Walnut Middle School

Summary:

Walnut Middle School is a public middle school in Grand Island, Nebraska, serving 853 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Grand Island Public Schools district, which is ranked 196 out of 212 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Walnut Middle School faces significant challenges compared to other Nebraska middle schools. The school has a much higher percentage of Hispanic students (66.82%) and a lower percentage of White students (25.44%) than the state average. Academically, Walnut Middle School consistently performs below the state and district averages in standardized test scores for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, with proficiency rates ranging from 38% to 55% across different grade levels and subjects. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Nebraska middle schools, receiving a 0 or 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is among the lowest-performing schools in the state. While the school's performance is relatively stronger for Hispanic students and English Language Learners, it ranks very low for Special Education students and White students.

Interestingly, Walnut Middle School's performance is significantly lower than the nearby Westridge Middle School, which is ranked much higher (top 60%) and has higher proficiency rates across all subjects and grade levels. However, Walnut Middle School's performance is more comparable to the nearby Barr Middle School, which is also ranked in the bottom quarter of Nebraska middle schools. Despite having a relatively low student-teacher ratio and higher per-student spending than the state average, Walnut Middle School's consistently low performance across multiple metrics suggests a need for comprehensive, data-driven interventions and support to improve outcomes for all students, particularly those in underperforming subgroups.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1600 N Custer Ave
       Grand Island, NE  68803-2550


(308) 385-5990

District: Grand Island Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
204th of 234 Nebraska Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,973 Help


Students who attend Walnut Middle School usually attend:

High:    Grand Island Senior High School

Feeder schools for Walnut Middle School:

Elementary:    Howard Elementary School
    Jefferson Elementary School
    Knickrehm Elementary School
    Lincoln Elementary School
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  13.8 Help
Number of students:  853

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
66.8%
White:
25.4%
African American:
3.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  78% Help


 See top rated Nebraska middle schools

 Compare Walnut Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Walnut Middle School ranks worse than 87.2% of middle schools in Nebraska. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked middle schools in the Grand Island Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.44. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Walnut Middle School has the largest middle school student body size in the Grand Island Public Schools District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (66.8%), White (25.4%), African American (3.6%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 78% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Grand Island Public Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Walnut Middle School is 13.8. 1 middle schools in the Grand Island Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Walnut Middle School employs 61.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Walnut Middle School is $14,973. 1 middle schools in the Grand Island Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Walnut Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Walnut Middle School 204th of 234 Nebraska public middle schools. (See Walnut Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Grand Island Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Grand Island Public Schools 196th of 212 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Walnut Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 33.52 190th 226 15.9%
2007 30.57 188th 227 17.2%
2008 39.04 195th 245 20.4%
2009 39.43 190th 243 21.8%
2010 19.55 233rd 254 8.3%
2011 24.54 212th 246 13.8%
2012 21.37 230th 255 9.8%
2013 19.19 231st 248 6.9%
2014 18.39 227th 252 9.9%
2015 16.10 238th 256 7.0%
2016 13.17 239th 255 6.3%
2017 5.03 230th 236 2.5%
2018 6.17 218th 225 3.1%
2019 4.04 241st 247 2.4%
2021 10.22 211th 223 5.4%
2022 13.30 233rd 249 6.4%
2023 18.44 207th 238 13.0%
See the entire list of Nebraska Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.27 20th 22 9.1%
2019 21.29 12th 15 20.0%
2021 36.76 16th 27 40.7%
2022 28.13 2nd 2 0.0%
2023 67.33 10th 35 71.4%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 7.78 43rd 44 2.3%
2023 9.76 69th 70 1.4%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.50 112th 120 6.7%
2019 8.74 114th 123 7.3%
2021 20.48 97th 115 15.7%
2022 26.99 93rd 118 21.2%
2023 36.33 107th 144 25.7%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 29.30 8th 9 11.1%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 14.32 11th 11 0.0%
2022 54.00 4th 5 20.0%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 7.17 141st 147 4.1%
2019 4.55 151st 156 3.2%
2021 10.15 127th 137 7.3%
2022 12.14 135th 150 10.0%
2023 21.80 122nd 146 16.4%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 5.90 136th 141 3.5%
2019 4.23 148th 153 3.3%
2021 10.13 136th 144 5.6%
2022 15.37 144th 160 10.0%
2023 19.53 135th 156 13.5%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.57 51st 56 8.9%
2019 13.71 57th 62 8.1%
2021 25.47 47th 59 20.3%
2022 35.83 38th 61 37.7%
2023 47.05 39th 67 41.8%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Walnut Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.67 191st 203 5.9%
2019 7.34 218th 222 1.8%
2021 12.83 195th 204 4.4%
2022 16.26 213th 234 9.0%
2023 22.05 188th 217 13.4%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Nebraska Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Walnut Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
Facebook Profile Picture by a student on FaceBook
Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Open Quote One of the best academic and good character schools I've been to. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Walnut Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 678 4 18 55 1 n/a n/a 0 756
1989 663 8 17 57 2 n/a n/a 0 747
1990 718 7 24 56 3 n/a n/a 0 808
1991 703 5 19 55 5 n/a n/a 0 787
1992 687 5 22 74 6 n/a n/a 0 794
1993 677 5 24 106 5 n/a n/a 0 817
1994 688 5 28 115 3 n/a n/a 0 839
1995 619 6 23 132 6 n/a n/a 0 786
1996 619 6 23 132 6 n/a n/a 0 786
1997 541 11 28 142 8 n/a n/a 0 730
1998 524 8 22 148 4 n/a n/a 0 706
1999 501 7 16 77 5 n/a n/a 90 696
2000 477 9 25 182 3 n/a n/a 0 696
2001 466 6 17 199 4 n/a n/a 0 692
2002 486 4 16 263 0 n/a n/a 0 769
2003 486 4 16 263 0 n/a n/a 0 769
2004 461 6 19 329 2 n/a n/a 0 817
2005 430 4 11 361 2 n/a n/a 0 808
2006 411 10 13 364 3 n/a n/a 0 801
2007 396 10 10 450 1 n/a n/a 0 867
2008 375 18 17 413 7 n/a n/a 0 830
2009 393 25 10 436 7 n/a n/a 0 871
2010 341 18 6 456 6 n/a n/a 0 827
2011 281 14 7 492 10 0 18 0 822
2012 289 17 10 484 8 1 13 0 822
2013 258 30 7 508 9 0 14 0 826
2014 283 30 14 528 11 1 0 0 867
2015 248 40 13 560 8 0 2 0 871
2016 220 31 15 551 7 0 0 0 824
2017 200 41 16 556 5 0 0 0 818
2018 200 35 6 516 2 1 11 0 771
2019 186 42 5 538 5 2 8 0 786
2020 189 30 3 525 7 1 10 0 765
2021 217 27 8 571 7 0 19 0 849
2022 207 25 8 603 4 0 25 0 872
2023 217 31 9 570 3 0 23 0 853

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Walnut Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 756 47.6 15.8 20.1
1989 747 49.2 15.1 20.2
1990 808 51.2 15.7 20.5
1991 787 51.8 15.1 17.2
1992 794 49.5 16.0 21.9
1993 817 49.9 16.4 22.8
1994 839 49.7 16.9 24.6
1995 786 49.6 15.8 34.7
1996 786 49.6 15.8 34.7
1997 730 51.2 14.3 39
1998 706 59.2 11.9 43.9
1999 696 61.2 11.4 62.7
2000 696 61.5 11.3 60.9
2001 692 62.2 11.1 58.5
2002 769 62.3 12.3 56.3
2003 769 62.3 12.3 56.3
2004 817 61.8 13.2 62.2
2005 808 61.3 13.2 64.7
2006 801 60.3 13.3 69.3
2007 867 62.2 13.9 72
2008 830 61.7 13.5 70.4
2009 871 64.0 13.6 73.9
2010 827 62.2 13.2 74.1
2011 822 63.3 12.9 75.1
2012 822 57.1 14.3 77.7
2013 826 56.6 14.5 84.3
2014 867 60.7 14.2 81.3
2015 871 61.0 14.2 79.9
2016 824 61.0 13.5 84.3
2017 818 61.0 13.3 84.2
2018 771 62.0 12.4 85.3
2019 786 64.0 12.2 83.6
2020 765 64.0 11.9 79.2
2021 849 65.0 13.0 77.1
2022 872 63.2 13.7 65.6
2023 853 61.5 13.8 78

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Walnut Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 756 47.6 15.8 20.1
1989 747 49.2 15.1 20.2
1990 808 51.2 15.7 20.5
1991 787 51.8 15.1 17.2
1992 794 49.5 16.0 21.9
1993 817 49.9 16.4 22.8
1994 839 49.7 16.9 24.6
1995 786 49.6 15.8 34.7
1996 786 49.6 15.8 34.7
1997 730 51.2 14.3 39
1998 706 59.2 11.9 43.9
1999 696 61.2 11.4 62.7
2000 696 61.5 11.3 60.9
2001 692 62.2 11.1 58.5
2002 769 62.3 12.3 56.3
2003 769 62.3 12.3 56.3
2004 817 61.8 13.2 62.2
2005 808 61.3 13.2 64.7
2006 801 60.3 13.3 69.3
2007 867 62.2 13.9 72
2008 830 61.7 13.5 70.4
2009 871 64.0 13.6 73.9
2010 827 62.2 13.2 74.1
2011 822 63.3 12.9 75.1
2012 822 57.1 14.3 77.7
2013 826 56.6 14.5 84.3
2014 867 60.7 14.2 81.3
2015 871 61.0 14.2 79.9
2016 824 61.0 13.5 84.3
2017 818 61.0 13.3 84.2
2018 771 62.0 12.4 85.3
2019 786 64.0 12.2 83.6
2020 765 64.0 11.9 79.2
2021 849 65.0 13.0 77.1
2022 872 63.2 13.7 65.6
2023 853 61.5 13.8 78

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walnut Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $955 (7.2%) $11,067 (83.3%) $13,283
2020 $1,521 (10.5%) $11,714 (80.5%) $14,543
2021 $1,663 (11.7%) $11,241 (79.3%) $14,173
2022 $1,669 (11.6%) $11,292 (78.8%) $14,339
2023 $1,486 (9.9%) $11,706 (78.2%) $14,973

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Walnut Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 241st of 247 Middle schoolsRanks 207th of 238 Middle schools
 10.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Walnut Middle School)2538
 13%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Island Public Schools)3739
 2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)4955
 6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Walnut Middle School)2646
 20%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Grand Island Public Schools)4052
 12%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)5557
 2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Walnut Middle School)2746
 19%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Island Public Schools)4044
 4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)4954
 5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Walnut Middle School)2455
 31%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Grand Island Public Schools)3859
 21%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)4866
 18%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Walnut Middle School)2844
 16%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Island Public Schools)3651
 15%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)5062
 12%
8th Grade Mathematics (Walnut Middle School)2555
 30%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Grand Island Public Schools)3155
 24%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)4761
 14%
8th Grade Science (Walnut Middle School)2653
 27%
   8th Grade Science (Grand Island Public Schools)3659
 23%
   8th Grade Science (Nebraska)6264
 2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students786853
 8.5%
African American4231
 26.2%
American Indian53
 40%
Asian59
 80%
Hispanic538570
 5.9%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White186217
 16.7%
Two or More Races823
 187.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients83.6%78%
 5.6%


Schools Near Walnut Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Walnut Middle School

Students who attend Walnut Middle School usually go on to attend Grand Island Senior High School

Students at Walnut Middle School are 67% Hispanic, 25% White, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Walnut Middle School ranks in the bottom 12.8% of Nebraska middle schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 853 students attended Walnut Middle School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Nebraska Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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