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Dawes County

Nebraska · Public K-12

Public K-12 schools in Dawes County number 7, teaching approximately 1,073 Nebraska students against a population of 8,140. The level mix is 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.

7-year change in Dawes County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,073
-170 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
78%
was 78%
% Hispanic
5%
was 5%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 4%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
1,073
NCES CCD
Median income
$56,280
Below Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.6%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
3
420 students
Middle
1
295 students
High
3
358 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
CHADRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
870 students · 3 districts in Dawes County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Dawes 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
87%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
8%
Native American
4%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
78%
Hispanic
5%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
9%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
36.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.6%
civilian labor
Median age
36
18.2% under 18

Test scores in Dawes County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.

See all 3 schools in Dawes County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
CHADRON MIDDLE SCHOOLChadronMiddle05-08295·
CHADRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLChadronHigh09-12242·
CHADRON PRIMARYChadronElementaryPK-02221·
CHADRON INTERMEDIATEChadronElementary03-04112·
CRAWFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCrawfordElementaryPK-0687·
CRAWFORD HIGH SCHOOLCrawfordHigh07-1279·
PINE RIDGE JOB CORPSChadronHigh10-1237·

Cities in Dawes County

Chadron5 schoolsCrawford2 schools

About Dawes County

Dawes County is a thinly populated county of about 8,140 residents in Nebraska. Its public-school system hosts approximately 1,073 students across 7 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $56,280, 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 18% meaningfully below the Nebraska median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Dawes County consists of 3 elementary schools (420 students), 1 middle school (295), and 3 high schools (358).

CHADRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 870 students across Dawes County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 14%: 1,243 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,073 in SY 2024-25. On the demographic side, Asian enrollment moved from 4% to 1% over the same window.

On this page, the community for Dawes County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Dawes County?
Dawes County, Nebraska has 7 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,073 students.
How many high schools are in Dawes County?
Dawes County, Nebraska has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 358 students.
How many middle schools are in Dawes County?
Dawes County, Nebraska has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 295 students.
How many elementary schools are in Dawes County?
Dawes County, Nebraska has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 420 students.
What is the largest school district in Dawes County?
CHADRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest school district in Dawes County, serving approximately 870 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Dawes County?
Dawes County has roughly 8,140 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Dawes County?
Median household income in Dawes County is $56,280, below the Nebraska average of $69,055. About 7.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Dawes County?
Approximately 36.2% of adults 25 and older in Dawes County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Dawes County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 40.6% of students in Dawes 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 Dawes County schools?
Across Dawes County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.4 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data