Top Rankings
Kearney School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Nebraska for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 11 public preschools serving 3,236 students in Kearney School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public pre schools in Nebraska.
Public Preschools in Kearney School District have an average math proficiency score of 75% (versus the Nebraska public pre school average of 60%), and reading proficiency score of 61% (versus the 50% statewide average).
The top ranked public preschools in Kearney School District are Meadowlark Elementary School, Windy Hills Elementary School and Glenwood Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public preschool average of 38% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NE)
# Schools
15 Schools
608 Schools
# Students
6,064 Students
159,116 Students
# Teachers
387 Teachers
11,545 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Kearney School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 245 school districts in Nebraska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#82 out of 246 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
69%
58%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
73%
62%
Graduation Rate
94%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.38
0.57
% American Indian
n/a
2%
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
17%
22%
% Black
2%
6%
% White
77%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,021 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,464. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,825 is less than the state median of $16,776. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$79 MM
$5,080 MM
Spending
$72 MM
$5,511 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,021
$15,464
Spending / Student
$11,825
$16,776
Best Kearney School District Public Preschools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Meadowlark Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1010 E 53rd St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Gr: PK-5 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
Windy Hills Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4211 20th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Gr: PK-5 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #33.
Glenwood Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
8105 9th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Gr: PK-5 | 126 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #44.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3000 7th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Gr: PK-5 | 275 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #55.
Buffalo Hills Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6110 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Gr: PK-5 | 298 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #66.
Kenwood Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
915 16th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Gr: PK-5 | 385 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #77.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 W 24th St
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Gr: PK-5 | 271 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Bryant Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1611 Ave C
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Gr: PK-5 | 243 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
910 E 34th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8230
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8230
Gr: PK-5 | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1010.
Emerson Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2705 Ave E
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Gr: PK-5 | 211 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: n/an/a
1511 5th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Gr: PK | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
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