Summary:
The city of Benkelman, Nebraska is home to two schools: Benkelman Elementary School and Dundy County Stratton High School, which serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. While Benkelman Elementary has consistently performed well, with a 4-star rating and strong test scores, Dundy County Stratton High School has struggled in recent years, dropping in the statewide rankings and underperforming on standardized tests.
Benkelman Elementary School stands out as the stronger of the two schools, with a 4-star rating and test scores that significantly exceed state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school's student-teacher ratio of 12.1 is also lower than the high school's, suggesting smaller class sizes and more individualized attention. In contrast, Dundy County Stratton High School has seen its statewide ranking drop from 132nd out of 209 high schools in 2020-2021 to 195th out of 215 in 2022-2023, with test scores in English Language Arts and Science well below the state averages.
Both schools serve a predominantly white student population, with a significant Hispanic minority. The high rates of free and reduced lunch recipients, over 50% at both schools, suggest a need to understand the socioeconomic challenges faced by the community and how the Dundy County Stratton Public Schools district is addressing them. Additionally, the relatively high spending per student at both schools, compared to the state average, could be an area for further analysis to ensure the funding is being utilized effectively to improve student outcomes.
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