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Very Good

#471 of 2,105 schools in WI

Top 22% in state

Van Buren Elementary

Elementary School · Janesville School District

1515 Lapham St, Janesville, WI 53546

Enrollment

405

Student-Teacher

13.5:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#471 of 2,105

In Janesville

#6 of 23

public schools

In district

#4 of 21

Janesville School District

Equity

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Van Buren Elementary

7.9/10

Elementary School in Janesville · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Edison Middle

6.4/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Lincoln Elementary

5.4/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Van Buren Elementary

Van Buren Elementary is a public elementary school in Janesville, WI, part of Janesville School District. Van Buren Elementary serves approximately 405 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Van Buren Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #471 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Van Buren Elementary show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 7.9 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.2
  • WI avg 6.8

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.09 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65.8% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.3% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg+11.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.1 pts
Overall Proficiency65% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected+22.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment5.8Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,990
Chronic Absenteeism22.5%

Van Buren Elementary — Students at Van Buren Elementary score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

50.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 53.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 50.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
50.9% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
27%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
57%
ELA
37%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
37%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
45%
ELA
37.9%
2025
Math
65.8%
ELA
64.3%

* 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: 8.1/10.

How Van Buren Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.9/10
78th percentile in WI
Academic
9.1/10
Excellent
Growth
8.1/10
Excellent
Environment
5.8/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
50%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
22.5%

Location

1515 Lapham St, Janesville, WI 53546

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Van Buren Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Roosevelt Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Washington Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 2.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Janesville, see our Janesville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Edison Middle Janesville 0.5 mi 6.4
Lincoln Elementary Janesville 0.7 mi 5.4
Wilson Elementary Janesville 0.9 mi 6.4
ST WILLIAM CATHOLIC SCHOOL Janesville 1.5 mi 5.8
Preschool 4 Janesville Janesville 1.3 mi 4.0
Madison Elementary Janesville 1.6 mi 7.0
Rock River Charter School Janesville 1.5 mi 4.3
Franklin Middle Janesville 1.7 mi 4.3
ARISE Virtual Academy Janesville 1.7 mi 7.6
Jackson Elementary Janesville 1.6 mi 7.4
ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Janesville 1.8 mi 8.5
Washington Elementary Janesville 2.0 mi 7.8
Parker High Janesville 2.0 mi 3.8
ST JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL Janesville 1.9 mi 7.2
Roosevelt Elementary Janesville 2.1 mi 8.4
ST PAULS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Janesville 2.2 mi 7.2
ST MATTHEWS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Janesville 2.4 mi 5.4
Adams Elementary Janesville 2.5 mi 4.7
Craig High Janesville 2.3 mi 4.6
Jefferson Elementary Janesville 3.4 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 53546 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$73,430

Median Home Value

$220,100

Median Rent

$1,076/mo

Population

29,482

College Educated

25.7%

Homeownership

73%

Avg Commute

21.6 min

Poverty Rate

8.9%

Median Age

41.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bangor Elementary Bangor, WI 7.9
Cambridge Elementary Cambridge, WI 7.9
Campbellsport Elementary Campbellsport, WI 7.9
East Elementary Jefferson, WI 7.9
Huegel Elementary Madison, WI 7.9
Jackson Elementary Elkhorn, WI 7.9

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
29 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
25 Some Transit
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
405
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
50.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Rock County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
22.5%

District

Janesville School District
District Enrollment
9,414
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,990
District Rank
#4 of 21

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