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Brown County

Nebraska · Public K-12

The schools list below covers the full public K-12 directory for Brown County: 4 campuses, 383 students, Ainsworth Community Schools as the largest district. By level, that breaks down as 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Brown County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
383
-60 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 93%
% Hispanic
17%
was 4%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
4
1 districts
Enrollment
383
NCES CCD
Median income
$54,676
Below Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.5%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
2
172 students
Middle
1
107 students
High
1
104 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
AINSWORTH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
383 students · 1 district in Brown County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Brown County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
89%
Hispanic
6%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
6%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
80%
Hispanic
17%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
24.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.7%
civilian labor
Median age
46
20.1% under 18

Test scores in Brown County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.

Top 2 schools (ELA)
  1. AINSWORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 67.1%
  2. AINSWORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL· 66.2%

See all 2 schools in Brown County ranked by score →

All schools (4)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
AINSWORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAinsworthElementaryPK-04138·
AINSWORTH MIDDLE SCHOOLAinsworthMiddle05-08107·
AINSWORTH HIGH SCHOOLAinsworthHigh09-12104·
AINSWORTH LITTLE PAWS PRESCHOOLAinsworthElementaryPK-PK34·

Cities in Brown County

Ainsworth4 schools

About Brown County

Brown County is a thinly populated Nebraska county of about 2,869 residents, home to 4 public schools and roughly 383 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $54,676, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 12%. That income level is 21% lower than the Nebraska median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Brown County spans 2 elementary schools (172 students), 1 middle school (107), and 1 high school (104).

AINSWORTH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 383 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Brown County has shrank 14% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 443 students to 383. Demographically, the White share of enrollment fell from 93% to 80%.

On this page, the community for Brown County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Brown County?
There are 4 public K-12 schools in Brown County, Nebraska, with a combined enrollment of about 383.
How many high schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Nebraska has 1 public high school, serving approximately 104 students.
How many middle schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Nebraska has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 107 students.
How many elementary schools are in Brown County?
Brown County, Nebraska has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 172 students.
What is the largest school district in Brown County?
AINSWORTH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS is the largest school district in Brown County, serving approximately 383 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of Brown County?
Brown County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 2,869, with a median age of 46. About 20.1% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Brown County?
Median household income in Brown County is $54,676, below the Nebraska average of $69,055. About 12.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Brown County?
Approximately 24.0% of adults 25 and older in Brown County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Brown County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 40.5% of students in Brown County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Nebraska county average of 40.0%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Brown County schools?
Across Brown County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 9.2 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data