Total enrollment
2,146
+153 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Thurston County
Nebraska · Public K-12
Thurston County's school count of 11 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 2,146 students inside Nebraska, around 32% of the county population. By grade band, the county runs 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Thurston County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Thurston County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nebraska | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,146 | #23 of 47 | #2,162 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #22 of 47 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 9.2:1 | #1 of 47 | #48 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 44.9% | #14 of 47 | #1,882 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 43.6% | #16 of 44 | #1,348 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.
Thurston County school rankings
Residents
6,627
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
5 districts
Enrollment
2,146
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$69,177
Above Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
44.9%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
4
1,230 students
Middle
2
146 students
High
5
770 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
UMO N HO N NATION PUBLIC SCHS
667 students · 5 districts in Thurston County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Thurston 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+
22.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
10.0%
civilian labor
Median age
29
34.3% under 18
Test scores in Thurston County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. Nebraska state average: 57.6%.
Top 2 schools (ELA)
- PENDER HIGH SCHOOL· 76.1%
- PENDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 73.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINNEBAGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Winnebago | Elementary | PK-08 | 438 | · |
| UMO N HO N NATION ELEM SCHOOL | Macy | Elementary | PK-05 | 391 | · |
| PENDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Pender | Elementary | PK-06 | 242 | · |
| PENDER HIGH SCHOOL | Pender | High | 07-12 | 191 | · |
| WINNEBAGO HIGH SCHOOL | Winnebago | High | 09-12 | 187 | · |
| UMO N HO N NATION HIGH SCHOOL | Macy | High | 09-12 | 170 | · |
| WALTHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Walthill | Elementary | PK-06 | 159 | · |
| WALTHILL HIGH SCHOOL | Walthill | High | 07-12 | 151 | · |
| UMO N HO N NATION MIDDLE SCH | Macy | Middle | 06-08 | 106 | · |
| EMERSON-HUBBARD HIGH SCHOOL | Emerson | High | 09-12 | 71 | · |
| EMERSON-HUBBARD MIDDLE SCHOOL | Emerson | Middle | 06-08 | 40 | · |
Cities in Thurston County
About Thurston County
Thurston County is a small Nebraska county of about 6,627 residents, home to 11 public schools and roughly 2,146 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $69,177 a year, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 10%.
For a sense of the school types, Thurston County spans 4 elementary schools (1,230 students), 2 middle schools (146), and 5 high schools (770).
The largest single district in Thurston County is UMO N HO N NATION PUBLIC SCHS, which alone enrolls about 667 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,146 students, increased 8% from the 1,993 reported in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Thurston County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data