All rankings · Nebraska
Best Nebraska public schools
Eight rankings of Nebraska's public schools from the latest NCES + state-assessment data. Unlike most school rankings, this list leads with BeatsExpectations: a demographics-adjusted score that asks how a school performs relative to what its student population would predict, not just in absolute terms.
Nebraska schools outperforming demographics
Top schools by BeatsExpectations score. Demographically-adjusted; a +20 here means the school posts 20 more proficiency points than its FRL profile predicts.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HITCHCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | +19.1pp |
| 2 | MORRILL ELEMENTARY | MORRILL | +17.9pp |
| 3 | WEST POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | WEST POINT | +17.3pp |
| 4 | PENDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PENDER | +16.9pp |
| 5 | PENDER HIGH SCHOOL | PENDER | +16.7pp |
| 6 | SOUTHERN VALLEY JR/SR HIGH | OXFORD | +15.3pp |
| 7 | SO VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OXFORD | +15.3pp |
| 8 | SEYMOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | RALSTON | +14.7pp |
| 9 | SANDY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL | FAIRFIELD | +14.4pp |
| 10 | GRACE ABBOTT ELEM SCHOOL | OMAHA | +13.5pp |
| 11 | WOOD RIVER RURAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | WOOD RIVER | +13.5pp |
| 12 | PLATTE CENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PLATTE CENTER | +13.3pp |
| 13 | CHASE COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | IMPERIAL | +13.2pp |
| 14 | BLUE SAGE ELEMENTARY | ELKHORN | +13.1pp |
| 15 | PLEASANTON HIGH SCHOOL | PLEASANTON | +12.8pp |
Nebraska Title I schools beating the odds
High-poverty schools (60%+ FRL) ranking in the top quartile of their state's proficiency.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MORRILL ELEMENTARY | MORRILL | 68.8% |
| 2 | DAKOTA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | DAKOTA CITY | 64.8% |
| 3 | WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | NORFOLK | 63.5% |
| 4 | EMERSON-HUBBARD ELEMENTARY SCH | EMERSON | 63.3% |
| 5 | GARDEN COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCH | OSHKOSH | 61.4% |
| 6 | NORTHFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | GERING | 61.1% |
| 7 | JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | NORFOLK | 60.5% |
| 8 | MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL | MADISON | 59.5% |
| 9 | JOHNSON CO CENTRAL MIDDLE SCH | COOK | 59.3% |
| 10 | STODDARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BEATRICE | 57.4% |
| 11 | CARDINAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SO SIOUX CITY | 56.6% |
Nebraska schools by raw proficiency
The traditional ranking: highest combined math + reading proficiency on the state assessment.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLUE SAGE ELEMENTARY | ELKHORN | 88.5% |
| 2 | ALDRICH ELEMENTARY | OMAHA | 86.1% |
| 3 | FIRE RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ELKHORN | 85.1% |
| 4 | HITCHCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 84.9% |
| 5 | BENNINGTON SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL | BENNINGTON | 84.2% |
| 6 | WEST BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 83.9% |
| 7 | GRACE ABBOTT ELEM SCHOOL | OMAHA | 83.9% |
| 8 | SPRING RIDGE ELEMENTARY | OMAHA | 83.6% |
| 9 | ELKHORN VALLEY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL | ELKHORN | 82.6% |
| 10 | SKYLINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ELKHORN | 82.6% |
| 11 | BATTLE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | BATTLE CREEK | 81.9% |
| 12 | MANCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 81.7% |
| 13 | ELKHORN NORTH RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL | OMAHA | 81.5% |
| 14 | UPCHURCH ELEMENTARY | OMAHA | 81.5% |
| 15 | WOODBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ELKHORN | 81.3% |
Nebraska schools with the lowest student-teacher ratios
Schools with 200+ students reporting the fewest students per teacher. Excludes virtual.| # | School | City | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WEST POINT-BEEMER HIGH SCHOOL | WEST POINT | 8.6:1 |
| 2 | ORD JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | ORD | 9.1:1 |
| 3 | UMO N HO N NATION ELEM SCHOOL | MACY | 9.1:1 |
| 4 | HUNTINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 9.7:1 |
| 5 | WOOD RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | WOOD RIVER | 9.8:1 |
| 6 | ELLIOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 9.8:1 |
| 7 | FALLS CITY SENIOR HIGH | FALLS CITY | 9.8:1 |
| 8 | WEST HOLT HIGH SCHOOL | ATKINSON | 9.9:1 |
| 9 | CHASE COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | IMPERIAL | 9.9:1 |
| 10 | MCPHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 9.9:1 |
| 11 | ELMWOOD-MURDOCK JR/SR HIGH SCH | MURDOCK | 10.0:1 |
| 12 | SUMMERLAND HIGH SCHOOL | EWING | 10.0:1 |
| 13 | SARATOGA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 10.0:1 |
| 14 | HOLLING HEIGHTS ELEM SCHOOL | OMAHA | 10.0:1 |
| 15 | HIGH SCHOOL AT TEKAMAH | TEKAMAH | 10.0:1 |
Fastest-growing Nebraska public schools, 2017-2024
Schools open in both years with 200+ enrollment in 2017, ranked by % change.| # | School | City | Enrollment Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL | LINCOLN | +177% |
| 2 | ASPEN CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL | OMAHA | +93% |
| 3 | BENNINGTON HIGH SCHOOL | BENNINGTON | +84% |
| 4 | WYSONG ELEMENTARY | LINCOLN | +70% |
| 5 | ARBOR VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ELKHORN | +65% |
| 6 | HOWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | FREMONT | +58% |
| 7 | WESTERN HILLS MAGNET CENTER | OMAHA | +53% |
| 8 | KEARNEY EDUCATION CENTER | KEARNEY | +51% |
| 9 | LOTHROP MAGNET CENTER | OMAHA | +44% |
| 10 | WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | FREMONT | +42% |
| 11 | LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | PAPILLION | +41% |
| 12 | BATTLE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BATTLE CREEK | +40% |
| 13 | GERING MIDDLE SCHOOL | GERING | +39% |
| 14 | BLAIR DEERFIELD ELEMENTARY | BLAIR | +37% |
| 15 | SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SPRINGFIELD | +37% |
Most racially diverse Nebraska public schools
Schools with 200+ students ranked by diversity index: the chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.| # | School | City | Diversity index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DODGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 78.5% |
| 2 | BENSON WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 77.9% |
| 3 | MASTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 77.2% |
| 4 | EDISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 77.0% |
| 5 | BOYD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.9% |
| 6 | SPRINGVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.7% |
| 7 | PRAIRIE WIND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.6% |
| 8 | HARTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 76.5% |
| 9 | SUNNY SLOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.4% |
| 10 | MORTON MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.3% |
| 11 | MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.3% |
| 12 | ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.2% |
| 13 | BENSON HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 76.1% |
| 14 | GIFFORD PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | OMAHA | 75.6% |
| 15 | NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 75.6% |
Largest Nebraska public schools
Brick-and-mortar schools ranked by total enrollment. Virtual schools excluded.| # | School | City | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | GRAND ISLAND | 2,696 |
| 2 | CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 2,587 |
| 3 | MILLARD NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 2,572 |
| 4 | MILLARD SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 2,526 |
| 5 | SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 2,412 |
| 6 | MILLARD WEST HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 2,344 |
| 7 | WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA | 2,145 |
| 8 | SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 2,110 |
| 9 | LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 2,086 |
| 10 | PAPILLION LA VISTA SOUTH HS | PAPILLION | 2,038 |
| 11 | LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 1,982 |
| 12 | NORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 1,927 |
| 13 | PAPILLION LA VISTA SENIOR HIGH | PAPILLION | 1,867 |
| 14 | LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 1,848 |
| 15 | LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL | LINCOLN | 1,819 |
Nebraska schools underperforming demographics
Bottom 10% within state by BeatsExpectations. Not a verdict, a starting question. A school may be in leadership transition or recovering from a demographic shift.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARNOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ARNOLD | -21.8pp |
| 2 | GERING MIDDLE SCHOOL | GERING | -20.7pp |
| 3 | SILVER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL | ROSELAND | -18.6pp |
| 4 | HAMPTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | HAMPTON | -16.1pp |
| 5 | SANDOZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LEXINGTON | -16.1pp |
| 6 | STAPLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | STAPLETON | -15.6pp |
| 7 | WILBER-CLATONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL | WILBER | -15.4pp |
| 8 | LOST CREEK ELEMENTARY SCH | COLUMBUS | -15.2pp |
| 9 | NORRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL | FIRTH | -14.1pp |
| 10 | SCHUYLER MIDDLE SCHOOL | SCHUYLER | -13.7pp |
| 11 | BRUNING-DAVENPORT MIDDLE SCH | DAVENPORT | -13.5pp |
| 12 | SECONDARY SCH AT RAYMOND | RAYMOND | -13.4pp |
| 13 | LINDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | FREMONT | -13.4pp |
| 14 | MILLARD CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | OMAHA | -13.0pp |
| 15 | ASHLAND-GREENWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL | ASHLAND | -12.9pp |
About these rankings
These tables use the most recent NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) for enrollment, demographics, and staffing, and state-native assessment data (typically 2023-24 or 2024-25) for proficiency. BeatsExpectations is computed via per-state ordinary-least-squares regression of composite proficiency on free-and-reduced-lunch share. Full methodology.
License: CC-BY 4.0. Reproduce these rankings anywhere with attribution to allk12.com. Press contact: [email protected].
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