6.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska

86 schools · 56 Elementary · 12 Middle · 10 High · 8 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 66

Private: 20

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Estimated Scores: 25%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.0/10
Median household income: $76,666
Median home value: $251,375
Bachelor's degree or higher: 40%
Avg commute: 19 min
Owner-occupied homes: 58%

How Lincoln compares

Nebraska rank

#61 of 98

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.2

below Nebraska avg (6.3)

Median household income

$77k

103% of Nebraska median

Schools in this city

About Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln's public school system spans 61 ranked schools across the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The city-wide average sits at 5.9 out of 10 — a useful benchmark when sizing up individual campuses. Twenty-one percent of schools, 13 in total, clear the 7.0 mark, which means strong performers exist but aren't evenly distributed. Parents who map school boundaries early will have a clearer picture of what's actually accessible from a given address.

The top of the list belongs to Maxey Elementary School, which scores 8.1 — the highest rating among all 61 ranked Lincoln schools. Beattie Elementary (7.9) and Moore Middle School (7.9) follow within a tight band, with Sheridan Elementary (7.7) and Southwest High School (7.6) completing the top five. The concentration of strong performers at the elementary level is noteworthy. Three of the top five schools are elementary campuses, and Moore Middle extends that momentum into the middle grades — a valuable pipeline for families planning across multiple school transitions.

Lincoln's high school picture is narrower. Southwest High School leads at 7.6, the only high school in the top five. Families tracking performance across the full K–12 arc will want to research high school options carefully, since the ceiling there sits closer to the city average than the elementary tier does.

The practical takeaway: Lincoln offers real choice, but that choice is front-loaded toward the early grades. Use the 7.0 threshold as your first filter — 13 schools clear it, and those are where the strongest academic performance concentrates. From there, confirm enrollment boundaries, check commute distances, and look at grade-level continuity. With a city average of 5.9, the difference between attending a top-quintile school and a neighborhood default can be significant. That gap is worth investigating before a family commits to an address.

Filter by Level: All Levels (86) Elementary (56) Middle (12) High (10)

Filter by Type: All Types (86) Public (66) Private (20)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (86) Academics (86) Growth (58) Resources (62)

Filter by ZIP: 68506 (12) 68510 (12) 68516 (10) 68502 (9) 68521 (9) 68504 (7) 68507 (7) 68505 (4) 68512 (3) 68524 (3) 68503 (2) 68508 (2)

Elementary Schools

56 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	MAXEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 665 students · Pre-K–5th	665	Pre-K–5th	7.9
2	BEATTIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 350 students · Pre-K–5th	350	Pre-K–5th	7.8
3	PRESCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 506 students · Pre-K–5th	506	Pre-K–5th	7.7
4	ROUSSEAU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 558 students · Pre-K–5th	558	Pre-K–5th	7.6
5	SHERIDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 372 students · Pre-K–5th	372	Pre-K–5th	7.6
6	WYSONG ELEMENTARY 734 students · Pre-K–5th	734	Pre-K–5th	7.2
7	ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 757 students · Pre-K–5th	757	Pre-K–5th	7.1
8	NORWOOD PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 254 students · Pre-K–5th	254	Pre-K–5th	7.0
9	MCPHEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 275 students · Pre-K–5th	275	Pre-K–5th	6.9
10	CAVETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 561 students · Pre-K–5th	561	Pre-K–5th	6.8
11	CLINTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 419 students · Pre-K–5th	419	Pre-K–5th	6.6
12	CALVERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 336 students · Pre-K–5th	336	Pre-K–5th	6.5
13	ELLIOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 382 students · Pre-K–5th	382	Pre-K–5th	6.5
14	PYRTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 450 students · Pre-K–5th	450	Pre-K–5th	6.4
15	KLOEFKORN ELEMENTARY 495 students · Pre-K–5th	495	Pre-K–5th	6.3
16	ZEMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 379 students · Pre-K–5th	379	Pre-K–5th	6.2
17	ROBINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 348 students · Pre-K–5th	348	Pre-K–5th	6.2
18	HUNTINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 358 students · Pre-K–5th	358	Pre-K–5th	6.1
19	HUMANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 507 students · Pre-K–5th	507	Pre-K–5th	6.1
20	FREDSTROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 435 students · Pre-K–5th	435	Pre-K–5th	6.0
21	HARTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 333 students · Pre-K–5th	333	Pre-K–5th	5.9
22	KAHOA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 436 students · Pre-K–5th	436	Pre-K–5th	5.9
23	KOOSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 899 students · Pre-K–5th	899	Pre-K–5th	5.8
24	BROWNELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 335 students · Pre-K–5th	335	Pre-K–5th	5.7
25	HOLMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 387 students · Pre-K–5th	387	Pre-K–5th	5.6

Show 31 more elementary schools

26	MORLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 364 students · Pre-K–5th	364	Pre-K–5th	5.6
27	LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 392 students · Pre-K–5th	392	Pre-K–5th	5.4
28	EVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 413 students · Pre-K–5th	413	Pre-K–5th	5.3
29	PERSHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 436 students · Pre-K–5th	436	Pre-K–5th	5.3
30	HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 396 students · Pre-K–5th	396	Pre-K–5th	5.3
31	EASTRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 279 students · Pre-K–5th	279	Pre-K–5th	5.2
32	WEST LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 466 students · Pre-K–5th	466	Pre-K–5th	5.2
33	RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 450 students · Pre-K–5th	450	Pre-K–5th	5.0
34	MEADOW LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 549 students · Pre-K–5th	549	Pre-K–5th	4.9
35	RILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 276 students · Pre-K–5th	276	Pre-K–5th	4.8
36	ROPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 851 students · Pre-K–5th	851	Pre-K–5th	4.5
37	CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 649 students · Pre-K–5th	649	Pre-K–5th	4.4
38	ARNOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 687 students · Pre-K–5th	687	Pre-K–5th	4.3
39	SARATOGA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 225 students · Pre-K–5th	225	Pre-K–5th	4.3
40	BELMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 788 students · Pre-K–5th	788	Pre-K–5th	3.5
Private Schools 16 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL Private 136 students · Pre-K–8th	136	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	ST TERESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Private 243 students · Pre-K–8th	243	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
3	ST MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 276 students · Pre-K–8th	276	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
4	CATHEDRAL OF THE RISEN CHRIST SCHOOL Private 336 students · Pre-K–8th	336	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
5	ST PETER CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 297 students · Pre-K–8th	297	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
6	ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Private 410 students · Pre-K–8th	410	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
7	FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 105 students · Kindergarten–5th	105	Kindergarten–5th	Not Rated
8	ST JOHN THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 320 students · Pre-K–8th	320	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
9	NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS SCHOOL Private 444 students · Pre-K–8th	444	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
10	TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL Private 82 students · Pre-K–5th	82	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
11	CHRIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Private 162 students · Kindergarten–5th	162	Kindergarten–5th	Not Rated
12	ST MARK EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 69 students · Pre-K–8th	69	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
13	MESSIAH LUTHERAN SCHOOL Private 153 students · Pre-K–5th	153	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
14	GEORGE STONE SDA ELEMENTARY Private 23 students · Kindergarten–8th	23	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
15	CHILDREN'S CIRCLE MONTESSORI Private 7 students · Pre-K–TK	7	Pre-K–TK	Not Rated
16	TRINITY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM Private 11 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten	11	Kindergarten–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

12 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL 759 students · 6th–8th	759	6th–8th	7.8
2	SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL 1,103 students · 6th–8th	1,103	6th–8th	7.2
3	MICKLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 702 students · 6th–8th	702	6th–8th	6.8
4	POUND MIDDLE SCHOOL 719 students · 6th–8th	719	6th–8th	6.6
5	LUX MIDDLE SCHOOL 808 students · 6th–8th	808	6th–8th	6.2
6	CULLER MIDDLE SCHOOL 680 students · 6th–8th	680	6th–8th	5.5
7	PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL 784 students · 6th–8th	784	6th–8th	5.5
8	GOODRICH MIDDLE SCHOOL 852 students · 6th–8th	852	6th–8th	5.4
9	SCHOO MIDDLE SCHOOL 926 students · 6th–8th	926	6th–8th	5.4
10	DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL 396 students · 6th–8th	396	6th–8th	5.3
11	LEFLER MIDDLE SCHOOL 611 students · 6th–8th	611	6th–8th	5.3
12	IRVING MIDDLE SCHOOL 828 students · 6th–8th	828	6th–8th	4.7

High Schools

10 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL 2,078 students · 9th–12th	2,078	9th–12th	7.7
2	SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL 2,049 students · 9th–12th	2,049	9th–12th	7.6
3	LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL 1,880 students · 9th–12th	1,880	9th–12th	7.4
4	NORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL 1,914 students · 9th–12th	1,914	9th–12th	6.9
5	LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL 2,118 students · 9th–12th	2,118	9th–12th	6.5
6	UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL 204 students · 9th–12th	204	9th–12th	5.6
7	LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL 1,769 students · 9th–12th	1,769	9th–12th	3.9
8	NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL 902 students · 9th–12th	902	9th–12th	—
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	LINCOLN LUTHERAN MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL Private 309 students · 6th–12th	309	6th–12th	Not Rated
2	PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL Private 1,087 students · 9th–12th	1,087	9th–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

8 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	ECSE - HOMEBASED 510 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	510	Pre-K–Pre-K	5.2
2	EDUCARE OF LINCOLN 136 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	136	Pre-K–Pre-K	5.2
3	INFANT TODDLER AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL 7 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	7	Pre-K–Pre-K	—
4	INFANT TODDLER AT LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL 2 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	2	Pre-K–Pre-K	—
5	INFANT TODDLER AT BRYAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL 8 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	8	Pre-K–Pre-K	—
6	EARLY CHILDHOOD AT NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL 26 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	26	Pre-K–Pre-K	—
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	COLLEGE VIEW ACADEMY Private 219 students · Kindergarten–12th	219	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
2	BERNIKLAU EDUCATION SOLUTIONS TEAM Private 18 students · 2nd–12th	18	2nd–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska · 86 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 17 ZIP codes

Median Income

$76,666

Median Home Value

$251,375

Median Rent

$1,059/mo

Population

294,927

College Educated

40%

Homeownership

58%

Avg Commute

19 min

Poverty Rate

13.1%

Community Profile

Lincoln has a median household income of $76,666. It is a well-educated community where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $251,375, with a median rent of $1,059/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.1%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Nebraska
Total Schools: 86
Elementary: 56
Middle: 12
High: 10
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Lincoln schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Lincoln 📊 Niche Lincoln Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL

1 school · 204 students

LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

78 schools · 41,654 students

Nearby Cities

Valparaiso (1 school)

Other Major Cities in Nebraska

Top metros statewide by school count.

Omaha 193 schools Bellevue 34 schools Grand Island 27 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Lincoln, Nebraska

How many schools are in Lincoln, Nebraska?

Lincoln has 86 schools, including 66 public and 20 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Lincoln, Nebraska?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lincoln is 6.0 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Lincoln, Nebraska?

The top-ranked school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Blessed Sacrament School with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best elementary school in Lincoln, Nebraska?

The top-ranked elementary school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Blessed Sacrament School with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best middle school in Lincoln, Nebraska?

The top-ranked middle school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Moore Middle School with a composite score of 7.8/10.

What is the best high school in Lincoln, Nebraska?

The top-ranked high school in Lincoln on MySchoolScout is Lincoln East High School with a composite score of 7.7/10.

How many school districts serve Lincoln, Nebraska?

Lincoln is served by 2 school districts: University of Nebraska High School, Lincoln Public Schools.

What is the education level in Lincoln, Nebraska?

According to Census data, 40% of adults in Lincoln have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Lincoln, Nebraska?

The median household income in Lincoln is approximately $76,666 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Lincoln, Nebraska?

Yes, Lincoln has 20 private schools alongside 66 public schools. The top-rated private school is Blessed Sacrament School with a score of 8.2/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Lincoln, Nebraska?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lincoln is 13.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lincoln, Nebraska?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Nebraska Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.