Kearney Public Schools School District
School District · Kearney, Nebraska
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
14
10 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
6,064
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
14
10 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
6,064
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
Evaluating Kearney Public Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Kearney Public Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Meadowlark Elementary School
Kearney · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Park Elementary School
Kearney · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Central Elementary School
Kearney · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Nebraska rank
#129 of 242
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Nebraska avg
Per-pupil spending
$11,473
$5,891 vs Nebraska median
District size
6,064 students
Much larger than Nebraska median
The short answer
Kearney Public Schools ranks #129 of 242 Nebraska districts by overall school rating. Kearney Public Schools's schools with real test data average 6.9/10 across 13 schools. Its top-rated schools are Meadowlark Elementary School (8.3/10), Park Elementary School (8.3/10), and Central Elementary School (8.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.1/10 despite 74% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 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 Kearney Public Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Kearney Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (13 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meadowlark Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Park Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Central Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Windy Hills Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Kenwood Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Glenwood Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Buffalo Hills Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Horizon Middle School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Sunrise Middle School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Kearney High School | 5.8 / 10 |
See all 14 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Kearney Public Schools
Kearney Public Schools is a Kearney, Nebraska school district serving 14 schools.The district educates 6,064 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.7:1. District-level spending was $11,473 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.6/10, Kearney Public Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Meadowlark Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.3/10.
In standardized testing, Kearney Public Schools students show an average math proficiency of 68.9% and ELA proficiency of 68.7%.
The district includes 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Kearney Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Kearney Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Kearney Public Schools
14 schoolsElementary Schools10
Middle Schools2
High Schools1
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Nebraska
- City
- Kearney
- Total Enrollment
- 6,064
- Teachers (FTE)
- 386
- District spending per student
- $11,473NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 8.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Kearney Public Schools?
Kearney Public Schools has 14 schools in total — 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Kearney Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Kearney Public Schools is 6.6/10. 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 Kearney Public Schools?
Kearney Public Schools's district-level spending was $11,473 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 Kearney Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Kearney Public Schools is 15.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Kearney Public Schools?
Meadowlark Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Kearney Public Schools with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What are the test scores in Kearney Public Schools?
Across schools in Kearney Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 68.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 68.7%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Kearney Public Schools compare to other districts in Nebraska?
Kearney Public Schools has an average school rating of 6.6/10 across 14 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
- 6.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 68.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 68.7%
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 Kearney Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Omaha Public Schools (112)
- Lincoln Public Schools (78)
- Millard Public Schools (36)
- Grand Island Public Schools (23)
- Papillion La Vista Community Schools (22)
- Bellevue Public Schools (21)
- Elkhorn Public Schools (20)
- 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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