Is Amherst High School a good school?

Amherst High School ranks 86 th of 168 Nebraska high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Amherst High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 167 students attended Amherst High School.

What is the racial makeup of Amherst High School?

Students at Amherst High School are 93% White, 5% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Amherst High School?

Amherst High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Amherst Elementary School

Amherst High School

Summary:

Amherst High School is a public high school serving grades 7-12 in Amherst, Nebraska, with a total enrollment of 170 students. The school is part of the Amherst Public Schools district, which is ranked 89 out of 182 districts in Nebraska and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Amherst High School has shown strong academic performance, ranking as high as 18 out of 215 Nebraska high schools in the 2022-2023 school year, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's students have consistently outperformed the state averages in several key assessments, including ACT English Language Arts, ACT Mathematics, ACT Science, and NSCAS Mathematics for 7th and 8th grades. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 47.83% of Amherst High School's 11th-grade students were proficient or better in ACT Mathematics, compared to the state average of 42.11%. Additionally, Amherst High School has maintained high four-year graduation rates, reaching 100% in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, significantly higher than the state average.

However, Amherst High School's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, ranging from 18 out of 215 schools in 2022-2023 to 152 out of 217 schools in 2018-2019, suggesting that the school's performance may be influenced by factors beyond just academic achievement. The school has also experienced relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 8.5% to 21.5% over the past two school years, which is an area of concern. Compared to nearby schools, such as Overton High School and Pleasanton High School, Amherst High School generally outperforms in academic measures, but some nearby schools have also demonstrated strong performance, particularly in ACT English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Detail:

Public 7-12

100 N Sycamore
Amherst, NE 68812-0008

(308) 826-3131

District: Amherst Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
86^th of 168 Nebraska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,009

Feeder schools for Amherst High School:

Elementary:

Amherst Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 9.8

Number of students: 167

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.4%

Hispanic:

5.4%

African American:

0.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 22.2%

See top rated Nebraska high schools

Compare Amherst High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Amherst High School ranks worse than 63% of middle schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 46.08. (See more...)

Compare Details Amherst High School ranks worse than 51.2% of high schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.77. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Amherst High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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 (93.4%), Hispanic (5.4%), African American (0.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 22.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Amherst High School is 9.8. (See more...)

Compare Amherst High School employs 17 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Amherst High School is $14,009.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Amherst High School 126^th of 200 Nebraska public middle schools. (See Amherst High School in the ranking list.)

SchoolDigger ranks Amherst High School 86^th of 168 Nebraska public high schools. (See Amherst High School in the ranking list.)

Amherst Public Schools:

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

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Your rating for Amherst High School?

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Rank History for Amherst High School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Amherst High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	62.24	78^th	226	65.5%
2007	64.31	78^th	227	65.6%
2008	67.80	51^st	245	79.2%
2009	56.16	121^st	243	50.2%
2010	52.18	138^th	254	45.7%
2011	65.77	73^rd	246	70.3%
2012	67.93	61^st	255	76.1%
2013	50.43	127^th	248	48.8%
2014	59.77	93^rd	252	63.1%
2015	69.87	52^nd	256	79.7%
2016	69.62	56^th	255	78.0%
2017	56.70	99^th	236	58.1%
2018	44.67	126^th	225	44.0%
2019	73.55	52^nd	247	78.9%
2021	56.27	95^th	223	57.4%
2022	49.20	132^nd	249	47.0%
2023	55.19	117^th	238	50.8%
2024	46.08	126^th	200	37.0%

See the entire list of Nebraska High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Amherst High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2019	67.55	42^nd	153	72.5%
2021	63.43	47^th	144	67.4%
2022	53.50	75^th	160	53.1%

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

Rank History for middle school White students at Amherst High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	36.75	144^th	203	29.1%
2019	69.08	52^nd	222	76.6%
2021	51.46	90^th	204	55.9%
2022	44.54	130^th	234	44.4%
2023	49.75	114^th	217	47.5%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for Amherst High School

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Rank History for all high school students at Amherst High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	48.51	158^th	249	36.5%
2007	49.40	148^th	247	40.1%
2008	70.17	54^th	252	78.6%
2009	51.67	140^th	251	44.2%
2010	34.59	205^th	249	17.7%
2011	65.90	75^th	252	70.2%
2012	66.74	70^th	245	71.4%
2013	69.15	65^th	247	73.7%
2014	61.15	105^th	247	57.5%
2015	68.39	63^rd	242	74.0%
2016	68.07	71^st	246	71.1%
2017	51.67	112^th	219	48.9%
2018	51.96	108^th	219	50.7%
2019	31.34	152^nd	217	30.0%
2021	31.35	143^rd	209	31.6%
2022	66.77	55^th	202	72.8%
2023	88.47	18^th	215	91.6%
2024	52.77	86^th	168	48.8%

See the entire list of Nebraska High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Female students at Amherst High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	57.76	60^th	144	58.3%
2022	73.19	26^th	132	80.3%
2023	92.20	9^th	136	93.4%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Amherst High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2019	29.20	99^th	140	29.3%
2022	46.03	68^th	135	49.6%
2023	75.62	32^nd	135	76.3%

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

Rank History for high school White students at Amherst High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	45.25	113^th	205	44.9%
2019	25.51	164^th	207	20.8%
2021	23.62	163^rd	200	18.5%
2022	58.87	79^th	196	59.7%
2023	85.61	18^th	206	91.3%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High 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 High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	83	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	83
1989	88	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	88
1990	88	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	88
1991	91	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	91
1992	90	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	91
1993	94	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	94
1994	102	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	102
1995	130	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	132
1996	130	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	132
1997	154	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	154
1998	164	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	166
1999	157	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	157
2000	156	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	157
2001	156	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	157
2002	150	1	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	155
2003	150	1	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	155
2004	143	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	147
2005	147	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	151
2006	151	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	155
2007	147	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	151
2008	144	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	148
2009	132	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	134
2010	119	0	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	120
2011	114	0	0	5	0	0	1	120
2012	127	0	0	3	0	0	1	131
2013	124	0	0	2	0	0	1	127
2014	137	0	0	1	0	0	1	139
2015	153	0	0	2	0	0	1	156
2016	173	0	0	2	0	0	0	175
2017	172	0	0	2	0	0	0	174
2018	173	0	0	2	0	0	0	175
2019	190	0	0	3	1	0	0	194
2020	183	0	0	5	2	0	0	190
2021	177	1	0	6	2	0	0	186
2022	174	1	0	8	2	0	0	185
2023	159	1	0	9	0	0	1	170
2024	156	1	0	9	0	0	1	167

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 High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	83	9.0	9.2	12
1989	88	10.0	8.8	11.4
1990	88	9.5	9.2	12.5
1991	91	9.0	10.1	9.9
1992	91	9.2	9.8	11
1993	94	9.3	10.1	12.8
1994	102	9.4	10.9	14.7
1995	132	9.9	13.3	9.8
1996	132	9.9	13.3	9.8
1997	154	11.5	13.4	13
1998	166	13.1	12.7	14.5
1999	157	12.4	12.7	17.8
2000	157	13.6	11.5	19.7
2001	157	13.9	11.3	13.4
2002	155	14.7	10.5	14.8
2003	155	14.7	10.5	14.8
2004	147	14.8	9.9	16.3
2005	151	12.5	12.1	20.5
2006	155	12.9	12.0	21.9
2007	151	12.6	12.0	13.2
2008	148	12.8	11.6	21.6
2009	134	14.5	9.2	15.7
2010	120	14.0	8.5	26.7
2011	120	11.6	10.3	25.8
2012	131	11.6	11.2	26.7
2013	127	12.6	10.0	22
2014	139	13.6	10.2	22.3
2015	156	13.0	12.0	24.4
2016	175	13.0	13.4	22.3
2017	174	13.6	12.7	24.1
2018	175	13.6	12.8	32.6
2019	194	14.9	12.9	24.7
2020	190	15.5	12.2	30
2021	186	14.5	12.8	27.4
2022	185	16.5	11.2	21.1
2023	170	16.5	10.2	22.4
2024	167	17.0	9.8	22.2

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 High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	83	9.0	9.2	12
1989	88	10.0	8.8	11.4
1990	88	9.5	9.2	12.5
1991	91	9.0	10.1	9.9
1992	91	9.2	9.8	11
1993	94	9.3	10.1	12.8
1994	102	9.4	10.9	14.7
1995	132	9.9	13.3	9.8
1996	132	9.9	13.3	9.8
1997	154	11.5	13.4	13
1998	166	13.1	12.7	14.5
1999	157	12.4	12.7	17.8
2000	157	13.6	11.5	19.7
2001	157	13.9	11.3	13.4
2002	155	14.7	10.5	14.8
2003	155	14.7	10.5	14.8
2004	147	14.8	9.9	16.3
2005	151	12.5	12.1	20.5
2006	155	12.9	12.0	21.9
2007	151	12.6	12.0	13.2
2008	148	12.8	11.6	21.6
2009	134	14.5	9.2	15.7
2010	120	14.0	8.5	26.7
2011	120	11.6	10.3	25.8
2012	131	11.6	11.2	26.7
2013	127	12.6	10.0	22
2014	139	13.6	10.2	22.3
2015	156	13.0	12.0	24.4
2016	175	13.0	13.4	22.3
2017	174	13.6	12.7	24.1
2018	175	13.6	12.8	32.6
2019	194	14.9	12.9	24.7
2020	190	15.5	12.2	30
2021	186	14.5	12.8	27.4
2022	185	16.5	11.2	21.1
2023	170	16.5	10.2	22.4
2024	167	17.0	9.8	22.2

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 High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$563 (5.0%)	$8,283 (73.9%)	$11,207
2020	$907 (8.4%)	$8,452 (78.4%)	$10,787
2021	$834 (7.3%)	$9,094 (79.4%)	$11,447
2022	$998 (8.2%)	$9,680 (79.3%)	$12,200
2023	$1,260 (9.0%)	$11,165 (79.7%)	$14,009

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Amherst High 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 52^nd of 247 Middle schools	Ranks 117^th of 238 Middle schools	28.1%
Ranks 152^nd of 217 High schools	Ranks 18^th of 215 High schools	61.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst High School)	64	53	11%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Public Schools)	64	53	11%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	49	54	5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Amherst High School)	64	74	10%
7th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Public Schools)	64	74	10%
7th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	48	66	18%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst High School)	48	57	9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Public Schools)	48	57	9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	50	62	12%
8th Grade Mathematics (Amherst High School)	64	84	20%
8th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Public Schools)	64	84	20%
8th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	47	61	14%
8th Grade Science (Amherst High School)	76	70	6%
8th Grade Science (Amherst Public Schools)	76	70	6%
8th Grade Science (Nebraska)	62	64	2%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst High School)	27.6	51.2	23.6%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Amherst Public Schools)	27.6	51.2	23.6%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	37.4	33.4	4.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Amherst High School)	27.6	48.8	21.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Amherst Public Schools)	27.6	48.8	21.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	30.9	26.2	4.6%
11th Grade Science (Amherst High School)	27.6	48.8	21.2%
11th Grade Science (Amherst Public Schools)	27.6	48.8	21.2%
11th Grade Science (Nebraska)	26.4	25.3	1.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	194	170	12.4%
African American	0	1
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	3	9	200%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	190	159	16.3%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	24.7%	22.4%	2.4%

Schools Near Amherst High 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 High School	Public	7-12	100 N Sycamore	Amherst	68812	Buffalo County	Amherst Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 826-3131	167	17	9.8	22.2%	156 (93.4%)	1 (0.6%)	9 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	52.8	86^th of 168 public high schools	48.8%		88.5	18^th of 215 public high schools	91.6%	68	$14,009	$1,260	$11,165
Elm Creek High School	Public	7-12	230 East Calkins Avenue	Elm Creek	68836	Buffalo County	Elm Creek Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 856-4300	155	14	10.8	26.5%	146 (94.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)								(n/a)	$18,814	$642	$14,880
West Kearney High School	Public	9-12	2802 30th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	West Kearney High School	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 338-2011	54	20	2.7	5.6%	8 (14.8%)	24 (44.4%)	16 (29.6%)	2 (3.7%)	4 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Hanny Arram Center	Public	5-12	3907 6th Avenue	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-6900	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Pleasanton High School	Public	7-12	303 Church St	Pleasanton	68866	Buffalo County	Pleasanton Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 388-2041	135	10	13.3	31.1%	129 (95.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50.1	91^st of 168 public high schools	45.8%		63.6	77^th of 215 public high schools	64.2%	14	$17,977	$945	$14,333
Kearney High School	Public	9-12	2702 West 11th Street	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8060	1,654	92	18.0	37.8%	1,286 (77.8%)	41 (2.5%)	283 (17.1%)	12 (0.7%)	6 (0.4%)	5 (0.3%)	21 (1.3%)	52.8	85^th of 168 public high schools	49.4%		62	80^th of 215 public high schools	62.8%	5	$13,043	$308	$10,356
Junior-Senior High At Sumner	Public	7-12	205 E 5th Ave	Sumner	68878	Dawson County	Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 752-2925	100	12	8.5	59.0%	82 (82.0%)	2 (2.0%)	14 (14.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)								(n/a)	$22,376	$742	$18,702
Overton High School	Public	7-12	401 7th St	Overton	68863	Dawson County	Overton Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 987-2424	115	14	8.3	47.0%	98 (85.2%)	2 (1.7%)	15 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	$23,837	$161	$19,176

Amherst High School

Amherst Public Schools:

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Rank History for Amherst High School

Rank History for all middle school students at Amherst High School

Rank History for middle school Male students at Amherst High School

Rank History for middle school White students at Amherst High School

Rank History for Amherst High School

Rank History for all high school students at Amherst High School

Rank History for high school Female students at Amherst High School

Rank History for high school Male students at Amherst High School

Rank History for high school White students at Amherst High School

Enrollment information for Amherst High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Amherst High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Amherst High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Amherst High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Amherst High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Amherst High School