The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Garfield County

Nebraska · Public K-12

From the largest high school to the smallest elementary campus, Garfield County's 2 public schools collectively enroll about 267 K-12 students, with Burwell Public Schools the heaviest district by enrollment. By grade band, the county runs 1 elementary and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Garfield County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
267
-65 (-20%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
2
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
99%
was 97%
% Hispanic
0%
was 2%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
2
1 districts
Enrollment
267
NCES CCD
Median income
$62,804
Below Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
25.8%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
1
152 students
Middle
0
schools
High
1
115 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
BURWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
267 students · 1 district in Garfield County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Garfield 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
98%
Hispanic
2%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
99%
Hispanic
0%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
0%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
29.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.7%
civilian labor
Median age
48
20.4% under 18

Test scores in Garfield County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.

Top 2 schools (ELA)
  1. BURWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 72.0%
  2. BURWELL JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL· 61.1%

See all 2 schools in Garfield County ranked by score →

All schools (2)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
BURWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLBurwellElementaryPK-06152·
BURWELL JR-SR HIGH SCHOOLBurwellHigh07-12115·

Cities in Garfield County

Burwell2 schools

About Garfield County

Garfield County is a rural-scale county of about 1,718 residents in Nebraska. Its public-school system serves approximately 267 students across 2 schools.

In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $62,804, about 30% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 9% noticeably below the Nebraska median.

For a sense of the school types, Garfield County is built around 1 elementary school (152 students), and 1 high school (115).

BURWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 267 students on its own.

Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Garfield County has contracted 20% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 332 students to 267.

On allk12, the community for Garfield County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Garfield County?
There are 2 public K-12 schools in Garfield County, Nebraska, with a combined enrollment of about 267.
How many high schools are in Garfield County?
Garfield County, Nebraska has 1 public high school, serving approximately 115 students.
How many elementary schools are in Garfield County?
Garfield County, Nebraska has 1 public elementary school, serving approximately 152 students.
What is the largest school district in Garfield County?
BURWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest school district in Garfield County, serving approximately 267 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of Garfield County?
Garfield County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 1,718, with a median age of 48. About 20.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Garfield County?
Median household income in Garfield County is $62,804, below the Nebraska average of $69,055. About 5.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Garfield County?
Approximately 29.7% of adults 25 and older in Garfield County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Garfield County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 25.8% of students in Garfield County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Nebraska county average of 40.0%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Garfield County schools?
Across Garfield County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 10.2 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Garfield County?
Garfield County residents are approximately 98% White, 2% Hispanic, 0% Black, 1% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data