Grand Island Public Schools School District
School District · Grand Island, Nebraska
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
19
14 elem, 3 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
10,070
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
19
14 elem, 3 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
10,070
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
How this district compares
Nebraska rank
#208 of 242
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.0
below Nebraska avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,267
$4,097 vs Nebraska median
District size
10,070 students
Much larger than Nebraska median
The short answer
Grand Island Public Schools ranks #208 of 242 Nebraska districts by overall school rating. Grand Island Public Schools's schools with real test data average 5.5/10 across 16 schools. Its top-rated schools are Newell Elementary School (8.5/10), Engleman Elementary School (7.4/10), and Shoemaker Elementary School (7.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.5/10 despite 69% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Grand Island Public Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Grand Island Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (16 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newell Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Engleman Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Shoemaker Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Westridge Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Starr Elementary School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Barr Middle School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Howard Elementary School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Stolley Park Elem School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Walnut Middle School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Seedling Mile Elem School | 5.2 / 10 |
See all 19 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Grand Island Public Schools
Grand Island Public Schools is a Grand Island, Nebraska school district serving 19 schools.The district educates 10,070 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.9:1. District-level spending was $13,267 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.3/10, Grand Island Public Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Newell Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.5/10.
In standardized testing, Grand Island Public Schools students show an average math proficiency of 57.8% and ELA proficiency of 53.5%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Grand Island Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Grand Island Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Grand Island Public Schools
19 schoolsElementary Schools14
High Schools1
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Nebraska
- City
- Grand Island
- Total Enrollment
- 10,070
- Teachers (FTE)
- 674
- District spending per student
- $13,267NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 18.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Grand Island Public Schools?
Grand Island Public Schools has 19 schools in total — 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Grand Island Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Grand Island Public Schools is 5.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Grand Island Public Schools?
Grand Island Public Schools's district-level spending was $13,267 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Grand Island Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Grand Island Public Schools is 14.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Grand Island Public Schools?
Newell Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Grand Island Public Schools with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What are the test scores in Grand Island Public Schools?
Across schools in Grand Island Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 57.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 53.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Grand Island Public Schools compare to other districts in Nebraska?
Grand Island Public Schools has an average school rating of 5.3/10 across 19 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Nebraska by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 57.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 53.5%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NE
Compare Grand Island Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Omaha Public Schools (112)
- Lincoln Public Schools (78)
- Millard Public Schools (36)
- Papillion La Vista Community Schools (22)
- Bellevue Public Schools (21)
- Elkhorn Public Schools (20)
- Kearney Public Schools (15)
- Fremont Public Schools (14)
- Westside Community Schools (14)
- Norfolk Public Schools (12)
- North Platte Public Schools (12)
- Gretna Public Schools (11)
- Columbus Public Schools (9)
- Educational Service Unit 03 (9)
- Bennington Public Schools (8)
- Educational Service Unit 13 (8)
- Hastings Public Schools (8)
- Lexington Public Schools (8)
- Ralston Public Schools (8)
- Schuyler Community Schools (8)
- Scottsbluff Public Schools (8)
- So Sioux City Community Schs (8)
- Beatrice Public Schools (6)
- Crete Public Schools (6)
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.
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