James R. Tate Elementary School

Q: Is James R. Tate Elementary School a good school?

James R. Tate Elementary School ranks 336 th of 497 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

James R. Tate Elementary School is a public elementary school in Van Buren, Arkansas, serving 457 students in grades PK-5. It is part of the Van Buren School District, which is ranked 103 out of 252 school districts in the state.

While the school has a lower student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools, it consistently underperforms the district and state averages in standardized test scores across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, and Science were all below the district and state averages. Additionally, James R. Tate Elementary School has a significantly higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 64.94% to 71.12% over the past few years. This suggests that the school serves a predominantly low-income population, which can be a significant factor in academic achievement.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Rena Elementary, Parkview Elementary, and Oliver Springs Elementary, generally outperform James R. Tate Elementary School in terms of test scores, statewide rankings, and free and reduced lunch rates, despite having lower spending per student and higher student-teacher ratios. This suggests that factors beyond just funding and staffing may be contributing to the stronger academic performance of these nearby schools.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

406 Catcher Rd
Van Buren, AR 72956

(479) 471-3130

District: Van Buren School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
336^th of 497 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,087

Students who attend James R. Tate Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Butterfield Trail Middle School
High:	Van Buren High School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.7

Number of students: 457

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.6%

Hispanic:

18.6%

Two or more races:

6.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 71.1%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare James R. Tate Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details James R. Tate Elementary School ranks worse than 67.6% of elementary schools in Arkansas. It also ranks 3^rd among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Van Buren School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.82. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (71.6%), Hispanic (18.6%), two or more races (6.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 71.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at James R. Tate Elementary School is 18.7. 3 elementary schools in the Van Buren School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare James R. Tate Elementary School employs 24.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at James R. Tate Elementary School is $10,087, which is the highest among 5 elementary schools in the Van Buren School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

James R. Tate Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Van Buren School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Van Buren School District 103^rd of 252 Arkansas school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for James R. Tate Elementary School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AR State Percentile
2005	40.06	288^th	411	29.9%
2006	24.04	328^th	402	18.4%
2007	12.13	403^rd	440	8.4%
2008	20.72	381^st	439	13.2%
2009	30.99	347^th	445	22.0%
2010	15.67	414^th	457	9.4%
2011	25.75	399^th	471	15.3%
2012	17.99	418^th	468	10.7%
2013	23.09	413^th	476	13.2%
2014	23.15	407^th	471	13.6%
2015	21.84	392^nd	466	15.9%
2016	23.98	412^th	494	16.6%
2017	22.21	406^th	485	16.3%
2018	36.83	338^th	480	29.6%
2019	27.26	378^th	488	22.5%
2021	33.90	356^th	496	28.2%
2022	41.30	316^th	487	35.1%
2023	27.31	380^th	492	22.8%
2024	36.82	336^th	497	32.4%

See the entire list of Arkansas Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Enrollment information for James R. Tate Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	406	4	7	4	0	n/a	n/a	421
1989	423	8	7	n/a	3	n/a	n/a	441
1990	404	4	7	0	1	n/a	n/a	416
1991	378	4	7	3	3	n/a	n/a	395
1992	395	4	6	0	5	n/a	n/a	410
1993	344	3	3	3	6	n/a	n/a	359
1994	351	5	9	1	1	n/a	n/a	367
1995	364	0	5	0	2	n/a	n/a	371
1996	364	0	5	0	2	n/a	n/a	371
1997	452	4	13	6	0	n/a	n/a	475
1998	414	2	13	14	4	n/a	n/a	447
1999	393	4	10	12	5	n/a	n/a	424
2000	357	4	16	13	5	n/a	n/a	395
2001	341	4	14	15	8	n/a	n/a	382
2002	332	6	20	35	11	n/a	n/a	404
2003	332	6	20	35	11	n/a	n/a	404
2004	351	4	18	34	12	n/a	n/a	419
2005	355	3	22	59	13	n/a	n/a	452
2006	342	10	24	68	16	n/a	n/a	460
2007	335	7	14	65	20	n/a	n/a	441
2008	305	7	10	56	21	n/a	n/a	399
2009	356	9	13	64	1	n/a	n/a	443
2010	359	15	7	67	2	2	6	458
2011	332	15	12	61	1	1	3	425
2012	327	14	13	57	3	1	5	420
2013	343	11	13	68	5	1	4	445
2014	330	16	12	48	7	1	5	419
2015	320	15	15	58	7	0	5	420
2016	340	19	16	64	7	0	4	450
2017	318	22	13	71	8	1	3	436
2018	331	24	17	72	7	0	4	455
2019	328	20	14	60	7	1	4	434
2020	340	16	12	63	8	0	5	444
2021	279	9	6	75	2	0	12	383
2022	323	6	8	86	0	0	22	445
2023	327	5	10	85	1	0	29	457

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at James R. Tate Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	421	22.2	18.9	n/a
1989	441	25.0	17.6	n/a
1990	416	23.0	18.0	35.8
1991	395	21.9	18.0	34.7
1992	410	23.3	17.5	32
1993	359	20.5	17.5	39
1994	367	20.5	17.9	40.1
1995	371	20.6	18.0	37.5
1996	371	20.6	18.0	37.5
1997	475	23.8	20.0	42.9
1998	447	23.8	18.8	47.9
1999	424	22.8	18.6	56.6
2000	395	25.0	15.8	55.2
2001	382	22.0	17.4	57.3
2002	404	25.0	16.2	59.2
2003	404	25.0	16.2	59.2
2004	419	27.0	15.5	56.8
2005	452	30.0	15.1	64.2
2006	460	26.0	17.7	64.3
2007	441	32.0	13.8	64.9
2008	399	31.0	12.9	69.4
2009	443	27.0	16.4	71.3
2010	458	29.6	14.3	76.2
2011	425	29.0	14.6	74.8
2012	420	29.3	14.2	79
2013	445	28.0	15.8	78.4
2014	419	28.5	14.6	82.6
2015	420	29.0	14.4	81
2016	450	32.0	14.0	80.7
2017	436	25.2	17.2	36.5
2018	455	27.6	16.4	40.4
2019	434	25.5	16.9	71.7
2020	444	27.7	16.0	75
2021	383	27.1	14.1	65.3
2022	445	26.2	16.9	64.9
2023	457	24.3	18.7	71.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio James R. Tate Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	421	22.2	18.9	n/a
1989	441	25.0	17.6	n/a
1990	416	23.0	18.0	35.8
1991	395	21.9	18.0	34.7
1992	410	23.3	17.5	32
1993	359	20.5	17.5	39
1994	367	20.5	17.9	40.1
1995	371	20.6	18.0	37.5
1996	371	20.6	18.0	37.5
1997	475	23.8	20.0	42.9
1998	447	23.8	18.8	47.9
1999	424	22.8	18.6	56.6
2000	395	25.0	15.8	55.2
2001	382	22.0	17.4	57.3
2002	404	25.0	16.2	59.2
2003	404	25.0	16.2	59.2
2004	419	27.0	15.5	56.8
2005	452	30.0	15.1	64.2
2006	460	26.0	17.7	64.3
2007	441	32.0	13.8	64.9
2008	399	31.0	12.9	69.4
2009	443	27.0	16.4	71.3
2010	458	29.6	14.3	76.2
2011	425	29.0	14.6	74.8
2012	420	29.3	14.2	79
2013	445	28.0	15.8	78.4
2014	419	28.5	14.6	82.6
2015	420	29.0	14.4	81
2016	450	32.0	14.0	80.7
2017	436	25.2	17.2	36.5
2018	455	27.6	16.4	40.4
2019	434	25.5	16.9	71.7
2020	444	27.7	16.0	75
2021	383	27.1	14.1	65.3
2022	445	26.2	16.9	64.9
2023	457	24.3	18.7	71.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for James R. Tate Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,804 (17.9%)	$8,283 (82.1%)	$10,087

Data source: Arkansas Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on James R. Tate Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 378^th of 488 Elementary schools	Ranks 380^th of 492 Elementary schools	0.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English (James R. Tate Elementary School)	57.5	45	12.5%
3rd Grade English (Van Buren School District)	68.7	57.7	11%
3rd Grade English (Arkansas)	72.4	62.6	9.8%
3rd Grade Math (James R. Tate Elementary School)	47	39.5	7.5%
3rd Grade Math (Van Buren School District)	60.1	51.5	8.6%
3rd Grade Math (Arkansas)	62.1	54.4	7.7%
3rd Grade Science (James R. Tate Elementary School)	28.8	22.6	6.2%
3rd Grade Science (Van Buren School District)	34.6	31.1	3.5%
3rd Grade Science (Arkansas)	39.4	35	4.4%
3rd Grade Reading (James R. Tate Elementary School)	30.3	18.4	11.9%
3rd Grade Reading (Van Buren School District)	33.6	27.7	5.9%
3rd Grade Reading (Arkansas)	38.3	32.2	6.1%
4th Grade English (James R. Tate Elementary School)	59.4	52.2	7.2%
4th Grade English (Van Buren School District)	67.3	64.7	2.6%
4th Grade English (Arkansas)	69.6	63.3	6.3%
4th Grade Math (James R. Tate Elementary School)	46.9	36.6	10.3%
4th Grade Math (Van Buren School District)	53.7	51.8	1.9%
4th Grade Math (Arkansas)	53.8	48.6	5.2%
4th Grade Science (James R. Tate Elementary School)	36	31	5%
4th Grade Science (Van Buren School District)	39.9	38.4	1.5%
4th Grade Science (Arkansas)	42.3	38.5	3.8%
4th Grade Reading (James R. Tate Elementary School)	32.8	38	5.2%
4th Grade Reading (Van Buren School District)	37.9	42.1	4.2%
4th Grade Reading (Arkansas)	45.3	42	3.3%
5th Grade English (James R. Tate Elementary School)	60.4	57.5	2.9%
5th Grade English (Van Buren School District)	72.3	74.7	2.4%
5th Grade English (Arkansas)	73.3	70.2	3.1%
5th Grade Math (James R. Tate Elementary School)	44.8	25.7	19.1%
5th Grade Math (Van Buren School District)	54.8	44.9	9.9%
5th Grade Math (Arkansas)	49.2	40.7	8.5%
5th Grade Science (James R. Tate Elementary School)	22.4	22.8	0.4%
5th Grade Science (Van Buren School District)	40.4	37.8	2.6%
5th Grade Science (Arkansas)	40.7	34.6	6.1%
5th Grade Reading (James R. Tate Elementary School)	31	28.8	2.2%
5th Grade Reading (Van Buren School District)	37.1	40.3	3.2%
5th Grade Reading (Arkansas)	41	36.8	4.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	434	457	5.3%
African American	20	5	75%
American Indian	7	1	85.7%
Asian	14	10	28.6%
Hispanic	60	85	41.7%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	328	327	0.3%
Two or More Races	4	29	625%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	71.7%	71.1%	0.5%

Schools Near James R. Tate Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2024)				ATLAS Reading (2024)				ATLAS Mathematics (2024)				ATLAS Science (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James R. Tate Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	406 Catcher Rd	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 471-3130	457	24	18.7	71.1%	327 (71.6%)	5 (1.1%)	85 (18.6%)	10 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.3%)	36.8	336^th of 497 public elementary schools	32.4%		27.3	380^th of 492 public elementary schools	22.8%	44	33.8	26.5	26.7	29.1	30.8	28.0	25.0	28.1	27.9	16.2	43.4	28.6	33.8	23.5	30.0	29.1	$10,087	$1,804	$8,283
Central Elementary School	Public	K-5	501 N 24th St	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 474-3150	479	27	17.7	74.5%	306 (63.9%)	19 (4.0%)	79 (16.5%)	5 (1.0%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (13.2%)	32.2	365^th of 497 public elementary schools	26.6%		39	336^th of 492 public elementary schools	31.7%	29	11.1	26.7	30.8	23.1	13.9	28.0	34.6	25.8	16.7	33.4	43.6	31.5	15.3	22.7	29.5	22.7	$9,225	$2,616	$6,609
King Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 N 19th St	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 474-2661	443	27	16.3	81.0%	199 (44.9%)	10 (2.3%)	160 (36.1%)	8 (1.8%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (14.2%)	24.9	393^rd of 497 public elementary schools	20.9%		29.8	371^st of 492 public elementary schools	24.6%	22	34.2	18.1	19.5	24.5	31.6	18.1	18.1	23.1	30.3	22.9	23.6	26.0	19.0	16.4	19.4	18.4	$8,706	$1,685	$7,021
Parkview Elementary School	Public	K-5	605 Parkview St	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 474-8730	413	25	16.6	54.0%	290 (70.2%)	8 (1.9%)	55 (13.3%)	5 (1.2%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (11.6%)	68.9	146^th of 497 public elementary schools	70.6%		84.4	52^nd of 492 public elementary schools	89.4%	94	42.3	37.9	48.5	43.0	39.7	35.3	45.7	40.3	43.6	55.2	44.3	47.4	42.3	41.2	37.2	40.3	$7,613	$929	$6,684
Alma Intermediate School	Public	3-5	1220 W Collum Ln	Alma	72921	Crawford County	Alma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 632-2166	723	37	19.7	46.7%	615 (85.1%)	10 (1.4%)	29 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.2%)	47	274^th of 497 public elementary schools	44.9%		45.5	308^th of 492 public elementary schools	37.4%	34	31.2	33.9	30.9	32.1	35.5	34.5	34.2	34.8	34.7	39.6	40.2	38.2	28.4	29.8	26.2	28.3	$7,788	$1,460	$6,328
Oliver Springs Elementary School	Public	K-5	505 Northridge Drive East	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 471-3120	476	24	19.6	45.6%	348 (73.1%)	6 (1.3%)	65 (13.7%)	7 (1.5%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (9.0%)	77.4	91^st of 497 public elementary schools	81.7%		71.8	137^th of 492 public elementary schools	72.2%	46	43.8	48.9	44.7	46.0	40.6	47.8	40.0	43.0	53.2	50.0	48.2	50.2	48.5	47.7	47.0	47.6
Spradling Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4949 Spradling Ave	Fort Smith	72904	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-8048	319	15	20.7	94.0%	59 (18.5%)	30 (9.4%)	196 (61.4%)	15 (4.7%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.3%)	30.7	373^rd of 497 public elementary schools	24.9%		28.8	375^th of 492 public elementary schools	23.8%	2	26.7	32.1	26.2	28.6	26.7	29.7	30.9	29.1	33.3	22.2	26.2	26.9	11.1	22.3	21.5	18.5	$9,942	$2,090	$7,853
Sutton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5001 Kelley Hwy	Fort Smith	72904	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 785-1778	470	29	16.3	91.5%	87 (18.5%)	59 (12.6%)	237 (50.4%)	33 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (11.5%)	13.7	451^st of 497 public elementary schools	9.3%		11.8	447^th of 492 public elementary schools	9.1%	4	19.7	17.0	23.7	20.0	18.4	18.7	23.7	20.0	10.5	10.2	7.3	9.5	15.8	13.6	16.3	15.2	$10,524	$2,397	$8,126
Alma Primary School	Public	K-2	1600 Hwy 64 E	Alma	72921	Crawford County	Alma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 632-5100	701	36	19.4	47.2%	563 (80.3%)	12 (1.7%)	45 (6.4%)	3 (0.4%)	18 (2.6%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (8.4%)								(n/a)																	$8,349	$1,528	$6,821
Rena Elementary School	Public	K-5	720 Rena Rd	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 471-3190	439	22	20.0	42.6%	299 (68.1%)	3 (0.7%)	65 (14.8%)	8 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (13.9%)	62.5	187^th of 497 public elementary schools	62.4%		74.2	120^th of 492 public elementary schools	75.6%	67	41.4	28.1	43.2	37.4	39.7	26.8	50.0	38.9	46.6	43.7	59.5	50.2	39.6	22.5	43.2	35.0	$7,194	$672	$6,522

Frequently Asked Questions about James R. Tate Elementary School

What district is James R. Tate Elementary School in?

Van Buren School District

How many students attend James R. Tate Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 457 students attended James R. Tate Elementary School.

Is James R. Tate Elementary School a good school?

James R. Tate Elementary School ranks 336^th of 497 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of James R. Tate Elementary School attend?

Students who attend James R. Tate Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Butterfield Trail Middle School
High : Van Buren High School

What is the racial makeup of James R. Tate Elementary School?

Students at James R. Tate Elementary School are 72% White, 19% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.