Medicine Valley Public Schools

The Medicine Valley Public Schools district in Nebraska operates two schools: Medicine Valley Elementary and Medicine Valley Junior-Senior High School. While the junior-senior high school has a strong performance history, ranking 24th out of 217 Nebraska high schools, the elementary school has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, dropping from 124th to 272nd in the past two years. Both schools serve a student population with high economic need, as indicated by their relatively high free and reduced lunch rates.

Enrollment at the schools varies, with Medicine Valley Elementary having 117 students and Medicine Valley Junior-Senior High School having 92 students. The racial makeup of the schools also differs, with the junior-senior high school being more diverse than the elementary school. In terms of academic performance, the elementary school outperformed the district and state averages in 4th grade English Language Arts, but underperformed in 3rd grade English Language Arts and 3rd grade Mathematics. The junior-senior high school had lower proficiency rates than the state in 7th grade Mathematics, but higher rates in 8th grade Mathematics.

The significant difference in spending per student between the elementary and junior-senior high schools, with the junior-senior high spending nearly twice as much per student, is noteworthy and may warrant further investigation. Additionally, the high free and reduced lunch rates at both schools indicate a need to understand the socioeconomic challenges facing the district and how they may be impacting student outcomes. Overall, the data presents a mixed picture of the Medicine Valley Public Schools district, with areas of strength and areas in need of improvement.