- Enrollment
- 2,938
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tucson, AZ
Van Buskirk Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Van Buskirk Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040880000897
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Van Buskirk Elementary School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #38 of 131
- schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.5:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 77.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Van Buskirk Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Van Buskirk Elementary School ranks #38 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Tucson Unified District (4403) · Arizona
NCES ID 040880000897 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
Van Buskirk Elementary School grew from 275 students in 2022-23 to 301 in 2023-24 (+9.5%).
Teacher FTE added 23.6 → 24.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+26 students YoY 040880000897 · Tucson, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
287 enr · 12.5:1 · 77.8% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Tucson Magnet High School (2,938 students)
Van Buskirk Elementary School grew from 275 students in 2022-23 to 301 in 2023-24 (+9.5%). Teacher FTE added 23.6 → 24.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Van Buskirk Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Tucson Magnet
Tucson Magnet High School
2,938 students
- Pueblo High Sc
Pueblo High School
1,821 students
- Cholla High Sc
Cholla High School
1,575 students
- Sahuaro High S
Sahuaro High School
1,250 students
- Catalina Onlin
Catalina Online Learning Experience
1,184 students
- This school 287
Van Buskirk Elementary School
287 students
What this shows Van Buskirk Elementary School reports 287 students on the CCD universe file.
How Van Buskirk Elementary School compares
Van Buskirk Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.5:1 | ▼ 26% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.8% | ▲ 61% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 287 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
287
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 18% in Arizona - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
59.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,783
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 287 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 93.4%
White 3.5%
African American 1.4%
Two or More 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 93.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.6, Van Buskirk Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tucson Unified District (4403) reports $13,783 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Van Buskirk Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Magnet High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pueblo High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cholla High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sahuaro High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Catalina Online Learning Experience | Larger | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Van Buskirk Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,821
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,575
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,250
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,184
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar other schools in Tucson
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~287 students)
Frequently asked questions about Van Buskirk Elementary School
How many students attend Van Buskirk Elementary School?
Van Buskirk Elementary School has 287 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tucson, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 275 (2022-23) → 301 (2023-24), up 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Buskirk Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Buskirk Elementary School is 12.5:1, which is 26% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 20% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Van Buskirk Elementary School?
77.8% of students at Van Buskirk Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Van Buskirk Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Van Buskirk Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 93.4% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Van Buskirk Elementary School?
Van Buskirk Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Van Buskirk Elementary School rank among schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Van Buskirk Elementary School ranks #38 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Tucson on the city page.
What other schools are in Tucson Unified District (4403)?
Besides Van Buskirk Elementary School, Tucson Unified District (4403) also operates Tucson Magnet High School (2,938 students), Pueblo High School (1,821 students), and Cholla High School (1,575 students). See the Tucson Unified District (4403) district page for the complete list.