Total enrollment
1,118
-2 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Polk County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Public-school families in Polk County pick from 10 schools serving the county's roughly 1,118 K-12 students, with a mix of 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high.
7-year change in Polk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
-1 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
85%
was 92%
% Hispanic
11%
was 7%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
4 districts
Enrollment
1,118
NCES CCD
Median income
$69,768
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
29.1%
Below Nebraska avg
Elementary
3
499 students
Middle
3
203 students
High
4
416 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
SHELBY - RISING CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
403 students · 4 districts in Polk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Polk 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+
20.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.3%
civilian labor
Median age
43
22.3% under 18
Test scores in Polk County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHELBY - RISING CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 201 | · |
| CROSS COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Stromsburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 178 | · |
| CROSS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | Stromsburg | High | 09-12 | 120 | · |
| OSCEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Osceola | Elementary | PK-05 | 120 | · |
| SHELBY - RISING CITY HIGH SCHOOL | Shelby | High | 09-12 | 112 | · |
| HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | Polk | High | 07-12 | 93 | · |
| OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOL | Osceola | High | 09-12 | 91 | · |
| SHELBY - RISING CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Shelby | Middle | 06-08 | 90 | · |
| CROSS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Stromsburg | Middle | 06-08 | 74 | · |
| OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL | Osceola | Middle | 06-08 | 39 | · |
Cities in Polk County
About Polk County
Polk County is a rural-scale Nebraska county of about 5,225 residents, home to 10 public schools and roughly 1,118 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $69,768 a year, about 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%.
For a sense of the school types, Polk County comprises 3 elementary schools (499 students), 3 middle schools (203), and 4 high schools (416).
SHELBY - RISING CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 403 students across Polk County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,118 students, held roughly steady from the 1,120 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 11 to 10 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 92% to 85%.
On this page, the community for Polk County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Polk County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data