Public schools in Van Buren, AR
10 open public schools with an address in Van Buren, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,624
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.1:1
Arkansas median 14.2:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Van Buren public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Van Buren, AR: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,624 students, an average of 562 per school. The largest campus is Van Buren High School (1,232 students), and the largest elementary school is Central Elementary School (466).
Every listed school belongs to Van Buren School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.1:1, higher than the statewide school median of 14.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 65% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Van Buren
Elementary schools in Van Buren
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elementary School Van Buren School District | KG–05 | 466 | 18.4:1 | |
| James R. Tate Elementary School Van Buren School District | PK–05 | 459 | 18.3:1 | |
| King Elementary School Van Buren School District | PK–05 | 437 | 15.4:1 | |
| Oliver Springs Elementary School Van Buren School District | KG–05 | 441 | 18.1:1 | |
| Parkview Elementary School Van Buren School District | KG–05 | 437 | 18.9:1 | |
| Rena Elementary School Van Buren School District | KG–05 | 414 | 19.3:1 |
Middle schools in Van Buren
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfield Trail Middle School Van Buren School District | 06–08 | 557 | 14.1:1 | |
| Northridge Middle School Van Buren School District | 06–08 | 713 | 16:1 |
High schools in Van Buren
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren High School Van Buren School District | 10–12 | 1,232 | 10.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Van Buren
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren Freshman Academy Van Buren School District | 09–09 | 468 | 12.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White62.2%
- Hispanic22.1%
- Black2.2%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial10.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Van Buren schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,624 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Van Buren
How many public schools are in Van Buren, AR?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Van Buren: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 5,624 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Van Buren?
All listed public schools with an address in Van Buren belong to Van Buren School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Van Buren?
Van Buren High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Van Buren, with 1,232 students in 2024–25 (grades 10–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Van Buren?
No school with an address in Van Buren is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Arkansas.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Van Buren schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Van Buren public schools is 17.1:1, higher than the Arkansas school median of 14.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Van Buren guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Arkansas cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Arkansas cities