Is Palmer Elementary School a good school?

Palmer Elementary School ranks 331 st of 459 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Palmer Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 208 students attended Palmer Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Palmer Elementary School?

Students at Palmer Elementary School are 91% White, 7% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Palmer Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Palmer Elementary School usually go on to attend: High : Palmer Junior-Senior High

Palmer Elementary School

Summary:

Palmer Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in Palmer, Nebraska, with a student population of 208. The school is part of the Palmer Public Schools district, which is ranked 115 out of 212 districts in Nebraska and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Palmer Elementary School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (91.35%) compared to the surrounding schools, which have more diverse student populations. The school's test scores in English Language Arts and Mathematics are generally on par with or slightly below the state averages, but they are significantly higher than the scores of the nearby Knickrehm Elementary School, which serves a more diverse student population. Additionally, Palmer Elementary School has a relatively high percentage of students (57.69%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which is higher than the state average and indicates a higher proportion of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite the relatively high spending per student at Palmer Elementary School (approximately $14,580), the school's overall performance, as measured by statewide rankings and test scores, is only average.

Over the past several years, Palmer Elementary School's statewide ranking has steadily declined, from a high of 66 out of 452 Nebraska elementary schools in 2018-2019 to a low of 331 out of 459 in 2022-2023, suggesting that the school's performance may be declining relative to other schools in the state. However, the school's performance for specific student subgroups, such as female students and low-socioeconomic status students, is relatively strong, ranking in the top 25% of Nebraska elementary schools in these categories. This raises questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of the school's resource allocation and teaching practices, as the high spending per student does not seem to be translating into consistently strong academic outcomes for the overall student population.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

202 Commercial St
Palmer, NE 68864-0248

(308) 894-3065

District: Palmer Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
331^st of 459 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,580

Students who attend Palmer Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Palmer Junior-Senior High

Student/teacher ratio: 15.1

Number of students: 208

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.3%

Hispanic:

7.2%

Two or more races:

1.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.7%

See top rated Nebraska elementary schools

Compare Palmer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Palmer Elementary School ranks worse than 72.1% of elementary schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 35.39. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.3%), Hispanic (7.2%), two or more races (1.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 57.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Palmer Elementary School is 15.1. (See more...)

Compare Palmer Elementary School employs 13.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Palmer Elementary School is $14,580.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Palmer Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Palmer Elementary School 331^st of 459 Nebraska public elementary schools. (See Palmer Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

White students:

Palmer Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Palmer Public Schools 115^th of 212 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Palmer Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Palmer Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	26.65	351^st	418	16.0%
2007	27.72	368^th	430	14.4%
2008	50.62	313^th	478	34.5%
2009	58.24	221^st	471	53.1%
2010	36.90	392^nd	502	21.9%
2011	38.06	323^rd	473	31.7%
2012	33.61	357^th	480	25.6%
2013	12.30	457^th	485	5.8%
2014	17.19	435^th	483	9.9%
2015	21.67	416^th	488	14.8%
2016	32.10	366^th	480	23.8%
2017	55.09	211^th	459	54.0%
2018	67.52	126^th	450	72.0%
2019	80.66	66^th	452	85.4%
2021	54.02	204^th	442	53.8%
2022	51.36	233^rd	457	49.0%
2023	35.39	331^st	459	27.9%

See the entire list of Nebraska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Palmer Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	74.97	37^th	264	86.0%
2023	67.59	82^nd	312	73.7%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Palmer Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2021	57.46	123^rd	318	61.3%
2022	55.16	143^rd	337	57.6%
2023	41.07	210^th	349	39.8%

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

Rank History for Male students at Palmer Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	62.21	127^th	367	65.4%
2021	52.12	160^th	328	51.2%

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

Rank History for White students at Palmer Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	55.89	159^th	391	59.3%
2019	68.10	103^rd	391	73.7%
2021	32.89	275^th	368	25.3%
2022	39.43	244^th	388	37.1%
2023	22.11	329^th	385	14.5%

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 Palmer Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	98	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	98
1989	101	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	103
1990	118	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	120
1991	114	0	2	2	n/a	n/a	118
1992	116	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	119
1993	125	0	1	1	n/a	n/a	127
1994	127	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	128
1995	137	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	137
1996	137	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	137
1997	124	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	125
1998	120	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	121
1999	121	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	123
2000	109	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	111
2001	117	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	124
2002	111	0	0	8	n/a	n/a	119
2003	111	0	0	8	n/a	n/a	119
2004	104	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	111
2005	94	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	101
2006	95	0	0	4	n/a	n/a	99
2007	105	0	0	5	n/a	n/a	110
2008	101	0	1	7	n/a	n/a	109
2009	121	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	128
2010	119	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	126
2011	118	0	0	9	0	0	127
2012	134	0	0	7	0	0	141
2013	135	1	0	6	0	0	142
2014	145	1	0	7	0	0	153
2015	157	1	0	7	0	0	165
2016	156	1	0	6	0	0	163
2017	143	1	0	6	0	0	150
2018	160	2	0	5	0	1	168
2019	170	1	0	11	0	1	183
2020	184	0	0	10	0	3	197
2021	191	0	0	11	0	3	205
2022	194	0	0	11	0	3	208
2023	190	0	0	15	0	3	208

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 Palmer Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	98	8.3	11.8	17.3
1989	103	7.6	13.5	18.4
1990	120	8.1	14.8	24.2
1991	118	8.2	14.3	26.3
1992	119	8.7	13.6	18.5
1993	127	8.7	14.6	20.5
1994	128	9.2	13.9	19.5
1995	137	10.3	13.3	0
1996	137	10.3	13.3	0
1997	125	9.4	13.3	25.6
1998	121	9.3	13.0	19.8
1999	123	9.3	13.2	36.6
2000	111	9.3	11.9	27.9
2001	124	9.5	13.1	34.7
2002	119	9.6	12.4	34.5
2003	119	9.6	12.4	34.5
2004	111	9.6	11.6	35.1
2005	101	9.6	10.5	32.7
2006	99	8.8	11.3	37.4
2007	110	9.2	12.0	28.2
2008	109	8.1	13.5	39.4
2009	128	10.8	11.9	38.3
2010	126	8.9	14.0	57.1
2011	127	9.5	13.3	43.3
2012	141	9.3	15.0	44
2013	142	11.8	11.9	40.1
2014	153	11.0	13.9	45.1
2015	165	12.0	13.7	45.5
2016	163	12.0	13.5	51.5
2017	150	12.0	12.4	48.7
2018	168	11.8	14.1	41.1
2019	183	12.6	14.4	45.4
2020	197	12.2	16.0	49.2
2021	205	14.1	14.5	43.4
2022	208	14.5	14.3	40.9
2023	208	13.6	15.1	57.7

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 Palmer Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	98	8.3	11.8	17.3
1989	103	7.6	13.5	18.4
1990	120	8.1	14.8	24.2
1991	118	8.2	14.3	26.3
1992	119	8.7	13.6	18.5
1993	127	8.7	14.6	20.5
1994	128	9.2	13.9	19.5
1995	137	10.3	13.3	0
1996	137	10.3	13.3	0
1997	125	9.4	13.3	25.6
1998	121	9.3	13.0	19.8
1999	123	9.3	13.2	36.6
2000	111	9.3	11.9	27.9
2001	124	9.5	13.1	34.7
2002	119	9.6	12.4	34.5
2003	119	9.6	12.4	34.5
2004	111	9.6	11.6	35.1
2005	101	9.6	10.5	32.7
2006	99	8.8	11.3	37.4
2007	110	9.2	12.0	28.2
2008	109	8.1	13.5	39.4
2009	128	10.8	11.9	38.3
2010	126	8.9	14.0	57.1
2011	127	9.5	13.3	43.3
2012	141	9.3	15.0	44
2013	142	11.8	11.9	40.1
2014	153	11.0	13.9	45.1
2015	165	12.0	13.7	45.5
2016	163	12.0	13.5	51.5
2017	150	12.0	12.4	48.7
2018	168	11.8	14.1	41.1
2019	183	12.6	14.4	45.4
2020	197	12.2	16.0	49.2
2021	205	14.1	14.5	43.4
2022	208	14.5	14.3	40.9
2023	208	13.6	15.1	57.7

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 Palmer Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$430 (3.0%)	$12,362 (86.8%)	$14,240
2020	$590 (4.3%)	$11,902 (86.0%)	$13,845
2021	$809 (5.8%)	$11,676 (83.7%)	$13,948
2022	$1,590 (11.0%)	$11,429 (78.8%)	$14,495
2023	$828 (5.7%)	$11,131 (76.3%)	$14,580

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Palmer 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 66^th of 452 Elementary schools	Ranks 331^st of 459 Elementary schools	57.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Elementary School)	72	52	20%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Public Schools)	72	52	20%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	56	63	7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Elementary School)	65	55	10%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Public Schools)	65	55	10%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	58	55	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Palmer Elementary School)	65	45	20%
4th Grade Mathematics (Palmer Public Schools)	65	45	20%
4th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	51	58	7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Elementary School)	61	45	16%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Public Schools)	61	45	16%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	48	56	8%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Elementary School)	79	60	19%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Palmer Public Schools)	79	60	19%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	49	55	6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Palmer Elementary School)	74	65	9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Palmer Public Schools)	74	65	9%
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	183	208	13.7%
African American	1	0	100%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	11	15	36.4%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	170	190	11.8%
Two or More Races	1	3	200%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	45.4%	57.7%	12.3%

Schools Near Palmer Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				NSCAS English Language Arts (2023)						NSCAS Mathematics (2023)						NSCAS Science (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 (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NSCAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 7th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 8th Grade	NSCAS Science 5th Grade	NSCAS Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Palmer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	202 Commercial St	Palmer	68864	Merrick County	Palmer Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 894-3065	208	14	15.1	57.7%	190 (91.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	35.4	331^st of 459 public elementary schools	27.9%		51.4	233^rd of 457 public elementary schools	49.0%	98	52.0	55.0	45.0	60.0			38.0	45.0	52.0	65.0			69.0		$14,580	$828	$11,131
St Libory Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	435 St Paul Road	Saint Libory	68872	Howard County	Northwest Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 687-6475	167	14	11.6	38.9%	128 (76.6%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (20.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.0%)	66.9	151^st of 459 public elementary schools	67.1%		59.2	184^th of 457 public elementary schools	59.7%	33	81.0	52.0	74.0	55.0	50.0		76.0	57.0		70.0			90.0		$15,448	$1,078	$13,799
St Paul Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1305 Howard Ave	Saint Paul	68873	Howard County	St Paul Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 754-4433	387	31	12.6	28.4%	355 (91.7%)	3 (0.8%)	20 (5.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	57.9	198^th of 459 public elementary schools	56.9%		56.8	196^th of 457 public elementary schools	57.1%	2	62.0	57.0	50.0	56.0			58.0	75.0	63.0	77.0			89.0		$16,296	$721	$12,975
Central City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1711 15th Ave	Central City	68826	Merrick County	Central City Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 946-3057	307	23	13.3	43.0%	280 (91.2%)	5 (1.6%)	15 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	61.8	179^th of 459 public elementary schools	61.0%		54.2	210^th of 457 public elementary schools	54.0%	31	79.0	64.0					59.0	55.0							$17,640	$1,544	$13,388
Elba Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	711 Caroline St	Elba	68835	Howard County	Elba Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 863-2228	68	10	7.1		64 (94.1%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.9%)								(n/a)															$32,265	$3,273	$26,571
1r Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3301 W One-R Road	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Northwest Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-6352	190	13	14.7	26.8%	173 (91.1%)	1 (0.5%)	15 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	72.2	119^th of 459 public elementary schools	74.1%		64	152^nd of 457 public elementary schools	66.7%	33	67.0	90.0	50.0	50.0	57.0	76.0	81.0	95.0	100.0	71.0	78.0	90.0		67.0	$11,688	$362	$10,828
Fullerton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	606 4th St	Fullerton	68638	Nance County	Fullerton Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 536-2431	164	14	12.1	29.9%	155 (94.5%)	3 (1.8%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	72.9	115^th of 459 public elementary schools	74.9%		63.9	155^th of 457 public elementary schools	66.1%	40	72.0	50.0	58.0	71.0			84.0		84.0	80.0			91.0		$19,775	$1,457	$15,054
Knickrehm Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2013 N Oak St	Grand Island	68801	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 385-5927	223	17	13.3		53 (23.8%)	1 (0.4%)	162 (72.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.9%)	4 (1.8%)	20.3	383^rd of 459 public elementary schools	16.6%		26	359^th of 457 public elementary schools	21.4%	24	56.0	47.0	24.0				44.0	50.0	32.0				56.0		$19,543	$4,863	$12,621

Palmer Elementary School

Palmer Elementary School:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Palmer Public Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Palmer Elementary School

Rank History for all students at Palmer Elementary School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Palmer Elementary School

Rank History for Female students at Palmer Elementary School

Rank History for Male students at Palmer Elementary School

Rank History for White students at Palmer Elementary School

Enrollment information for Palmer Elementary School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Palmer Elementary School

Student/Teacher Ratio Palmer Elementary School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Palmer Elementary School

Impact of COVID-19 on Palmer Elementary School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Palmer Elementary School