code area, where the median household income is $61,356 and median home values reach $221,600. The surrounding community of nearly 8,000 residents includes 32% of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher, while maintaining a relatively low poverty rate of 9.8%.

Van Buren Elementary operates as a regular public school in Indiana's scenic Brown County, providing education in a rural setting that offers students the benefits of small-town community connections and natural surroundings.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Van Buren Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.4Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change-3.38 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.8Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47.6%
Reading/ELA Proficiency29.8%
Math vs. State Avg-3.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-10.4 pts
Overall Proficiency39%
Expected (poverty-adj.)43%
vs. Expected-4.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile41th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,395

Van Buren Elementary School — Students at Van Buren Elementary School score 39% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

45.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 49.0%
School
State
46.1%
ELA Proficiency 38.2%
School
State
40.8%

Based on 15 test records from IN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
52%
2025
Math
46.8%
ELA
30.1%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.4/10.

How Van Buren Elementary School Compares

See how Van Buren Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.6/10
14th percentile in IN
Academic
5.8/10
5.8/10
Growth
2.4/10
Below average
Environment
8.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
46%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers

Location

4045 State Road 135 South, Nashville, IN 47448

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Van Buren Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Helmsburg Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 11.6 miles away, in nearby Morgantown), which scores notably higher. Another option is ABC LEARNING CENTRE, INC (DBA ABC-STEWART SCHOOL) (rated 8.9/10, 9.8 miles away, in nearby Columbus), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST BARTHOLOMEW SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 14.8 miles away, in nearby Columbus), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Nashville, see our Nashville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Brown County High School Nashville 6.5 mi 7.8
Brown County Middle School Nashville 6.5 mi 4.7
Mount Healthy Elementary School Columbus 7.4 mi 2.9
Sprunica Elementary School Nineveh 10.2 mi 6.0
ABC LEARNING CENTRE, INC (DBA ABC-STEWART SCHOOL) Columbus 9.8 mi 8.9
Helmsburg Elementary School Morgantown 11.6 mi 9.1
WHITE CREEK LUTHERAN SCHOOL Columbus 11.9 mi 6.9
Southside Elementary School Columbus 12.2 mi 6.7
ST PETER'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL Columbus 13.9 mi 6.4
CSA Lincoln Campus Columbus 13.9 mi 7.4
Cortland Elementary School Seymour 15.3 mi 4.5
Central Middle School Columbus 14.0 mi 5.8
Richard L Johnson Early Educ Cntr Columbus 14.1 mi 7.7
Lillian Schmitt Elementary School Columbus 14.6 mi 5.9
ST BARTHOLOMEW SCHOOL Columbus 14.8 mi 7.6
Columbus North High School Columbus 14.8 mi 8.4
Taylorsville Elementary School Taylorsville 16.0 mi 5.4
Northside Middle School Columbus 14.9 mi 5.2
Indian Creek Elementary School Trafalgar 18.6 mi 5.1
Indian Creek Intermediate School Trafalgar 18.6 mi 5.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 47448 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$65,136

Median Home Value

$245,600

Median Rent

$1,032/mo

Population

7,719

College Educated

27.9%

Homeownership

79.4%

Avg Commute

31.1 min

Poverty Rate

8.4%

Median Age

51.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Van Buren Elementary School has a median household income of $65,136. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $245,600, with a median rent of $1,032/month. The local poverty rate of 8.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Attica Elementary School Attica, IN 4.6
Rykers' Ridge Elementary School Madison, IN 4.6
Bon Air Elementary School Kokomo, IN 4.5
Paul Saylor Elementary School Valparaiso, IN 4.5
Stringtown Elementary School Evansville, IN 4.5
The Bloomington Project School Bloomington, IN 4.5

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 Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Van Buren Elementary School?

Van Buren Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 236 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School is 14.8:1. 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 IN?

Van Buren Elementary School is ranked #1578 out of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Van Buren Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Van Buren Elementary School has a composite rating of 4.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Van Buren Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Van Buren Elementary School has 49.0% math proficiency and 38.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

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?

45.8% 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

County Safety
Average (637/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
236
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Free/Reduced Lunch
45.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Brown County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Brown County School Corporation
District Enrollment
1,594
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,439
District Rank
#5 of 5

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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