Very Good
#471 of 2,105 schools in WI
Top 22% in state
Van Buren Elementary
Elementary School · Janesville School District · Janesville, WI
A Janesville School District elementary school where students score 23 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1515 Lapham St, Janesville, WI 53546
- Math 66% vs WI 53% (2025)
- Reading 64% vs WI 51% (2025)
- 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Van Buren Elementary score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 28 points since 2020, reaching 65% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (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 34 test records from WI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
50.4%
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 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 29Car-Dependent
- Transit 25Some Transit
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,991/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Janesville), 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
$73,430
Median home value
$220,100
Median rent
$1,076/mo
College educated
25.7%
Homeownership
73%
Poverty rate
8.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 53546; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–5 | 0.7 mi | 320 | Compare → |
| Wilson ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 260 | Compare → |
| Preschool 4 JanesvilleEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | PK | 1.3 mi | 333 | Compare → |
| St William Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | PK–8 | 1.5 mi | 182 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Janesville School District
- Schools in district
- 22
- Rank in district
- #4 of 21
- District spending per student
- $13,990NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Van Buren Elementary is listed in Janesville School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Van Buren Elementary
Van Buren Elementary is a public elementary school in Janesville, WI, part of Janesville School District, serving approximately 405 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #471 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Van Buren Elementary
What grades does Van Buren Elementary serve?
Van Buren Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Van Buren Elementary?
Van Buren Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 405 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary is 13.5:1. 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 rank in WI?
Van Buren Elementary ranks #471 of 2,105 schools in WI.
What is Van Buren Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Van Buren Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 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?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Van Buren Elementary has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Van Buren Elementary a charter school?
No, Van Buren Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Van Buren Elementary a Title I school?
No, Van Buren Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Van Buren Elementary?
50.4% of students at Van Buren Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 405
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Rock County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.5%
- Phone
- (608) 743-7100
- Area population (ZIP 53546)
- 29,482
- Area average commute
- 21.6 min
- Area median age
- 41.3
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 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. 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 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. 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 53546; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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