Amherst Elementary School

Q: Is Amherst Elementary School a good school?

Amherst Elementary School ranks 59 th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Amherst Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in Amherst, Nebraska, with 224 students. Part of the Amherst Public Schools district, Amherst Elementary has consistently performed well, ranking in the top 25% of Nebraska elementary schools for several years and earning a 4- or 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Amherst Elementary students consistently outperform the state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics. For example, in 2023-2024, 74% of 4th graders and 78.26% of 5th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state averages of 58.98% and 57.43% respectively. In Math, 74% of 5th graders were proficient or better, compared to 61.1% statewide. The school also has lower chronic absenteeism rates (8.5% in 2022-2023) compared to the state average of 21.5%, and a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (20.98% in 2022-2023).

Amherst Elementary outperforms many of the nearby schools in the Kearney Public Schools district, such as Meadowlark Elementary, which had 91.04% of 4th graders proficient in ELA. However, Amherst still performs better than the state averages across the board and has maintained a 4- or 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past 10 years, demonstrating its ability to consistently deliver high-quality education.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

100 N Sycamore
Amherst, NE 68812-0008

(308) 826-3131

District: Amherst Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
59^th of 428 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,015

Students who attend Amherst Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Amherst High School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.4

Number of students: 213

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.4%

Two or more races:

3.3%

Hispanic:

0.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 19.7%

See top rated Nebraska elementary schools

Compare Amherst Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Amherst Elementary School ranks better than 86.2% of elementary schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 81.79. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (94.4%), two or more races (3.3%), American Indian (0.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 19.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Amherst Elementary School is 18.4. (See more...)

Compare Amherst Elementary School employs 11.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Amherst Elementary School is $15,015.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Amherst Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Amherst Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Amherst Public Schools 89^th of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Amherst Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Amherst Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	59.78	185^th	418	55.7%
2007	31.68	349^th	430	18.8%
2008	63.06	187^th	478	60.9%
2009	72.38	42^nd	471	91.1%
2010	65.93	138^th	502	72.5%
2011	55.95	210^th	473	55.6%
2012	74.51	87^th	480	81.9%
2013	64.38	149^th	485	69.3%
2014	68.36	122^nd	483	74.7%
2015	76.81	87^th	488	82.2%
2016	75.49	97^th	480	79.8%
2017	82.80	45^th	459	90.2%
2018	81.91	56^th	450	87.6%
2019	76.61	88^th	452	80.5%
2021	87.37	27^th	442	93.9%
2022	71.92	103^rd	457	77.5%
2023	78.34	85^th	459	81.5%
2024	81.79	59^th	428	86.2%

See the entire list of Nebraska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Male students at Amherst Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	75.72	60^th	347	82.7%
2019	71.30	84^th	367	77.1%
2021	88.21	20^th	328	93.9%
2022	70.95	89^th	356	75.0%
2023	79.61	64^th	366	82.5%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Amherst Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	75.40	66^th	391	83.1%
2019	70.15	94^th	391	76.0%
2021	82.61	38^th	368	89.7%
2022	59.38	138^th	388	64.4%
2023	69.36	96^th	385	75.1%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Elementary 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.

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Amherst Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	93	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	93
1989	92	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	92
1990	99	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	99
1991	108	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	108
1992	109	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	110
1993	100	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	101
1994	99	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	100
1995	133	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	135
1996	133	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	135
1997	135	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	136
1998	160	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	160
1999	138	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	138
2000	143	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	143
2001	142	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	142
2002	125	0	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	130
2003	125	0	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	130
2004	119	0	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	123
2005	114	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	117
2006	115	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	118
2007	119	0	0	1	1	n/a	n/a	121
2008	124	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	124
2009	130	2	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	136
2010	153	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	156
2011	152	0	0	4	1	0	1	158
2012	181	1	0	5	2	0	0	189
2013	191	1	0	6	2	0	0	200
2014	190	1	0	8	2	0	0	201
2015	189	0	0	11	2	0	0	202
2016	198	0	0	10	0	0	0	208
2017	200	1	0	9	0	0	0	210
2018	206	1	0	10	0	0	0	217
2019	185	1	0	9	1	0	0	196
2020	179	2	0	7	2	0	0	190
2021	190	1	0	6	1	0	0	198
2022	191	2	0	3	2	0	2	200
2023	211	2	0	2	2	0	7	224
2024	201	1	0	2	2	0	7	213

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 Amherst Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	93	7.0	13.2	11.8
1989	92	6.5	14.1	10.9
1990	99	6.0	16.5	12.1
1991	108	8.0	13.5	9.3
1992	110	9.0	12.2	11.8
1993	101	8.8	11.5	11.9
1994	100	8.7	11.5	15
1995	135	8.2	16.5	12.6
1996	135	8.2	16.5	12.6
1997	136	8.2	16.6	14
1998	160	9.6	16.7	6.9
1999	138	9.6	14.4	15.2
2000	143	10.1	14.2	18.9
2001	142	10.2	13.9	14.1
2002	130	10.3	12.6	27.7
2003	130	10.3	12.6	27.7
2004	123	9.8	12.6	30.1
2005	117	8.9	13.1	23.1
2006	118	9.0	13.1	31.4
2007	121	10.3	11.7	26.4
2008	124	10.5	11.8	30.6
2009	136	10.5	13.0	33.1
2010	156	11.0	14.1	34
2011	158	11.0	14.3	36.1
2012	189	12.0	15.7	33.3
2013	200	12.0	16.6	32.5
2014	201	11.0	18.2	28.4
2015	202	12.0	16.8	25.7
2016	208	12.0	17.3	21.2
2017	210	12.1	17.3	21.4
2018	217	12.1	17.9	31.8
2019	196	11.6	16.8	27
2020	190	11.5	16.5	32.6
2021	198	12.0	16.4	23.7
2022	200	13.0	15.3	20
2023	224	12.0	18.6	21
2024	213	11.5	18.4	19.7

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 Amherst Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	93	7.0	13.2	11.8
1989	92	6.5	14.1	10.9
1990	99	6.0	16.5	12.1
1991	108	8.0	13.5	9.3
1992	110	9.0	12.2	11.8
1993	101	8.8	11.5	11.9
1994	100	8.7	11.5	15
1995	135	8.2	16.5	12.6
1996	135	8.2	16.5	12.6
1997	136	8.2	16.6	14
1998	160	9.6	16.7	6.9
1999	138	9.6	14.4	15.2
2000	143	10.1	14.2	18.9
2001	142	10.2	13.9	14.1
2002	130	10.3	12.6	27.7
2003	130	10.3	12.6	27.7
2004	123	9.8	12.6	30.1
2005	117	8.9	13.1	23.1
2006	118	9.0	13.1	31.4
2007	121	10.3	11.7	26.4
2008	124	10.5	11.8	30.6
2009	136	10.5	13.0	33.1
2010	156	11.0	14.1	34
2011	158	11.0	14.3	36.1
2012	189	12.0	15.7	33.3
2013	200	12.0	16.6	32.5
2014	201	11.0	18.2	28.4
2015	202	12.0	16.8	25.7
2016	208	12.0	17.3	21.2
2017	210	12.1	17.3	21.4
2018	217	12.1	17.9	31.8
2019	196	11.6	16.8	27
2020	190	11.5	16.5	32.6
2021	198	12.0	16.4	23.7
2022	200	13.0	15.3	20
2023	224	12.0	18.6	21
2024	213	11.5	18.4	19.7

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 Amherst Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$178 (1.4%)	$12,030 (94.7%)	$12,698
2020	$164 (1.1%)	$12,949 (88.3%)	$14,661
2021	$333 (2.1%)	$13,768 (87.6%)	$15,713
2022	$214 (1.4%)	$13,584 (88.8%)	$15,290
2023	$91 (0.6%)	$13,448 (89.6%)	$15,015

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Amherst Elementary 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 88^th of 452 Elementary schools	Ranks 85^th of 459 Elementary schools	1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Elementary School)	65	72	7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Public Schools)	65	72	7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	56	63	7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Amherst Elementary School)	78	80	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Amherst Public Schools)	78	80	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	55	58	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Elementary School)	81	64	17%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Public Schools)	81	64	17%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	58	55	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Elementary School)	89	86	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Public Schools)	89	86	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	51	58	7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Elementary School)	54	77	23%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Public Schools)	54	77	23%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	48	56	8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Elementary School)	68	42	26%
5th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Public Schools)	68	42	26%
5th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	54	49	5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Elementary School)	48	58	10%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Public Schools)	48	58	10%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	49	55	6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Elementary School)	70	86	16%
6th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Public Schools)	70	86	16%
6th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	55	57	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	196	224	14.3%
African American	1	2	100%
American Indian	1	2	100%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	9	2	77.8%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	185	211	14.1%
Two or More Races	0	7
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	27%	21%	6.1%

Schools Near Amherst Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Amherst Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	100 N Sycamore	Amherst	68812	Buffalo County	Amherst Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 826-3131	213	12	18.4	19.7%	201 (94.4%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.3%)	81.8	59^th of 428 public elementary schools	86.2%		78.3	85^th of 459 public elementary schools	81.5%	26	$15,015	$91	$13,448
Elm Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	230 East Calkins Avenue	Elm Creek	68836	Buffalo County	Elm Creek Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 856-4300	202	17	11.9	34.7%	194 (96.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	62.3	177^th of 428 public elementary schools	58.6%		51.6	228^th of 459 public elementary schools	50.3%	51	$17,029	$864	$13,513
Glenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8105 9th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8240	126	8	15.8	13.5%	120 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	76.4	91^st of 428 public elementary schools	78.7%		77.8	89^th of 459 public elementary schools	80.6%	2	$11,782	$141	$10,475
Buffalo Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6110 11th Avenue	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8290	298	19	15.7	25.8%	261 (87.6%)	2 (0.7%)	22 (7.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.4%)	83.4	49^th of 428 public elementary schools	88.6%		79.3	75^th of 459 public elementary schools	83.7%	26	$12,178	$141	$10,048
Windy Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4211 20th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8220	255	15	16.6	20.8%	219 (85.9%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.0%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	86.2	36^th of 428 public elementary schools	91.6%		91	17^th of 459 public elementary schools	96.3%	19	$11,269	$141	$9,840
Meadowlark Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1010 E 53rd St	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8210	399	23	17.3	20.8%	345 (86.5%)	8 (2.0%)	29 (7.3%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.5%)	96	1^st of 428 public elementary schools	99.8%		94.2	5^th of 459 public elementary schools	98.9%	4	$11,367	$141	$9,940
Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3000 7th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8280	275	16	17.7	36.0%	229 (83.3%)	8 (2.9%)	22 (8.0%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.0%)	83.8	47^th of 428 public elementary schools	89.0%		78.8	81^st of 459 public elementary schools	82.4%	34	$11,339	$295	$9,936
Pleasanton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	303 Church St	Pleasanton	68866	Buffalo County	Pleasanton Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 388-2041	188	12	15.2	22.9%	183 (97.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55.3	227^th of 428 public elementary schools	47.0%		59.1	190^th of 459 public elementary schools	58.6%	37	$15,824	$1,497	$11,938
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	300 W 24th St	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8040	271	20	13.8	73.8%	152 (56.1%)	7 (2.6%)	88 (32.5%)	5 (1.8%)	5 (1.8%)	5 (1.8%)	9 (3.3%)	56.5	223^rd of 428 public elementary schools	47.9%		68.4	142^nd of 459 public elementary schools	69.1%	81	$16,481	$782	$12,551
Northeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	910 E 34th St	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8230	418	30	14.0	54.8%	280 (67.0%)	10 (2.4%)	105 (25.1%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.3%)	58.8	209^th of 428 public elementary schools	51.2%		48.2	244^th of 459 public elementary schools	46.8%	35	$12,266	$1,054	$10,062

Frequently Asked Questions about Amherst Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Amherst Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Amherst Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Amherst High School

What is the racial makeup of Amherst Elementary School?

Students at Amherst Elementary School are 94% White, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Amherst Elementary School in?

Amherst Public Schools

Is Amherst Elementary School a good school?

Amherst Elementary School ranks 59^th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Amherst Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 213 students attended Amherst Elementary School.

Rate Amherst Elementary 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.