High Schools in South Central Nebraska Unified 5

The South Central Nebraska Unified 5 district is home to two high schools: Sandy Creek High School and Lawrence/Nelson High School. While both schools serve students in grades 9-12, they have shown some notable differences in their academic performance and statewide rankings.

Lawrence/Nelson High School has consistently outperformed Sandy Creek High School on key academic measures, such as ACT proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Additionally, Lawrence/Nelson High School has a higher statewide ranking, placing 138th out of 215 Nebraska high schools in the 2022-2023 school year, compared to Sandy Creek High School's ranking of 172nd.

However, Lawrence/Nelson High School has also shown more fluctuation in its statewide ranking over the past three years, suggesting some instability or inconsistency in its academic performance. Both schools serve a relatively high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with similar free and reduced-price lunch rates. Despite the similar economic profiles, Lawrence/Nelson High School has managed to outperform Sandy Creek High School, indicating that factors beyond just economic status may be contributing to the differences in academic outcomes.