Total enrollment
1,073
-87 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Dawes County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Dawes County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nebraska | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,073 | #45 of 47 | #2,703 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 7 | #37 of 47 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 10.9:1 | #10 of 47 | #261 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 40.6% | #19 of 47 | #2,071 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 37.6% | #21 of 44 | #1,569 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.
Residents
8,140
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
1,073
students · 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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- CHADRON INTERMEDIATE· 57.7%
- CHADRON MIDDLE SCHOOL· 56.0%
- CRAWFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 50.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHADRON MIDDLE SCHOOL | Chadron | Middle | 05-08 | 295 | · |
| CHADRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Chadron | High | 09-12 | 242 | · |
| CHADRON PRIMARY | Chadron | Elementary | PK-02 | 221 | · |
| CHADRON INTERMEDIATE | Chadron | Elementary | 03-04 | 112 | · |
| CRAWFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Crawford | Elementary | PK-06 | 87 | · |
| CRAWFORD HIGH SCHOOL | Crawford | High | 07-12 | 79 | · |
| PINE RIDGE JOB CORPS | Chadron | High | 10-12 | 37 | · |
Cities in Dawes County
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 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 7%: 1,160 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,073 in SY 2024-25.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data