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Kearney County

Nebraska · Public K-12

Kearney County, Nebraska's 7 public schools span elementary through high school (3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high). Total enrollment is roughly 1,320 students.

7-year change in Kearney County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,320
+59 (+5%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
-2 (-22%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 90%
% Hispanic
7%
was 8%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
1,320
NCES CCD
Median income
$78,631
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
28.3%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
3
554 students
Middle
1
283 students
High
3
483 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
794 students · 3 districts in Kearney County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Kearney 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
7%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
90%
Hispanic
7%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
34.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.7%
civilian labor
Median age
40
24.8% under 18

Test scores in Kearney County

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

See all 4 schools in Kearney County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
C L JONES MIDDLE SCHOOLMindenMiddle04-08283·
MINDEN HIGH SCHOOLMindenHigh09-12272·
MINDEN EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLMindenElementaryPK-03239·
AXTELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAxtellElementaryPK-06200·
AXTELL HIGH SCHOOLAxtellHigh07-12135·
WILCOX-HILDRETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWilcoxElementaryPK-08115·
WILCOX-HILDRETH JR/SR HIGH SCHOOLWilcoxHigh09-1276·

Cities in Kearney County

Minden3 schoolsAxtell2 schoolsWilcox2 schools

About Kearney County

Kearney County is a sparse Nebraska county of about 6,713 residents, home to 7 public schools and roughly 1,320 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $78,631, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 14% meaningfully above the Nebraska median.

On the school-mix side, Kearney County spans 3 elementary schools (554 students), 1 middle school (283), and 3 high schools (483).

MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 794 students across Kearney County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,320 students, grew 5% from the 1,261 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 9 to 7 across the same 7-year window.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Kearney County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Kearney County?
There are 7 public K-12 schools in Kearney County, Nebraska, with a combined enrollment of about 1,320.
How many high schools are in Kearney County?
Kearney County, Nebraska has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 483 students.
How many middle schools are in Kearney County?
Kearney County, Nebraska has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 283 students.
How many elementary schools are in Kearney County?
Kearney County, Nebraska has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 554 students.
What is the largest school district in Kearney County?
MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest school district in Kearney County, serving approximately 794 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Kearney County?
Kearney County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 6,713, with a median age of 40. About 24.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Kearney County?
Median household income in Kearney County is $78,631, above the Nebraska average of $69,055. About 6.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Kearney County?
Approximately 34.5% of adults 25 and older in Kearney County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Kearney County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 28.3% of students in Kearney 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 Kearney County schools?
Across Kearney County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.7 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data