Excellent
#48 of 966 schools in NE
Top 5% in state
Ponca Elementary School
Elementary School · PONCA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
505 3RD ST PO BOX 568, Ponca, NE 68770
Enrollment
118
Student-Teacher
11.8:1
Score
8.7
Grades
3rd – 6th
Enrollment
118
Student-Teacher
11.8:1
Score
8.7
Grades
3rd – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Ponca
#1 of 2
public schools
Nebraska elementary schools
#42 of 530
In district
#1 of 3
PONCA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Academic performance
9.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Ponca Elementary School
Ponca Elementary School is a public elementary school in Ponca, NE, part of the PONCA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The school serves approximately 118 students in grades 3rd – 6th with a student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 95.1th percentile among NE schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 72% proficiency in math and 64% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.6/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $66,250, where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a distant rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 118 students, Ponca Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Ponca Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Ponca Elementary School — Students at Ponca Elementary School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
29.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NE EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from NE state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 8.6/10.
How Ponca Elementary School Compares
See how Ponca Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 72% (2019) to 77% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 67% (2019) to 67% (2022).
Location
505 3RD ST PO BOX 568, Ponca, NE 68770
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Ponca Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SACRED HEART SCHOOL (rated 9.0/10, 12.6 miles away, in nearby Sioux City), which scores slightly higher. Another option is ALLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 12.4 miles away, in nearby Allen), with a very similar rating. Additionally, EMERSON-HUBBARD ELEMENTARY SCH (rated 8.7/10, 19.6 miles away, in nearby Emerson), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Ponca, see our Ponca schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 20.2 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 68770 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$66,250
Median Home Value
$205,600
Median Rent
$684/mo
Population
1,387
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
71.4%
Avg Commute
19.6 min
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Median Age
42.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Ponca Elementary School has a median household income of $66,250. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $205,600, with a median rent of $684/month. The local poverty rate of 7.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| EMERSON-HUBBARD ELEMENTARY SCH Emerson, NE | 8.7 |
| KENESAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Kenesaw, NE | 8.7 |
| LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Laurel, NE | 8.7 |
| CLARKSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Clarkson, NE | 8.6 |
| GORDON-RUSHVILLE ELE-RUSHVILLE Rushville, NE | 8.6 |
| ALLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Allen, NE | 8.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ponca Elementary School
What grades does Ponca Elementary School serve?
Ponca Elementary School serves students in grades 3rd through 6th.
How many students attend Ponca Elementary School?
Ponca Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 118 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponca Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponca Elementary School is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ponca Elementary School rank in NE?
Ponca Elementary School is ranked #48 out of 966 schools in NE.
What is Ponca Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ponca Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ponca Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ponca Elementary School has 72.0% math proficiency and 63.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Ponca Elementary School a charter school?
No, Ponca Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ponca Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Ponca Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ponca Elementary School?
29.7% of students at Ponca 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 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 3rd – 6th
- Enrollment
- 118
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 29.7%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Dixon County
- Phone
- (402) 755-5700
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
PONCA PUBLIC SCHOOLS- District Enrollment
- 441
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,407
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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.
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