Friend Elementary School

Q: Is Friend Elementary School a good school?

Friend Elementary School ranks 129 th of 459 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Friend Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 147 students in grades PK-6 in the small town of Friend, Nebraska. The school is part of the Fillmore Central Public Schools district, which is ranked 116 out of 212 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Friend Elementary School stands out for its consistently strong academic performance, with a higher percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics compared to the state average. For example, in the 2022-2023 school year, 69% of 3rd graders, 71% of 5th graders, and 87% of 6th graders were proficient or better in Mathematics, significantly outperforming the state averages. The school also has a relatively high per-student spending of $20,113 and a low student-teacher ratio of 12.5, which may contribute to its academic success. However, the school's student population is predominantly white, in contrast to some nearby schools like Crete Intermediate School and Crete Elementary School, which have much more diverse student populations.

Compared to nearby schools, Friend Elementary School appears to be a high-performing institution that is providing a quality education to its students. Schools like Fillmore Central Elementary and Centennial Elementary School have similar racial makeups and academic performance, suggesting they may be good benchmarks for Friend Elementary School. On the other hand, the more diverse schools in the area may face different challenges and have different approaches to education, which could provide valuable insights for Friend Elementary School as it continues to serve its community.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

501 Main St
Friend, NE 68359-0067

(402) 947-2781

District: Friend Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
129^th of 459 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,113

Students who attend Friend Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Friend High Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 12.5

Number of students: 147

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.2%

African American:

2.0%

Hispanic:

1.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 25.9%

See top rated Nebraska elementary schools

Compare Friend Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Friend Elementary School ranks better than 71.9% of elementary schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 70.83. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (95.2%), African American (2%), Hispanic (1.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 25.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Friend Elementary School is 12.5. (See more...)

Compare Friend Elementary School employs 11.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Friend Elementary School is $20,113.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Friend Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Friend Elementary School 129^th of 459 Nebraska public elementary schools. (See Friend Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Friend Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Friend Public Schools 116^th of 212 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Friend Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Friend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	84.42	19^th	418	95.5%
2007	85.77	5^th	430	98.8%
2008	75.26	25^th	478	94.8%
2009	68.46	100^th	471	78.8%
2010	44.81	337^th	502	32.9%
2011	38.39	319^th	473	32.6%
2012	40.97	323^rd	480	32.7%
2013	24.81	406^th	485	16.3%
2014	48.13	274^th	483	43.3%
2015	38.49	334^th	488	31.6%
2016	59.95	178^th	480	62.9%
2017	69.21	137^th	459	70.2%
2018	60.90	164^th	450	63.6%
2019	53.79	205^th	452	54.6%
2021	80.86	56^th	442	87.3%
2022	51.61	231^st	457	49.5%
2023	70.83	129^th	459	71.9%

See the entire list of Nebraska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Friend Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	53.41	168^th	391	57.0%
2019	43.11	230^th	391	41.2%
2021	73.46	66^th	368	82.1%
2022	33.50	272^nd	388	29.9%
2023	60.73	145^th	385	62.3%

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 Friend Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	158	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	158
1989	163	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	163
1990	163	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	163
1991	175	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	175
1992	176	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	176
1993	178	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	181
1994	181	0	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	186
1995	177	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	179
1996	177	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	179
1997	168	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	170
1998	154	0	0	6	2	n/a	n/a	0	162
1999	173	0	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	2	179
2000	176	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	176
2001	173	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	173
2002	179	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	183
2003	179	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	183
2004	172	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	175
2005	154	0	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	160
2006	154	2	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	161
2007	156	3	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	165
2008	147	2	2	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	158
2009	143	4	2	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	157
2010	142	5	4	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	157
2011	134	4	5	5	2	0	1	0	151
2012	142	2	4	4	0	0	1	0	153
2013	124	2	2	3	0	0	2	0	133
2014	129	1	1	8	0	0	2	0	141
2015	138	2	0	8	1	0	2	0	151
2016	132	2	0	7	2	0	1	0	144
2017	131	7	0	2	4	0	1	0	145
2018	137	5	0	2	4	0	2	0	150
2019	131	5	0	5	6	0	1	0	148
2020	124	4	1	5	7	0	1	0	142
2021	140	4	0	3	3	0	0	0	150
2022	143	3	0	4	2	0	2	0	154
2023	140	3	0	2	0	0	2	0	147

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 Friend Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	158	8.0	19.7	12
1989	163	8.5	19.1	11
1990	163	10.7	15.2	9.8
1991	175	10.8	16.2	8.6
1992	176	11.9	14.7	10.8
1993	181	11.6	15.6	14.4
1994	186	12.4	15.0	14.5
1995	179	11.9	15.0	18.4
1996	179	11.9	15.0	18.4
1997	170	11.9	14.3	21.2
1998	162	9.2	17.6	19.8
1999	179	9.5	18.8	44.6
2000	176	10.5	16.8	30.1
2001	173	10.4	16.6	20.8
2002	183	11.5	15.9	24.6
2003	183	11.5	15.9	24.6
2004	175	10.5	16.7	22.3
2005	160	10.5	15.2	21.9
2006	161	10.4	15.5	20.5
2007	165	10.1	16.3	21.8
2008	158	10.4	15.2	26.6
2009	157	10.7	14.7	29.3
2010	157	11.9	13.1	28
2011	151	12.7	11.8	33.1
2012	153	12.5	12.2	40.5
2013	133	12.5	10.6	35.3
2014	141	13.5	10.4	34
2015	151	14.0	10.7	33.1
2016	144	14.0	10.2	25.7
2017	145	12.9	11.1	22.1
2018	150	12.5	12.0	21.3
2019	148	11.8	12.4	31.1
2020	142	11.7	12.0	28.9
2021	150	11.8	12.6	29.3
2022	154	11.4	13.4	27.3
2023	147	11.7	12.5	25.9

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 Friend Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	158	8.0	19.7	12
1989	163	8.5	19.1	11
1990	163	10.7	15.2	9.8
1991	175	10.8	16.2	8.6
1992	176	11.9	14.7	10.8
1993	181	11.6	15.6	14.4
1994	186	12.4	15.0	14.5
1995	179	11.9	15.0	18.4
1996	179	11.9	15.0	18.4
1997	170	11.9	14.3	21.2
1998	162	9.2	17.6	19.8
1999	179	9.5	18.8	44.6
2000	176	10.5	16.8	30.1
2001	173	10.4	16.6	20.8
2002	183	11.5	15.9	24.6
2003	183	11.5	15.9	24.6
2004	175	10.5	16.7	22.3
2005	160	10.5	15.2	21.9
2006	161	10.4	15.5	20.5
2007	165	10.1	16.3	21.8
2008	158	10.4	15.2	26.6
2009	157	10.7	14.7	29.3
2010	157	11.9	13.1	28
2011	151	12.7	11.8	33.1
2012	153	12.5	12.2	40.5
2013	133	12.5	10.6	35.3
2014	141	13.5	10.4	34
2015	151	14.0	10.7	33.1
2016	144	14.0	10.2	25.7
2017	145	12.9	11.1	22.1
2018	150	12.5	12.0	21.3
2019	148	11.8	12.4	31.1
2020	142	11.7	12.0	28.9
2021	150	11.8	12.6	29.3
2022	154	11.4	13.4	27.3
2023	147	11.7	12.5	25.9

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 Friend Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$934 (5.2%)	$14,312 (80.1%)	$17,861
2020	$1,279 (7.6%)	$13,601 (80.5%)	$16,901
2021	$1,437 (8.0%)	$14,524 (80.7%)	$17,997
2022	$1,258 (6.7%)	$15,418 (82.1%)	$18,787
2023	$906 (4.5%)	$15,941 (79.3%)	$20,113

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Friend 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 205^th of 452 Elementary schools	Ranks 129^th of 459 Elementary schools	17.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Friend Elementary School)	30	69	39%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Friend Public Schools)	30	69	39%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	56	63	7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Friend Elementary School)	60	81	21%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Friend Public Schools)	60	81	21%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	55	58	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Friend Elementary School)	74	56	18%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Friend Public Schools)	74	56	18%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	58	55	3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Friend Elementary School)	56	56
6th Grade English Language Arts (Friend Public Schools)	56	56
6th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	49	55	6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	148	147	0.7%
African American	5	3	40%
American Indian	6	0	100%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	5	2	60%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	131	140	6.9%
Two or More Races	1	2	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	31.1%	25.9%	5.2%

Schools Near Friend 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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NSCAS Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Friend Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	501 Main St	Friend	68359	Saline County	Friend Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 947-2781	147	12	12.5	25.9%	140 (95.2%)	3 (2.0%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	70.8	129^th of 459 public elementary schools	71.9%		51.6	231^st of 457 public elementary schools	49.5%	102	69.0	56.0	71.0	56.0	81.0	72.0		87.0		$20,113	$906	$15,941
Exeter-Milligan Elementary-Exeter	Public	PK, KG-5	318 S River Ave	Exeter	68351	Fillmore County	Exeter-Milligan Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 266-5911	79	10	8.2	12.7%	77 (97.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										$28,702	$348	$25,657
Dorchester Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	506 W 9th	Dorchester	68343	Saline County	Dorchester Public School	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 946-2781	144	13	11.3	36.8%	100 (69.4%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (28.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.1%)	39.8	300^th of 459 public elementary schools	34.6%		40.5	290^th of 457 public elementary schools	36.5%	10		56.0	60.0	50.0		39.0		56.0		$18,775	$1,450	$15,108
Milford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1200 West 1st Street	Milford	68405	Seward County	Milford Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 761-2408	461	31	15.0	25.6%	422 (91.5%)	10 (2.2%)	16 (3.5%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	55.8	210^th of 459 public elementary schools	54.2%		66.5	137^th of 457 public elementary schools	70.0%	73	56.0	51.0	55.0	56.0	61.0	65.0	81.0	64.0	88.0	$12,376	$692	$10,654
Centennial Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1301 Centennial	Utica	68456	Seward County	Centennial Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 534-2321	248	22	12.3	39.1%	229 (92.3%)	5 (2.0%)	11 (4.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	74.3	106^th of 459 public elementary schools	76.9%		64.6	149^th of 457 public elementary schools	67.4%	43	60.0	68.0	58.0		70.0	82.0	93.0		97.0	$21,987	$1,808	$16,951
Crete Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	309 E 11th St	Crete	68333	Saline County	Crete Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 826-5822	450	34	13.2	64.2%	131 (29.1%)	4 (0.9%)	288 (64.0%)	15 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	9 (2.0%)								(n/a)										$19,254	$1,219	$16,396
Mc Cool Junction Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	209 South Gragan Ave	Mc Cool Junction	68401	York County	Mc Cool Junction Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 724-2231	120	10	12.1	32.5%	114 (95.0%)	2 (1.7%)	4 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47.1	257^th of 459 public elementary schools	44.0%		55.2	202^nd of 457 public elementary schools	55.8%	55	56.0		61.0	60.0	50.0		67.0		72.0	$19,718	$906	$16,508
Fillmore Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	225 N 17th St	Geneva	68361	Fillmore County	Fillmore Central Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 759-3184	271	19	14.3	27.3%	258 (95.2%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	74.1	109^th of 459 public elementary schools	76.3%		52.3	227^th of 457 public elementary schools	50.3%	118	70.0	60.0			73.0	86.0				$15,615	$1,049	$12,816
Crete Intermediate School	Public	3-5	1700 Glenwood Ave	Crete	68333	Saline County	Crete Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 826-5833	415	30	13.7		147 (35.4%)	4 (1.0%)	247 (59.5%)	10 (2.4%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	56.9	205^th of 459 public elementary schools	55.3%		49.5	238^th of 457 public elementary schools	47.9%	33	61.0	43.0	61.0		65.0	65.0	79.0		82.0	$14,971	$1,440	$11,918

Frequently Asked Questions about Friend Elementary School

Is Friend Elementary School a good school?

Friend Elementary School ranks 129^th of 459 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Friend Elementary School attend?

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

High : Friend High Schools

What is the racial makeup of Friend Elementary School?

Students at Friend Elementary School are 95% White, 2% African American, 1% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Friend Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 147 students attended Friend Elementary School.

What district is Friend Elementary School in?

Friend Public Schools

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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.