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Wayne County

Nebraska · Public K-12

The schools list below covers the full public K-12 directory for Wayne County: 9 schools, 1,837 students, Wayne Community Schools as the largest district. The level mix is 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.

4-year change in Wayne County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,837
+93 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

How Wayne County ranks

Among counties
MeasureThis countyIn NebraskaIn the US
State test proficiency
ranked highest first
61.8%#17 of 26N/A
Enrollment
ranked largest first
1,837#25 of 47#2,297 of 2,745
Number of schools
ranked most first
8#33 of 47N/A
Students per teacher
ranked fewest first
12.9:1#25 of 47#888 of 2,655
Free or reduced-price lunch share
ranked highest first
40.0%#21 of 47#2,095 of 2,526
Diversity index
ranked most diverse first
47.8%#14 of 44#1,197 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.

Wayne County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
Residents
9,844
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
4 districts
Enrollment
1,837
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$66,215
Below Nebraska avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.0%
Above Nebraska avg
Elementary
4
1,022 students
Middle
1
148 students
High
3
667 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
1,016 students · 4 districts in Wayne County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Wayne 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
86%
Hispanic
10%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
7%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
65%
Hispanic
32%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
30.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.3%
civilian labor
Median age
30
20.3% under 18

Test scores in Wayne County

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

See all 4 schools in Wayne County ranked by score →

All schools (9)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
WAYNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWayneElementaryPK-06499·
WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWakefieldElementaryPK-06341·
WAYNE HIGH SCHOOLWayneHigh09-12323·
WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOLWakefieldHigh07-12234·
WAYNE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLWayneMiddle07-08148·
WINSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWinsideElementaryPK-06136·
WINSIDE HIGH SCHOOLWinsideHigh07-12110·
WAYNE EARLY LEARNING CENTERWayneElementaryPK-PK46·
TOWER SCHOOLWayneCombinedPK-120·

Cities in Wayne County

Wayne5 schoolsWakefield2 schoolsWinside2 schools

About Wayne County

Wayne County is a compact Nebraska county of about 9,844 residents, home to 9 public schools and roughly 1,837 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $66,215, about 30% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%.

Looking at the level breakdown, Wayne County comprises 4 elementary schools (1,022 students), 1 middle school (148), 3 high schools (667), and 1 combined or other schools.

WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,016 students on its own.

Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment increased 5%: 1,744 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,837 in SY 2024-25.

On allk12, the community for Wayne County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Wayne County?
There are 9 public K-12 schools in Wayne County, Nebraska, with a combined enrollment of about 1,837.
How many high schools are in Wayne County?
Wayne County, Nebraska has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 667 students.
How many middle schools are in Wayne County?
Wayne County, Nebraska has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 148 students.
How many elementary schools are in Wayne County?
Wayne County, Nebraska has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,022 students.
What is the largest school district in Wayne County?
WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS is the largest school district in Wayne County, serving approximately 1,016 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Wayne County?
Wayne County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 9,844, with a median age of 30. About 20.3% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Wayne County?
Median household income in Wayne County is $66,215, below the Nebraska average of $69,055. About 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Wayne County?
Approximately 30.4% of adults 25 and older in Wayne County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Wayne County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 40.0% of students in Wayne County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Nebraska county average of 40.0%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wayne County schools?
Across Wayne County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.0 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data