Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 34 schools in district

Van Buren Elementary

1245 N. Van Buren St., Placentia, CA 92870Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–06Non-Charter
540
Students
Total enrolled
$15,529
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 8% vs nat'l
24.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 59% vs nat'l
54/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 540 students in grades KG–06 in Placentia, California.
Near-average funding
District spends $15,529 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 54th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Van Buren Elementary is a large elementary in Placentia, California, serving grades KG–06 with 540 students. The district invests $15,529 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 24.6:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 48% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Van Buren Elementary

540
Total Students
24.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
48%
Free Lunch
22
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–06) are served by this school
Gender Distribution265 male · 275 female
49%
51%
Male 49%Female 51%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility48%
National avg 52% · 258 students
Student Composition
14%
32%
46%
Asian14%
White32%
Hispanic / Latino46%
Black1%
Multiracial7%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 063066004774

Academic Outcomes at Van Buren Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
54
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 54th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 90th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 92870

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,529Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,529
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,833
Student Support$2,951
Administration$1,864
Operations$2,329
Other$1,553
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,529 spent per student, an estimated $6,879 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
41%
51%
State government
41.2%
Local (property tax)
50.7%
Federal programs
8.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 24.6:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Travis RanchFairmont ElementaryGolden ElementaryRio Vista Elementary
+16 more
↓
Middle
Kraemer MiddleYorba Linda MiddleValadez Middle School AcademyCol. J. K. Tuffree Middle
+1 more
↓
High School
Valencia HighEl Dorado HighYorba Linda HighEsperanza High
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 06
Location—
CountyOrange County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictPlacentia-Yorba Linda Unified →
Phone: (714)986-7100
NCES ID: 063066004774
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Placentia seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified
High
Valencia High
2,543 students · 09–12
● 54 opp67% FRL
High
El Dorado High
2,034 students · 09–12
● 54 opp33% FRL
High
Yorba Linda High
1,568 students · 09–12
● 51 opp24% FRL
High
Esperanza High
1,436 students · 09–12
● 55 opp39% FRL
Elem
Travis Ranch
1,217 students · KG–08
● 53 opp23% FRL
Mid
Kraemer Middle
954 students · 07–08
● 54 opp52% FRL
Elem
Fairmont Elementary
846 students · KG–06
● 51 opp22% FRL
Mid
Yorba Linda Middle
840 students · 06–08
● 51 opp33% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1245 N. Van Buren St., Placentia, CA 92870
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.