Total enrollment
8,449
+59 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Buffalo County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Buffalo County hosts 28 public K-12 schools. Together they educate about 8,449 Nebraska students across 17 elementary, 2 middle, and 9 high.
4-year change in Buffalo County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
28
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Buffalo County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nebraska | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 65.6% | #7 of 26 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,449 | #5 of 47 | #923 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 28 | #4 of 47 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.0:1 | #37 of 47 | #1,337 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 32.6% | #32 of 47 | #2,329 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 38.0% | #19 of 44 | #1,553 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Buffalo County school rankings
Residents
50,579
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
28
8 districts
Enrollment
8,449
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$75,911
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
32.6%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
17
4,560 students
Middle
2
1,184 students
High
9
2,705 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
6,066 students · 8 districts in Buffalo County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Buffalo 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
34.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.6%
civilian labor
Median age
35
22.7% under 18
Test scores in Buffalo County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 21 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 82.8%
- WINDY HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 77.0%
- ELM CREEK HIGH SCHOOL· 76.8%
- PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 73.9%
- ELM CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 70.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- GIBBON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 52.6%
- EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 55.0%
- GIBBON HIGH SCHOOL· 55.0%
- NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 55.5%
- CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 58.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL | Kearney | High | 09-12 | 1,663 | · |
| HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL | Kearney | Middle | 06-08 | 648 | · |
| SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Kearney | Middle | 06-08 | 536 | · |
| MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 417 | · |
| KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 398 | · |
| NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 397 | · |
| KEARNEY EDUCATION CENTER | Kearney | Elementary | PK-PK | 332 | · |
| GIBBON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Gibbon | Elementary | PK-06 | 324 | · |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 284 | · |
| BUFFALO HILLS ELEMENTARY | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 272 | · |
| WINDY HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 259 | · |
| PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 257 | · |
| GIBBON HIGH SCHOOL | Gibbon | High | 07-12 | 251 | · |
| BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 248 | · |
| RAVENNA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Ravenna | Elementary | PK-06 | 242 | · |
| EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 235 | · |
| ELM CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Elm Creek | Elementary | PK-06 | 215 | · |
| AMHERST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Amherst | Elementary | PK-06 | 203 | · |
| PLEASANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Pleasanton | Elementary | PK-06 | 200 | · |
| RAVENNA SENIOR HIGH | Ravenna | High | 07-12 | 170 | · |
| SHELTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Shelton | Elementary | PK-06 | 159 | · |
| AMHERST HIGH SCHOOL | Amherst | High | 07-12 | 157 | · |
| ELM CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | Elm Creek | High | 07-12 | 149 | · |
| PLEASANTON HIGH SCHOOL | Pleasanton | High | 07-12 | 131 | · |
| GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kearney | Elementary | PK-05 | 118 | · |
| SHELTON HIGH SCHOOL | Shelton | High | 07-12 | 117 | · |
| WEST KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL | Kearney | High | 08-12 | 65 | · |
| HANNY ARRAM CENTER | Kearney | High | 06-12 | 2 | · |
Cities in Buffalo County
About Buffalo County
Buffalo County is a low-population county of about 50,579 residents in Nebraska. Its public-school system hosts approximately 8,449 students across 28 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $75,911, about 34% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 10% higher than the Nebraska median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Buffalo County comprises 17 elementary schools (4,560 students), 2 middle schools (1,184), and 9 high schools (2,705).
The largest single district in Buffalo County is KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, which alone enrolls about 6,066 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Buffalo County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 8,390 students to 8,449. Buffalo County now counts 28 public schools, up from 27 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Buffalo County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data