CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Located at 300 W 24TH ST, in KEARNEY, Nebraska, CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is a middle-of-the-pack elementary school that caters to 284 students (grades pre-K through 5), part of KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS comprises 15 schools with combined enrollment of 6,066 students; CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is among them.

On the student-mix side, CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL records that the most-represented group is White (53%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Other groups include 35% Hispanic, 4% Black, 4% multiracial, 2% Asian. By comparison, Buffalo County as a whole is about 87% White, so the school skews considerably less White than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has 20 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.5:1. The state averages around 21.0:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. An estimated 52% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Buffalo County runs at roughly 33%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 58.1% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 62.0%.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Buffalo County put median household earnings sit near $75,911, 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of 28 public schools in Buffalo County (combined enrollment of about 8,449 students).

The closest other public school is PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, roughly 0.5 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL at 4th of 7; the average score across the group is 63.0%.

The campus sits in a small-town setting.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has rose 6%, going from 269 students in 2018 to 284 in 2025. The White share of enrollment declined from 68% to 53% over that span.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.