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Hamilton County

Nebraska · Public K-12

Public-school families in Hamilton County pick from 8 schools serving the county's roughly 1,656 K-12 students, with a mix of 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high.

7-year change in Hamilton County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,656
+63 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
8
-1 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 92%
% Hispanic
8%
was 5%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
9,464
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
3 districts
Enrollment
1,656
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$83,994
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
27.9%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
4
854 students
Middle
1
256 students
High
3
546 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1,230 students · 3 districts in Hamilton County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Hamilton 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
92%
Hispanic
4%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
89%
Hispanic
8%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
31.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
42
24.1% under 18

Test scores in Hamilton County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.

See all 4 schools in Hamilton County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
AURORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAuroraElementaryPK-05520·
AURORA HIGH SCHOOLAuroraHigh09-12382·
AURORA MIDDLE SCHOOLAuroraMiddle06-08256·
GILTNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLGiltnerElementaryPK-06150·
HAMPTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLHamptonElementaryPK-06112·
GILTNER HIGH SCHOOLGiltnerHigh07-1293·
AURORA PRESCHOOLAuroraElementaryPK-PK72·
HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOLHamptonHigh07-1271·

Cities in Hamilton County

Aurora4 schoolsGiltner2 schoolsHampton2 schools

About Hamilton County

Hamilton County is a thinly populated county of about 9,464 residents in Nebraska. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 1,656 students across 8 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $83,994, about 31% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 4%. That income level is 22% meaningfully above the Nebraska median.

On the school-mix side, Hamilton County spans 4 elementary schools (854 students), 1 middle school (256), and 3 high schools (546).

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,230 students on its own.

Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment expanded 4%: 1,593 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,656 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Hamilton County closed 1 school, going from 9 to 8.

On this page, the community for Hamilton County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County, Nebraska has 8 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,656 students.
How many high schools are in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County, Nebraska has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 546 students.
How many middle schools are in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County, Nebraska has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 256 students.
How many elementary schools are in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County, Nebraska has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 854 students.
What is the largest school district in Hamilton County?
AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest school district in Hamilton County, serving approximately 1,230 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County has roughly 9,464 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Hamilton County?
Median household income in Hamilton County is $83,994, above the Nebraska average of $69,055. About 3.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Hamilton County?
Approximately 31.3% of adults 25 and older in Hamilton County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Hamilton County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 27.9% of students in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County schools?
Across Hamilton County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.7 to 1.

Hamilton County school rankings

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