Best Public Schools in Pierce, NE

The city of Pierce, Nebraska is home to two schools - Pierce Junior/Senior High School and Pierce Elementary School, both part of the Pierce Public Schools district. The data reveals that Pierce Junior/Senior High School is a standout performer, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Nebraska and excelling on standardized tests. In contrast, while Pierce Elementary School also demonstrates solid academic results, it faces some challenges with higher chronic absenteeism rates and a larger population of economically disadvantaged students.

Pierce Junior/Senior High School stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with students significantly outperforming the state average on ACT and NSCAS tests. The school maintains a consistently high statewide ranking, placing in the top 25 Nebraska high schools in recent years, and boasts an impressive 88.1% four-year graduation rate. In comparison, Pierce Elementary School also performs well on NSCAS tests, but its lower statewide ranking and higher chronic absenteeism rate suggest potential areas for improvement.

While both schools are part of the same highly-ranked and 4-star rated Pierce Public Schools district, the data reveals some differences in resource allocation, with Pierce Junior/Senior High School spending $16,838 per student compared to $14,057 per student at Pierce Elementary School. This disparity may be an area for the district to explore further, as it could indicate different priorities or challenges at the elementary level, such as the higher free/reduced lunch rate of 25% compared to 22.83% at the high school.