Total enrollment
1,246
-310 (-20%) vs SY 2020-21
Cheyenne County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Public education in Cheyenne County reaches 1,407 students across 9 schools. Sidney Public Schools is the largest district at 1,141 students. That works out to 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Cheyenne County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
-2 (-22%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Cheyenne County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nebraska | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 60.0% | #20 of 26 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,407 | #35 of 47 | #2,533 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #28 of 47 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.2:1 | #21 of 47 | #588 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 45.8% | #11 of 47 | #1,825 of 2,526 |
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.
Cheyenne County school rankings
Residents
9,533
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
3 districts
Enrollment
1,407
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,348
Below Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
45.8%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
4
547 students
Middle
2
390 students
High
3
470 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
SIDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1,141 students · 3 districts in Cheyenne County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cheyenne 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+
23.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.4%
civilian labor
Median age
43
21.8% under 18
Test scores in Cheyenne County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- SIDNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL· 62.3%
- SOUTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 58.8%
- NORTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 57.2%
- WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 55.8%
- LEYTON ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 52.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL | Sidney | High | 09-12 | 329 | · |
| SOUTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Sidney | Elementary | 01-03 | 261 | · |
| WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Sidney | Middle | 04-06 | 238 | · |
| NORTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Sidney | Elementary | 03-04 | 161 | · |
| SIDNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Sidney | Middle | 07-08 | 152 | · |
| LEYTON ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Gurley | Elementary | PK-08 | 125 | · |
| POTTER-DIX JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | Potter | High | 07-12 | 88 | · |
| LEYTON HIGH SCHOOL | Dalton | High | 09-12 | 53 | · |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Sidney | Elementary | PK-KG | · | · |
Cities in Cheyenne County
About Cheyenne County
In Nebraska, Cheyenne County is a sparse county of about 9,533 residents. 9 public schools across the county instructs about 1,407 students between them.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $60,348 a year, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 9%. That income level is 13% below the Nebraska median.
On the school-mix side, Cheyenne County is made up of 4 elementary schools (547 students), 2 middle schools (390), and 3 high schools (470).
SIDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,141 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Cheyenne County has fell 20% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 1,556 students to 1,246. Over that span, Cheyenne County closed 2 schools, going from 9 to 7.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Cheyenne County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data