Total enrollment
3,333
+227 (+7%) vs SY 2017-18
Saline County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Saline County in Nebraska is home to 13 public K-12 schools, serving roughly 3,333 students between them, broken out as 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high. Crete Public Schools is the largest district by enrollment.
7-year change in Saline County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
12
+1 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
46%
was 52%
% Hispanic
49%
was 43%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
13
4 districts
Enrollment
3,333
NCES CCD
Median income
$79,910
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.5%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
6
1,621 students
Middle
2
625 students
High
5
1,087 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2,275 students · 4 districts in Saline County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Saline 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+
21.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.9%
civilian labor
Median age
37
26.1% under 18
Test scores in Saline County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- DORCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 67.7%
- CRETE MIDDLE SCHOOL· 53.2%
- CRETE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL· 51.1%
- WILBER-CLATONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL· 46.3%
- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT WILBER· 45.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRETE HIGH SCHOOL | Crete | High | 09-12 | 705 | · |
| CRETE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Crete | Middle | 06-08 | 471 | · |
| CRETE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Crete | Elementary | 03-05 | 455 | · |
| CRETE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Crete | Elementary | PK-02 | 438 | · |
| ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT WILBER | Wilber | Elementary | PK-05 | 254 | · |
| CRETE PRESCHOOL | Crete | Elementary | PK-PK | 206 | · |
| WILBER-CLATONIA HIGH SCHOOL | Wilber | High | 09-12 | 193 | · |
| WILBER-CLATONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL | Wilber | Middle | 06-08 | 154 | · |
| DORCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Dorchester | Elementary | PK-06 | 141 | · |
| FRIEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Friend | Elementary | PK-06 | 127 | · |
| FRIEND HIGH SCHOOLS | Friend | High | 07-12 | 100 | · |
| DORCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL | Dorchester | High | 07-12 | 89 | · |
| CRETE SUCCESS ACADEMY | Crete | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Saline County
About Saline County
Across the rural-scale Nebraska county of Saline County of about 14,650 residents, the public-school footprint covers 13 schools and about 3,333 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $79,910, roughly 22% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 16% above the Nebraska median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Saline County is made up of 6 elementary schools (1,621 students), 2 middle schools (625), and 5 high schools (1,087).
CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,275 students across Saline County.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,333 students, expanded 7% from the 3,106 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Saline County gained 1 school, going from 11 to 12. The Hispanic share of public-school enrollment rose from 43% to 49%.
On allk12, the community for Saline County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Saline County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data