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Dawson County

Nebraska · Public K-12

Dawson County operates 19 public K-12 schools inside Nebraska, with combined enrollment of approximately 5,509 (about 290 students per school). By level, that breaks down as 12 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.

7-year change in Dawson County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
5,477
+41 (+1%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
17
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
40%
was 46%
% Hispanic
52%
was 46%
% Black
6%
was 5%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
19
5 districts
Enrollment
5,509
NCES CCD
Median income
$69,880
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
61.3%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
12
2,883 students
Middle
2
888 students
High
5
1,738 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
3,242 students · 5 districts in Dawson County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Dawson 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
59%
Hispanic
37%
Black
7%
Asian
1%
Two or more
14%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
40%
Hispanic
52%
Black
6%
Asian
1%
Two or more
n/r
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
1%
Bachelor's+
17.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.4%
civilian labor
Median age
36
27.8% under 18

Test scores in Dawson County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.

See all 9 schools in Dawson County ranked by score →

All schools (19)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOLLexingtonHigh09-12915·
LEXINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOLLexingtonMiddle06-08672·
COZAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCozadElementaryPK-05432·
DUDLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLGothenburgElementaryPK-06416·
BRYAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLLexingtonElementaryPK-05385·
SANDOZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOLLexingtonElementary02-03358·
GOTHENBURG SECONDARY SCHOOLGothenburgHigh07-12353·
MORTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLLexingtonElementaryPK-01321·
PERSHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLLexingtonElementary04-05312·
EARLY LEARNING ACADEMYLexingtonElementaryPK-PK279·
COZAD HIGH SCHOOLCozadHigh09-12248·
COZAD MIDDLE SCHOOLCozadMiddle06-08216·
OVERTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLOvertonElementaryPK-06167·
OVERTON HIGH SCHOOLOvertonHigh07-12118·
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT SUMNERSumnerElementaryPK-06112·
JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH AT SUMNERSumnerHigh07-12104·
COZAD EARLY EDUCATION CENTERCozadElementaryPK-PK69·
SWEDE PRESCHOOL ACADEMYGothenburgElementaryPK-PK32·
EARLY INTERVENTION/HOMEBOUNDLexingtonElementaryPK-PK0·

Cities in Dawson County

Lexington8 schoolsCozad4 schoolsGothenburg3 schoolsOverton2 schoolsSumner2 schools

About Dawson County

In Nebraska, Dawson County is a thinly populated county of about 24,202 residents. 19 public schools across the county hosts about 5,509 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $69,880, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%.

Looking at the level breakdown, Dawson County consists of 12 elementary schools (2,883 students), 2 middle schools (888), and 5 high schools (1,738).

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,242 students across Dawson County.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Dawson County has stayed largely flat since SY 2017-18, moving from about 5,436 students to 5,477. The school count fell from 18 to 17 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment fell from 46% to 40%.

On this page, the community for Dawson County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Nebraska has 19 public K-12 schools serving approximately 5,509 students.
How many high schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Nebraska has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 1,738 students.
How many middle schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Nebraska has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 888 students.
How many elementary schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Nebraska has 12 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,883 students.
What is the largest school district in Dawson County?
LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest school district in Dawson County, serving approximately 3,242 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
How many people live in Dawson County?
Dawson County has roughly 24,202 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Dawson County?
Median household income in Dawson County is $69,880, above the Nebraska average of $69,055. About 6.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Dawson County?
Approximately 17.6% of adults 25 and older in Dawson County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Dawson County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 61.3% of students in Dawson 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 Dawson County schools?
Across Dawson County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.7 to 1.

Dawson County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data