Total enrollment
1,252
-62 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Merrick County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Merrick County's school count of 7 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 1,252 students inside Nebraska, around 16% of the county population. By level, that breaks down as 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Merrick County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
-3 (-30%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 90%
% Hispanic
7%
was 7%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
4 districts
Enrollment
1,252
NCES CCD
Median income
$68,354
Below Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
33.9%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
4
657 students
Middle
1
223 students
High
2
372 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
CENTRAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
793 students · 4 districts in Merrick County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Merrick 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+
18.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
2.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
0.4%
civilian labor
Median age
43
22.6% under 18
Test scores in Merrick County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Central City | Elementary | PK-04 | 327 | · |
| CENTRAL CITY HIGH SCHOOL | Central City | High | 09-12 | 243 | · |
| CENTRAL CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Central City | Middle | 05-08 | 223 | · |
| PALMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Palmer | Elementary | PK-06 | 184 | · |
| PALMER JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH | Palmer | High | 07-12 | 129 | · |
| HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Clarks | Elementary | PK-06 | 114 | · |
| LOCKWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Island | Elementary | PK-PK | 32 | · |
Cities in Merrick County
About Merrick County
Across the small Nebraska county of Merrick County of about 7,724 residents, the public-school footprint covers 7 schools and about 1,252 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $68,354, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
For a sense of the school types, Merrick County is made up of 4 elementary schools (657 students), 1 middle school (223), and 2 high schools (372).
The largest single district in Merrick County is CENTRAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, which alone enrolls about 793 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,252 students, decreased 5% from the 1,314 reported in SY 2017-18. Merrick County now counts 7 public schools, down from 10 in SY 2017-18.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Merrick 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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data