HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, a cozy elementary campus in CLARKS, Nebraska, run under HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, educates 114 students, covering grades pre-K through 6. Enrollment runs roughly 58% smaller than the state mean of about 272.

HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS runs 2 schools in total, collectively educating 207 students. HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of those campuses.

Demographically, HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL reports that nearly all students (87%) are White; the rest looks like 12% Hispanic.

On the income-and-resources front, Staff filings list 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 7.8:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 21.0:1, putting HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 28% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

With demographic context factored in, HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 66.6%; this one delivers 60.2%.

Across the wider county, ACS estimates for Merrick County put median household income runs about $68,354, about 18% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 3%. HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of 7 public schools in Merrick County (combined enrollment of about 1,252 students).

HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 10.5 miles from this campus. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL at 2nd of 5; the average score across the group is 60.7%.

Geographically, the school is in a low-density area.

Trend over the last 7 years. HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL's enrollment has edged up 50% since 2018, when it stood at 76 (now 114). Over the same period, the Hispanic share decreased from 18% to 12%. Class-load math has fell: from 10.4:1 in 2018 to 7.8:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.