Van Buren's Awards and Facts

Van Buren Elementary School serves as a bridge between the two cities making up this outstanding district, Placentia and Yorba Linda. For over 50 years the Van Buren staff has been providing students with a rigorous educational experience under a tradition of excellence and caring. The staff is dedicated to the success and well-being of every student by providing high-quality education that targets 21st century skills including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.  Van Buren’s excellence has been proven and honored in 2004, 2008 and 2012 with the California Distinguished School and 2016 California Gold Ribbon School awards. Today, Van Buren staff proudly prepares over 700 Preppy K - 6th grade students for the world of tomorrow.

State of the art technology is utilized in all classrooms at Van Buren. SMART Board technology and surround-sound systems are used as an effective tool to maximize student engagement. Our Library Media Center holds 40 computers and the Computer Instructional Specialist provides students with weekly lessons targeted at increasing capacity for technology use as well as improving keyboarding skills. Additionally, six Chromecarts, housing 240 Chromebooks, allow students to interact with technology regularly and to build critical computer skills. Our goal is to reach 1:1 student/Chromebook ratio in 3rd - 6th grade in the next five years.

At Van Buren we strive to educate the whole child. The outstanding instructional programs foster opportunities for personal growth and the highest levels of academic achievement, including the visual arts and instrumental music for fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. Personal growth and responsibility are embedded in the academic programs and daily activities. Our school wide behavior expectations, STARS (Safe, There and Ready, Act responsibly, Respect, Show compassion), are taught and emphasized across our campus with positive behavior being rewarded consistently. Lifelong physical health is promoted through the Racing Roadrunners program, where students strive to walk or run 100 miles at school during the course of the school year.

The community and parents are involved in every aspect of campus life and work alongside staff to support student growth and success.  Our wonderful PTA is a dedicated supporter of co-curricular and extracurricular programs. Students enjoy a variety of field trips and assemblies, Walk Through history programs, after-school drama productions, the annual Jog-a-thon, Community Lunch, Book Fair and the Annual End of the Year Carnival, and so much more! The collaborative relationship between staff, parents and the community make Van Buren a most special place for students. Together we are proud Roadrunners doing all that is needed to prepare our students for continued success now and in the future.

Van Buren Vision Statement:

The Van Buren staff, students and community are dedicated to being a dynamic learning community that prepares each and every student for success now and in the future.

Van Buren Mission Statement:

It is the mission of Van Buren Elementary School to create a community partnership with staff, students and families that promotes academic achievement in an environment where students are Safe, There and ready to learn, Act responsibly, Respectful, and Show compassion.