Southern Valley Schools

The Southern Valley Schools district in Nebraska serves students from elementary through high school. The district has two schools: So Valley Elementary School and Southern Valley Junior/Senior High. Both schools have a significant proportion of students from low-income families, with over 50% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

So Valley Elementary School stands out for its consistently high performance on state assessments, with proficiency rates above the state average in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school also has a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 21.1% compared to the high school. In contrast, Southern Valley Junior/Senior High has seen a decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 42nd out of 202 high schools in 2021-2022 to 100th out of 168 high schools in 2023-2024.

Despite the challenges faced by both schools, they have some positive attributes. Southern Valley Junior/Senior High has an impressive 88.1% four-year graduation rate, and both schools spend more per student than the state average, which may contribute to their academic outcomes. However, the district should continue to evaluate and implement effective strategies to support student success, particularly for those from low-income families, and address the declining performance at the high school level.