Van Buren County Schools & Education
Van Buren County, Arkansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,008
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,160
School Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 38/100
State Score Position
#8
of 75 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Van Buren County
Measured School Summary
Van Buren County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.5%.
Funding Context
At $7,008 per pupil, Van Buren County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 46% above the Arkansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Van Buren County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
7 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
55/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #8 of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data.
Completion
92.5%
2.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,008
$848 above the state average
School coverage
7
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Van Buren County has 7 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Van Buren County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
Van Buren County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#8
of 75 Arkansas counties with school score data. The county score is 17 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary to high school visible
1,338 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary and high visible
542 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary and high visible
319 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 3 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Van Buren County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Van Buren County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Van Buren County, Arkansas
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Small-Scale Schools in a Rural Landscape
Van Buren County supports 2,199 students across seven public schools and three districts. The county’s educational infrastructure includes three elementary, one middle, and three high schools. This ensures that even in a sparsely populated area, students have access to dedicated facilities for every grade level.
Clinton District Anchors Local Education
The Clinton School District is the largest in the county, serving 1,338 students through three schools. South Side and Shirley school districts also provide essential local services for their respective communities. No charter schools operate in Van Buren County, maintaining a focus on traditional public education.
Entirely Rural with Intimate Classrooms
All seven schools in the county are located in rural locales, offering a peaceful, nature-focused setting for students. The average school size is 314 students, with Cowsert Elementary being the largest at 613 students. This environment is ideal for families who prefer smaller schools where teachers and students are closely connected.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Van Buren County
Reported Enrollment
2,199
7 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Van Buren County
CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
7 Public Schools in Van Buren County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COWSERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT | CLINTON, 72031Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 613 |
| CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL | Record | CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT | CLINTON, 72031Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 416 |
| CLINTON JR HIGH SCHOOL | Record | CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT | CLINTON, 72031Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 309 |
| SOUTH SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT | BEE BRANCH, 72013Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 290 |
| SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT | BEE BRANCH, 72013Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 252 |
| SHIRLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SHIRLEY, 72153Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 180 |
| SHIRLEY HIGH SCHOOL | Record | SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SHIRLEY, 72153Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 139 |
COWSERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
CLINTON, 72031 / Rural: Remote
CLINTON JR HIGH SCHOOL
CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
CLINTON, 72031 / Rural: Remote
SOUTH SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BEE BRANCH, 72013 / Rural: Distant
SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL
SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BEE BRANCH, 72013 / Rural: Distant
SHIRLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SHIRLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
SHIRLEY, 72153 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,008
State avg $6,160
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Van Buren County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Arkansas counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Arkansas?
How should I read the school score in Van Buren County?
What is the graduation rate in Van Buren County?
How much does Van Buren County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Van Buren County, Arkansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Van Buren County, Arkansas?
Van Buren County supports 2,199 students across seven public schools and three districts. The county’s educational infrastructure includes three elementary, one middle, and three high schools. This ensures that even in a sparsely populated area, students have access to dedicated facilities for every grade level.
What are the major school districts in Van Buren County, Arkansas?
The Clinton School District is the largest in the county, serving 1,338 students through three schools. South Side and Shirley school districts also provide essential local services for their respective communities. No charter schools operate in Van Buren County, maintaining a focus on traditional public education.
What is the school experience like in Van Buren County?
All seven schools in the county are located in rural locales, offering a peaceful, nature-focused setting for students. The average school size is 314 students, with Cowsert Elementary being the largest at 613 students. This environment is ideal for families who prefer smaller schools where teachers and students are closely connected.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.