Excellent
#25 of 967 schools in NE
Top 3% in state
Friend Elementary School
Elementary School · FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
501 MAIN ST PO BOX 67, Friend, NE 68359
Enrollment
144
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
9.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
144
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
9.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Nebraska schools
#25 of 967
In Friend
#1 of 2
public schools
In district
#1 of 2
FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Academic growth
9.7 / 10
Excellent
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Friend Elementary School
Elementary School in Friend · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Friend High Schools
0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Exeter-milligan High School
8.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Friend Elementary School
Friend Elementary School is a public elementary school in Friend, NE, part of FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Friend Elementary School serves approximately 144 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Friend Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #25 of 967 schools in NE.
Structured state assessment records for Friend Elementary School show 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 9.0 · Excellent
- NE avg 6.3
What Parents Should Know
At 144 students, Friend Elementary School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
Friend Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Friend Elementary School — Students at Friend Elementary School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
27.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NE EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 28 test records from NE state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.7/10.
How Friend Elementary School Compares
See how Friend Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
501 MAIN ST PO BOX 67, Friend, NE 68359
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Friend Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. EXETER-MILLIGAN ELEM-EXETER (rated 9.0/10, 8.3 miles away, in nearby Exeter), with a very similar rating. Another option is CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 16.8 miles away, in nearby Utica), with a comparable rating. Additionally, FILLMORE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY (rated 7.9/10, 17.9 miles away, in nearby Geneva), a more accessible option. For more schools in Friend, see our Friend schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 20.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| FRIEND HIGH SCHOOLS Friend | 0.0 mi | 7.2 |
| EXETER-MILLIGAN HIGH SCHOOL Exeter | 8.3 mi | 5.9 |
| EXETER-MILLIGAN ELEM-EXETER Exeter | 8.3 mi | 9.0 |
| EXETER-MILLIGAN MIDDLE SCHOOL Exeter | 8.3 mi | — |
| DORCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Dorchester | 8.8 mi | 5.4 |
| DORCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL Dorchester | 8.8 mi | 5.9 |
| CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Utica | 16.8 mi | 8.1 |
| CENTENNIAL JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL Utica | 16.8 mi | 7.4 |
| CENTENNIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Utica | 16.8 mi | 6.8 |
| ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Utica | 16.9 mi | 5.4 |
| MILFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Milford | 14.6 mi | 7.5 |
| MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL Milford | 14.6 mi | 8.1 |
| FILLMORE CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Fairmont | 15.3 mi | 6.1 |
| NEBRASKA EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Waco | 19.3 mi | 6.9 |
| TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Waco | 19.3 mi | — |
| MC COOL JUNCTION ELEM SCHOOL Mccool Junction | 17.4 mi | 6.1 |
| MCCOOL JUNCTION JR-SR HIGH SCH Mccool Junction | 17.4 mi | 6.3 |
| FILLMORE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Geneva | 17.9 mi | 7.9 |
| FILLMORE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Geneva | 18.0 mi | 7.5 |
| ST JOHN LUTHERAN SCHOOL Seward | 20.9 mi | 5.7 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 68359 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$81,250
Median Home Value
$179,900
Median Rent
$812/mo
Population
1,512
College Educated
27.1%
Homeownership
80.3%
Avg Commute
35 min
Poverty Rate
6%
Median Age
37.8
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| EXETER-MILLIGAN ELEM-EXETER Exeter, NE | 9.0 |
| HOWELLS-DODGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/DODGE Dodge, NE | 9.0 |
| BLUE HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Blue Hill, NE | 8.9 |
| CROSS COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Stromsburg, NE | 9.1 |
| ATKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Atkinson, NE | 9.2 |
| BLOOMFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bloomfield, NE | 8.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Friend Elementary School
What grades does Friend Elementary School serve?
Friend Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Friend Elementary School?
Friend Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 144 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Friend Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Friend Elementary School is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Friend Elementary School rank in NE?
Friend Elementary School ranks #25 of 967 schools in NE.
What is Friend Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Friend Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Friend Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Friend Elementary School has 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Friend Elementary School a charter school?
No, Friend Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Friend Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Friend Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Friend Elementary School?
27.8% of students at Friend Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 144
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 27.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Saline County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 2.8%
- Phone
- (402) 947-2781
Resources & Links
District
FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS- District Enrollment
- 242
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,673
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
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