Total enrollment
1,396
-95 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Howard County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Howard County operates 7 public K-12 schools across Nebraska, with a combined student body of roughly 1,396 and a county population near 6,534. By grade band, the county runs 4 elementary and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Howard 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 Howard County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nebraska | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 66.5% | #6 of 26 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,396 | #36 of 47 | #2,537 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 7 | #39 of 47 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.5:1 | #16 of 47 | #391 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 30.4% | #35 of 47 | #2,386 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 18.6% | #37 of 44 | #2,209 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
6,534
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
4 districts
Enrollment
1,396
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$76,767
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
30.4%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
4
876 students
Middle
0
schools
High
3
520 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
ST PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
667 students · 4 districts in Howard County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Howard 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+
26.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
2.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
42
25.2% under 18
Test scores in Howard County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- CENTURA SECONDARY SCHOOL· 70.0%
- CENTURA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 68.3%
- ST LIBORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 61.0%
- ST PAUL JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL· 58.3%
- ST PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 52.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST PAUL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | St Paul | Elementary | PK-06 | 390 | · |
| ST PAUL JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | St Paul | High | 07-12 | 277 | · |
| CENTURA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Cairo | Elementary | PK-06 | 273 | · |
| CENTURA SECONDARY SCHOOL | Cairo | High | 07-12 | 190 | · |
| ST LIBORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | St Libory | Elementary | PK-08 | 161 | · |
| ELBA SECONDARY SCHOOL | Elba | High | 07-12 | 53 | · |
| ELBA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Elba | Elementary | PK-06 | 52 | · |
Cities in Howard County
About Howard County
Across the sparse Nebraska county of Howard County of about 6,534 residents, the public-school footprint covers 7 schools and about 1,396 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $76,767 a year, about 26% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 2% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 11% meaningfully above the Nebraska median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Howard County spans 4 elementary schools (876 students), and 3 high schools (520).
The largest single district in Howard County is ST PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, which alone enrolls about 667 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment declined 6%: 1,491 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,396 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Howard County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data