Van Buren School District

What Van Buren School District does

Van Buren School District (VBSD) is a public K-12 school district and political subdivision of the State of Arkansas, operating 11 campuses across Van Buren and Crawford County, including six elementary schools, two middle schools, Van Buren High School with a Freshman Academy, the River Valley Virtual Academy, and the Thicksten Center for Learning alternative program. The district is governed by a seven-member elected Board of Education and administered by Superintendent Dr. Harold Jeffcoat with a leadership team spanning academics, child nutrition, health services, special education, technology, transportation, and athletics. Core instructional delivery is supplemented by ancillary programs including ABCSS preschool, special education services for ages 3–21, free breakfast and reduced-price lunch through the LINQ/Titan meal system, the IMPACT Meals food-insecurity program, and the 2024-launched Pointer Greens Aquaponic Garden and Big Dog's Grill food truck.

The district's technology footprint is built on conventional EdTech SaaS: PowerSchool for enrollment, Clever for SSO, SchoolStatus for mass notifications, Home Access Center for grades, LINQConnect for meal payments, and Finalsite for the public website — with no proprietary AI/ML capabilities evidenced. Notable physical and operational infrastructure includes FEMA-partnered 200 mph storm safe rooms at every campus, dedicated School Resource Officers through partnerships with the Van Buren Police Department and Crawford County Sheriff's Office, secure buzz-in entry systems with camera verification, a licensed nurse at every school for at least 15 hours per week, and over $700,000 in Joint User Agreement-funded community trails and fitness stations.

The revenue model is dominated by state per-pupil funding from the Arkansas Department of Education and local property tax, supplemented by a 501(c)(3) Education Foundation that has disbursed more than $1.2 million in educator grants since 2001, modest fee-based meal and summer camp programs, and community donations supporting IMPACT Meals. The district holds a Purple Star School District designation (2024) for military-family support and partners with Keep America Beautiful (2,108.64 tons recycled annually as of July 2025), the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, and a network of local businesses under the Pointer Partners program. Specific annual revenue figures are not disclosed in the public materials reviewed.

Name

Van Buren School District

Legal name

Van Buren School District

Website

https://www.vbsd.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Van Buren School District is a public K-12 school district in Crawford County, Arkansas, operating 11 campuses and alternative learning programs for students ages 3-21, funded primarily by state per-pupil aid and local tax revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI), Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Child nutrition services
• Special education programs
• Early childhood education
• School athletics programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Van Buren

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: State and local tax revenue as a public school district, with per-pupil funding from Arkansas Department of Education.
2. Student Meal Program Fees: Student lunch at $3.00 per meal, with breakfast free for all students. Adults pay $3.00 for breakfast and $4.15 for lunch.
3. Education Foundation Grants: Private support funding through the 501(c)(3) Education Foundation awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to educators since 2001.
4. Donations and Community Contributions: IMPACT Meals program primarily funded by community donors to provide meals during extended school breaks.
5. Summer Camp Fees: Various summer camp programs charged at different rates (e.g., $60 for baseball camp, $50 for volleyball camp, $25 for ACT preparation).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Van Buren School District is a public K-12 school district that delivers comprehensive educational services, child nutrition, special education, athletics, and arts programming across 11 campuses in Van Buren and Crawford County, Arkansas. The district also operates ancillary programs such as preschool (ABCSS), a virtual academy, an aquaponic garden and food truck, and community support services including IMPACT Meals and the Education Foundation.

Product overview

Van Buren School District operates a comprehensive K-12 educational system consisting of 11 schools (6 elementary, 2 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 1 virtual academy) serving the Van Buren, Arkansas community. The district's operations are organized into multiple departments including Activities & Athletics, Child Nutrition, Communications, Health Services, Maintenance, Special Education, Technology, and Transportation. Key ancillary programs include the ABCSS Preschool Program for early childhood education, River Valley Virtual Academy for online learning, the Van Buren Fine Arts Center for performing arts, and community support services such as the Education Foundation (awarding over $1.2M in grants since 2001), IMPACT Meals for food-insecure families, and Pointer Partners business partnerships. The district also operates innovative food services including Big Dog's Grill food truck and Pointer Greens Aquaponic Garden (launched 2024) that provides fresh produce and fish to cafeteria meals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pointer Greens Aquaponic Garden: Aquaponics facility providing organic lettuce, herbs, and fresh tilapia to school cafeterias, launched in 2024
• Big Dog's Grill
• IMPACT Meals
• Van Buren Fine Arts Center (VBFAC)

Products and services

• K-12 Public Education Program Comprehensive K-12 public education instruction across six elementary schools, two middle schools, Van Buren High School with Freshman Academy, River Valley Virtual Academy, and Thicksten Center for Learning. Serves K-12 students residing within the Van Buren School District attendance zone.
• ABCSS Preschool Program High-quality preschool classes through the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success (ABCSS) program at King Elementary and Tate Elementary schools, with daily hours from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, preparing young learners ages 3-5 for kindergarten.
• River Valley Virtual Academy Online virtual education option for students within the district, providing online learning opportunities as an alternative to traditional in-person instruction.
• Special Education Services (Ages 3-21) Special Programs providing developmental therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, specialized academic instruction, behavior services, early childhood special education, and 504 accommodations for students ages 3-21 with diverse learning needs.
• School Nutrition Services Comprehensive child nutrition program operating under USDA National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Afterschool Snack Program guidelines using Titan/LINQ meal management. Includes free breakfast for all K-12 students, $3.00 student lunch, and the free summer meals program for youth ages 18 and under.
• Big Dog's Grill Food Truck Commercial-sized food truck operated by the Child Nutrition Department serving fun, nutritious food truck fare at football games, athletic events, and community functions, with weekly lunch routes to middle schools and Freshman Academy during fall and spring semesters.
• Pointer Greens Aquaponic Garden Aquaponic facility with six 500-gallon tanks and two 100-gallon tanks holding approximately 300 tilapia, providing organic lettuce, herbs, and fresh fish to district cafeterias. Also serves as a learning site for student field trips and agricultural internships.
• Van Buren Fine Arts Center (VBFAC) Professional performing arts venue supporting arts education across the district for learning, rehearsing, performing, and hosting district and community events year-round.
• IMPACT Meals Program Program providing non-perishable grocery items to eligible Van Buren families during extended school breaks (Thanksgiving, holidays, Spring Break) to address food deficits at home. Primarily funded by community donors.
• Summer Camp Programs Fee-based summer camp programs including Pointer Baseball Camp ($60), Volleyball Camp ($50), Football Camp ($40), Tennis Camp ($35), Lady Pointer Basketball Camp ($45), Wrestling Camp (free), Middle School Band Camp ($25), Pointer Pup Camp ($30), and ACT Preparation ($25).
• Activities and Athletics Program Comprehensive athletics and student activities program across district campuses, overseen by the Director of Athletics and Activities, with live broadcasts via Pointer Media VB. Includes intramural and competitive sports, Arkansas Scholars recognition, and student activities.
• Staff Wellness Program District employee wellness program offering health-enhancing activities, fitness classes, educational sessions, and wellness challenges to reduce stress and improve overall staff health. Includes FoodCorps service member participation in the District Wellness Committee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.2 million awarded in grants to educators since 2001
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Van Buren School District Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that generates and distributes resources to enrich educational programs. Since 2001, it has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to educators for innovative teaching, technology, and student support.
• Van Buren Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership providing School Resource Officers (SROs) at district campuses. SROs focus on drug prevention, juvenile crime reduction, and supporting at-risk students while serving as mentors and positive role models.
• Crawford County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership providing School Resource Officers (SROs) at district campuses. SROs work to foster safe and drug-free communities.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEMA partnered with VBSD to construct safe rooms at district facilities, designed to withstand 200 mph tornadic winds. Safe rooms are unlocked at first tornado warning siren and serve as community storm shelters.
• Arkansas Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education agency providing oversight, funding, and resources. VBSD participates in National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Afterschool Snack Program under ADE guidelines.
• Arkansas Council for Military ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState organization supporting military children. VBSD Military Education Coordinator Sonia Guerrero received award from ACMC for outstanding service in 2023-24.
• Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing resources and support for military-connected students and families. VBSD partners with MCEC to support military family transitions.
• Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterstate compact addressing educational transition issues for military children. VBSD supports compliance with compact requirements for enrollment, placement, and graduation.
• Keep Van Buren BeautifulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Partnership promotes recycling efforts across district campuses with annual tonnage of 2,108.64 tons as of July 2025.
• Crawford County LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty library system provides educational resources and services to support student learning and lifelong learning in the community.
• Van Buren Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner65+ year partnership promoting Arkansas Scholars program, economic growth, and community development. Chamber co-hosts recognition ceremonies for Arkansas Scholars graduates.
• City of Van BurencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for community services including fire department collaboration, Joint User Agreement grants for trails and fitness stations exceeding $700,000, and shared community resources.
• Van Buren Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to safety and well-being of citizens. Partners on emergency response, fire safety education, and prevention programs for schools.
• FoodCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing nutrition education. VBSD has FoodCorps service member Kathleen Barnes serving on the District Wellness Committee.
• Crawford County Health Implementation OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with VBSD Health Services to provide flu shot clinics at each school with parental permission.
• Heritage United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides bus parking during athletic events at softball field, tennis courts, and track facilities.
• Pointer Partners (Various Businesses, Nonprofits, Churches)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of local businesses, nonprofits, churches, and civic groups providing volunteers, donations, internships, job shadowing opportunities, and sponsorship for school programs and activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Conway Public Schools: Central Arkansas public K-12 district serving a comparable mid-size Arkansas city. Directly comparable on per-pupil funding model, special education offerings, and virtual/alternative program delivery.
• Alma School District: Neighboring Crawford County, Arkansas school district. Closest geographic peer with similar rural/small-city demographic profile, per-pupil funding model, and community partnership orientation.
• Bentonville Public Schools: Northwest Arkansas public K-12 district. Comparable as an Arkansas public school system with strong community partnership orientation and modern facility investment, though in a higher-income community.
• Rogers Public Schools: Northwest Arkansas public K-12 district with similar mix of elementary, middle, and high school campuses. Directly comparable on governance structure, funding sources, and wraparound service programs.
• Fort Smith Public Schools: Adjacent Arkansas public school district serving Fort Smith in the Arkansas River Valley. Directly comparable as a regional K-12 district with similar funding model, student demographics, and tornado-exposure profile.
• Greenwood School District: Adjacent Sebastian County, Arkansas district serving a comparable western Arkansas community. Comparable in size, funding structure, and athletic/community programming intensity.
• Springdale Public Schools: Large Arkansas public K-12 district in Northwest Arkansas. Comparable on K-12 educational delivery and state funding mechanics, with significantly larger scale and ELL-focused programming.
• Cabot Public Schools: Central Arkansas public K-12 district with similar multi-campus structure and community-school integration. Comparable on athletics programs, foundation fundraising, and capital improvement cycles.

Others

• Arkansas Department of Education: State oversight and funding authority for all Arkansas public school districts including VBSD. Not a competitor but the principal regulatory and funding counterparty whose policies and per-pupil formulas directly shape VBSD's operating economics.
• River Valley Virtual Academy: Operated by VBSD itself as an internal virtual school program, but provides a comparison point against standalone virtual charter operators like Arkansas Virtual Academy in terms of online K-12 delivery model within Arkansas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VBSDPointers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@VBSDPointers
• Facebookfacebook.com/VBSDPointers
• Instagraminstagram.com/vbsdpointers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/van-buren-school-district

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Van Buren School District