Nebraska is known for many great things, from its thriving music scene to its vast prairies, and it also has a good school system. At the time of this writing, there are 1,036 schools and close to 328,800 students. There are also currently 23,751 teachers in the state, and many of them work in the schools that make up the largest school districts in Nebraska. Today, we’ll talk about these massive school districts. We’ll tell you how many schools are in each, share some interesting facts, and tell you about their value for your kids.
Omaha Public Schools
The list of the largest school districts in Nebraska is topped by Omaha Public Schools, which consists of a whopping 111 schools. Located in Omaha, the district has close to 52,000 students in grades pre-kindergarten to high school. This is a district that certainly has its finer points, as it is #1 in the state when ranked for diversity and #4 in the state for its athletics programs.
While the district does have some finer points, there are some things to be desired here, as recent stats show that there’s only a 28% reading proficiency and a 20% math proficiency among the students. Reviews from students, parents, and teachers give the overall school system a C+. Currently, there is a student-to-teacher ratio of 15 to 1, so the students do get a fairly good experience, but there’s still a chance for improvement.
If your students were to join this district, you could live in the wonderful city of Omaha, which receives great scores for housing, cost of living, and for being family-friendly, so that’s a bonus to consider.
High-ranking schools in the Omaha Public school district include:
- Columbian Elementary School
- Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School
- Central High School
- Burke High School
- Omaha North Magnet High School
Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln has a somewhat smaller school district with 74 schools, but it’s regarded as a better school system than the larger district in Omaha. This is a district with about 42,000 students that range from youngsters in pre-kindergarten up until and including high schoolers. As the name suggests, the district is located in Lincoln, NE. Per reviews from teachers, parents, and students, the district gets an overall grade of A- when they factor in the good teachers, clubs and activities, the administration, and diversity.
Part of the district’s success is due to the better-than-average student-to-teacher ratio of 13 to 1, which means that each individual student gets a good amount of personal attention. As a result, there’s a 53% reading proficiency and a 50% math proficiency among the students. On top of that, the district is rated as #6 for diversity, #7 for athletics, and #7 best overall of the districts. The city of Lincoln also gets high marks for its cost of living, family friendliness, and housing. The median home value is currently about $194,000.
We mean it when we say that the Lincoln district has some great schools. High-ranking schools in the Lincoln Public school district include the following schools, which all have received an A-rating from reviewers:
- Adams Elementary School
- Humann Elementary School
- Sheridan Elementary School
- Lux Middle School
- Pound Middle School
- Scott Middle School
- Lincoln East High School
- Southwest High School
- Lincoln Southeast High School
Millard Public Schools
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Next on the list of the largest school districts in Nebraska is the Millard Public Schools system. With 36 schools, this is the third largest district in the state, and it’s a fairly well-reviewed selection of schools that offers a good education for public school students. At this time, there are about 23,770 students that are in all grades from PK-12. This is another district that’s located in Omaha.
Unfortunately, the student-to-teacher ratio is a bit higher in this district at about 16 to 1. Still, the teachers do the best they can, and they’ve delivered a stellar 60% reading proficiency and 58% math proficiency level amongst the students. This is a highly rated district as they fall at #1 in athletics, #19 as having the best schools for teachers, and at #2 in the state overall. The district also has an impressive 92% graduation rate which is great compared to many other districts in many other states.
This is another district with many highly-rated schools. The following are all institutions that have received an A-rating from reviewers:
- Hitchcock Elementary School
- Aldrich Elementary School
- Upchurch Elementary School
- Russell Middle School
- Kiewit Middle School
- Beadle Middle School
- Millard North High School (A+ rating!)
- Millard West High School
Papillion-La Vista School District
Next, with 22 schools, there’s the Papillion-La Vista School District, which is for students living in Papillion, NE. There are just over 12,000 students across all of these schools, and they’re spread across all grades from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Reviews from teachers and parents give this district an overall grade of A- based on their academics, teachers, extracurricular activities, and the college prep that the schools provide. Currently, there’s a student-to-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
While there’s always a chance to raise their numbers, currently, the Papillion-La Vista district boasts a 58% reading proficiency and a 54% math proficiency across all students. There’s an overall graduation rate of 95%, so the kids can move on to the next chapter in their lives. This district is rated as the #8 overall school district in the state, and it comes #9 for its athletics programs.
The town of Papillion is also a highly-rated destination, with good scores for its family-friendliness and decent cost of living. The current home value sits right around $231,000, and the median household income is a nice $95,000.
High-ranking schools in the Papillion-La Vista school district include:
- Prairie Queen Elementary School
- Patriot Elementary School
- Rumsey Station Elementary School
- Liberty Middle School
- Papillion La Vista South High School
- Papillion La Vista Senior High School
Grand Island Public Schools
Located in Grand Island is this district, which currently has 23 schools. At this point, the district has just under 10,000 students across the PK-12 grades. The district has a fairly decent student-to-teacher ratio of 14 to 1, which allows for some individualized attention by the educators for each child. Still, there’s some work to do, as the district currently has a 36% reading proficiency and 36% math proficiency rate. There’s a 83% graduation rate across elementary, middle, and high schools.
The district falls in the middle when it comes to the best districts for teachers, but it falls in at #7 for its level of diversity. As for the town of Grand Island itself, it gets a B-score for its cost of living and as a place for families. Still, you can do a lot worse, so it’s worth a glance.
High-ranking schools in the Grand Island school district include:
- Stolley Park Elementary School
- Westridge Middle School
- Grand Island Senior High School
- Engleman Elementary School
- Seedling Mile Elementary School
Tips for Choosing A School District
Many parents don’t think much about the district where their kids go to school, but it’s important to do some research, so you find the best fit for your young student. Read reviews on sites like ours but also look up the schools themselves and check out their results. Also, look at the individual school and ensure it provides the studies, extracurricular activities, and clubs that your kids need. When you’ve found a school that you think you like, then ask to take a tour and ask all the questions you have so you feel comfortable.
Conclusion
These are the largest school districts in Nebraska, and many of them are highly rated for their academics and athletics. They’re worth a look if you’re thinking of moving to Nebraska or you’re looking for a better opportunity for your student. Remember to do your research before choosing a school, and you’ll be sure to find something that you like.
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