Lincoln Public Schools School District
School District · Lincoln, Nebraska
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
65
40 elem, 12 mid, 7 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,573
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
65
40 elem, 12 mid, 7 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,573
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
Evaluating Lincoln Public Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Lincoln 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.
Wysong Elementary
Lincoln · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Adams Elementary School
Lincoln · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Cavett Elementary School
Lincoln · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Nebraska rank
#192 of 242
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below Nebraska avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,573
$3,791 vs Nebraska median
District size
41,654 students
Much larger than Nebraska median
The short answer
Lincoln Public Schools ranks #192 of 242 Nebraska districts by overall school rating. Lincoln Public Schools's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 57 schools. Its top-rated schools are Wysong Elementary (8.6/10), Adams Elementary School (8.2/10), and Cavett Elementary School (8.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.5/10 despite 59% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 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 Lincoln Public Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Lincoln Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (57 of 65). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wysong Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Adams Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Cavett Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Sheridan Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Moore Middle School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Rousseau Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Humann Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Maxey Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Pyrtle Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Scott Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
See all 65 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln Public Schools serves 41,654 students across 78 schools in Nebraska's capital city, making it one of the larger districts in the state. Of those 78 schools, 60 have been ranked, averaging a score of 6.0 out of 10 — a solid baseline that reflects consistent performance across a sizable and diverse system.
The district's top performer is Maxey Elementary School, rated 7.9 out of 10, followed closely by Beattie Elementary at 7.8. That two of the five highest-rated schools are elementaries signals strong early foundations for students entering the district. Moore Middle School earns a 7.8, matching Beattie and ranking among the top middle schools in the system — an important detail for parents thinking ahead to the transition years. Lincoln East High School rounds out the standouts with a 7.7, giving families a clear pathway of high-performing options from kindergarten through graduation.
What stands out about Lincoln Public Schools is the concentration of quality at the top. Five schools score 7.7 or above in a district where the average ranked school sits at 6.0, meaning these standouts land meaningfully above the district norm. Parents who prioritize school selection will find real differentiation here — the gap between the top tier and the district average is wide enough to matter when choosing where to enroll.
For families evaluating Lincoln Public Schools, the size of the district works in their favor. With 78 total schools, there is geographic coverage and program variety that smaller districts cannot match. The ranked average of 6.0 suggests most students have access to competent, stable schools, while the cluster of high-scoring buildings — spread across elementary, middle, and high school levels — means strong options exist at every grade band. Parents should use school-level ratings alongside proximity and program fit to identify the right match within this large and varied system.
District Map
Schools in Lincoln Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Lincoln Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Lincoln Public Schools
65 schools Elementary Schools 40
Middle Schools 12
High Schools 7
District Details
- State
- Nebraska
- City
- Lincoln
- Total Enrollment
- 41,654
- Teachers (FTE)
- 3,059
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lincoln Public Schools?
Lincoln Public Schools has 65 schools in total — 40 elementary, 12 middle, and 7 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Lincoln Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Lincoln Public Schools is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Lincoln Public Schools?
Lincoln Public Schools spends $13,573 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lincoln Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Lincoln Public Schools is 13.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Lincoln Public Schools?
Wysong Elementary is the highest-rated school in Lincoln Public Schools with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Lincoln Public Schools?
Across schools in Lincoln Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 65.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 66.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Lincoln Public Schools compare to other districts in Nebraska?
Lincoln Public Schools has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 65 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
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 65.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 66.8%
Resources
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 Lincoln Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Omaha Public Schools (112)
- Millard Public Schools (36)
- Grand Island Public Schools (23)
- 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)
- North Platte Public Schools (12)
- Norfolk Public Schools (12)
- Gretna Public Schools (11)
- Columbus Public Schools (9)
- Educational Service Unit 03 (9)
- Bennington Public Schools (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)
- Educational Service Unit 13 (8)
- Crete Public Schools (6)
- Gering 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.
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.