Is Kearney High School a good school?

Kearney High School ranks 85 th of 168 Nebraska high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Kearney High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,654 students attended Kearney High School.

What is the racial makeup of Kearney High School?

Students at Kearney High School are 78% White, 17% Hispanic, 2% African American, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Kearney High School?

Kearney High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Bryant Elementary School Elementary : Buffalo Hills Elementary Elementary : Central Elementary School Elementary : Emerson Elementary School Elementary : Glenwood Elementary School Elementary : Kenwood Elementary School Elementary : Meadowlark Elementary School Elementary : Northeast Elementary School Elementary : Park Elementary School Elementary : Windy Hills Elementary School Middle : Horizon Middle School Middle : Sunrise Middle School

Kearney High School

Summary:

Kearney High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Kearney, Nebraska, with a total enrollment of 1,629 students. The school is part of the Kearney Public Schools district, which is ranked 44 out of 182 districts in Nebraska and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Kearney High School has seen a fluctuating statewide ranking over the past several years, ranging from 80th to 136th out of Nebraska high schools, and its SchoolDigger rating has also varied, ranging from 1 to 3 stars out of 5. The school performs better for Hispanic students (ranked 16th out of 33 Nebraska high schools) but lower for special education students (ranked 12th out of 13). Kearney High School has maintained a relatively high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 87% to 94% over the past few years, but has experienced a significant range in chronic absenteeism, from 15.1% to 30.0%.

Compared to nearby schools, Axtell High School consistently ranks higher and has stronger academic performance than Kearney High School. However, Kearney High School generally outperforms other nearby schools in terms of statewide ranking and test scores. The school's spending per student and student-teacher ratio are in line with the nearby schools, suggesting that these factors may not be the primary drivers of the school's academic performance. Overall, Kearney High School is a moderately performing school within the state of Nebraska, with some areas of strength and some areas that could benefit from further attention and improvement.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2702 West 11th Street
Kearney, NE 68845-0102

(308) 698-8060

District: Kearney Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
85^th of 168 Nebraska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,043

Feeder schools for Kearney High School:

Elementary:	Bryant Elementary School
	Buffalo Hills Elementary
	Central Elementary School
	Emerson Elementary School
	More...
	Glenwood Elementary School
	Kenwood Elementary School
	Meadowlark Elementary School
	Northeast Elementary School
	Park Elementary School
	Windy Hills Elementary School
Middle:	Horizon Middle School
	Sunrise Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.0

Number of students: 1,654

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.8%

Hispanic:

17.1%

African American:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 37.8%

See top rated Nebraska high schools

Compare Kearney High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Kearney High School ranks worse than 50.6% 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 Kearney 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 (77.8%), Hispanic (17.1%), African American (2.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 37.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kearney High School is 18. (See more...)

Compare Kearney High School employs 91.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kearney High School is $13,043.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kearney High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Kearney High School 85^th of 168 Nebraska public high schools. (See Kearney High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Kearney Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Kearney Public Schools 44^th of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Kearney High School?

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Rank History for Kearney High School

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Rank History for all students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	57.85	110^th	249	55.8%
2007	48.97	149^th	247	39.7%
2008	34.29	210^th	252	16.7%
2009	36.58	199^th	251	20.7%
2010	53.88	128^th	249	48.6%
2011	47.40	154^th	252	38.9%
2012	42.64	167^th	245	31.8%
2013	25.92	206^th	247	16.6%
2014	23.03	211^th	247	14.6%
2015	23.99	209^th	242	13.6%
2016	31.86	187^th	246	24.0%
2017	35.92	140^th	219	36.1%
2018	34.13	149^th	219	32.0%
2019	38.15	136^th	217	37.3%
2021	48.88	106^th	209	49.3%
2022	47.71	107^th	202	47.0%
2023	61.97	80^th	215	62.8%
2024	52.77	85^th	168	49.4%

See the entire list of Nebraska High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	8.63	12^th	13	7.7%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	34.52	49^th	79	38.0%
2019	34.20	53^rd	82	35.4%
2021	41.50	43^rd	83	48.2%
2022	49.50	32^nd	74	56.8%
2023	39.48	49^th	89	44.9%
2024	57.66	23^rd	62	62.9%

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

Rank History for Female students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	24.44	115^th	144	20.1%
2019	32.13	102^nd	142	28.2%
2021	43.43	82^nd	138	40.6%
2022	44.50	74^th	132	43.9%
2023	47.18	75^th	136	44.9%
2024	59.01	44^th	93	52.7%

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

Rank History for Male students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	44.97	74^th	138	46.4%
2019	42.79	85^th	140	39.3%
2021	47.19	66^th	130	49.2%
2022	44.65	73^rd	135	45.9%
2023	70.01	43^rd	135	68.1%
2024	58.49	46^th	93	50.5%

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

Rank History for African American students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	66.49	6^th	15	60.0%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	39.77	21^st	41	48.8%
2019	57.64	16^th	43	62.8%
2021	34.56	18^th	38	52.6%
2022	35.33	23^rd	41	43.9%
2023	49.55	18^th	41	56.1%
2024	49.36	16^th	33	51.5%

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

Rank History for White students at Kearney High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	33.61	144^th	205	29.8%
2019	35.93	137^th	207	33.8%
2021	50.20	95^th	200	52.5%
2022	48.94	98^th	196	50.0%
2023	64.86	69^th	206	66.5%
2024	60.40	49^th	125	60.8%

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 Kearney High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	858	4	5	34	0	n/a	n/a	0	901
1989	1162	3	8	38	0	n/a	n/a	0	1211
1990	1125	3	5	31	0	n/a	n/a	0	1164
1991	1085	1	4	25	0	n/a	n/a	0	1115
1992	1106	4	6	31	1	n/a	n/a	0	1148
1993	1152	4	11	28	2	n/a	n/a	0	1197
1994	1186	3	9	33	5	n/a	n/a	0	1236
1995	1269	5	8	44	10	n/a	n/a	0	1336
1996	1269	5	8	44	10	n/a	n/a	0	1336
1997	1284	11	11	64	9	n/a	n/a	0	1379
1998	1269	4	12	58	8	n/a	n/a	0	1351
1999	1297	8	12	25	11	n/a	n/a	18	1371
2000	1318	6	19	44	0	n/a	n/a	0	1387
2001	1344	7	17	50	4	n/a	n/a	0	1422
2002	1273	16	11	72	7	n/a	n/a	0	1379
2003	1273	16	11	72	7	n/a	n/a	0	1379
2004	1290	20	14	85	2	n/a	n/a	0	1411
2005	1267	18	16	91	4	n/a	n/a	0	1396
2006	1281	21	16	105	6	n/a	n/a	0	1429
2007	1314	20	16	112	9	n/a	n/a	0	1471
2008	1283	15	18	120	8	n/a	n/a	0	1444
2009	1257	12	19	132	10	n/a	n/a	0	1430
2010	1278	20	19	134	10	n/a	n/a	0	1461
2011	1256	23	15	160	13	0	0	0	1467
2012	1223	22	15	150	12	1	6	0	1429
2013	1223	26	13	169	12	2	11	0	1456
2014	1179	32	18	167	9	2	16	0	1423
2015	1151	25	17	170	11	0	23	0	1397
2016	1186	24	15	179	11	1	25	0	1441
2017	1162	39	20	188	10	1	19	0	1439
2018	1192	36	24	213	12	2	18	0	1497
2019	1253	33	22	215	9	4	11	0	1547
2020	1297	33	25	223	9	3	9	0	1599
2021	1278	43	23	230	7	2	15	0	1598
2022	1278	50	19	266	5	2	15	0	1635
2023	1285	40	14	258	9	2	21	0	1629
2024	1286	41	12	283	6	5	21	0	1654

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 Kearney High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	901	53.1	16.9	0
1989	1211	69.1	17.5	13.8
1990	1164	70.1	16.6	12.5
1991	1115	70.9	15.7	11.4
1992	1148	71.2	16.1	11.7
1993	1197	73.6	16.3	14.5
1994	1236	75.0	16.5	14.4
1995	1336	78.4	17.0	12
1996	1336	78.4	17.0	12
1997	1379	74.4	18.5	11.2
1998	1351	76.6	17.6	11.4
1999	1371	76.4	17.9	15.7
2000	1387	79.2	17.5	20.5
2001	1422	80.6	17.6	21.8
2002	1379	85.2	16.2	26
2003	1379	85.2	16.2	26
2004	1411	85.2	16.6	21.3
2005	1396	86.7	16.1	23.7
2006	1429	86.9	16.4	21.8
2007	1471	87.1	16.9	28.9
2008	1444	86.1	16.8	26.7
2009	1430	87.1	16.4	31.7
2010	1461	88.3	16.5	33.7
2011	1467	87.9	16.6	31
2012	1429	81.8	17.4	36.6
2013	1456	84.9	17.1	38.5
2014	1423	85.8	16.5	37.7
2015	1397	87.0	16.0	37.1
2016	1441	85.0	16.9	36.8
2017	1439	89.3	16.1	34.7
2018	1497	89.9	16.6	38.5
2019	1547	88.9	17.3	35.9
2020	1599	88.3	18.1	34.7
2021	1598	93.1	17.1	36
2022	1635	90.9	17.9	32.9
2023	1629	90.7	17.9	35.2
2024	1654	91.7	18.0	37.8

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 Kearney High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	901	53.1	16.9	0
1989	1211	69.1	17.5	13.8
1990	1164	70.1	16.6	12.5
1991	1115	70.9	15.7	11.4
1992	1148	71.2	16.1	11.7
1993	1197	73.6	16.3	14.5
1994	1236	75.0	16.5	14.4
1995	1336	78.4	17.0	12
1996	1336	78.4	17.0	12
1997	1379	74.4	18.5	11.2
1998	1351	76.6	17.6	11.4
1999	1371	76.4	17.9	15.7
2000	1387	79.2	17.5	20.5
2001	1422	80.6	17.6	21.8
2002	1379	85.2	16.2	26
2003	1379	85.2	16.2	26
2004	1411	85.2	16.6	21.3
2005	1396	86.7	16.1	23.7
2006	1429	86.9	16.4	21.8
2007	1471	87.1	16.9	28.9
2008	1444	86.1	16.8	26.7
2009	1430	87.1	16.4	31.7
2010	1461	88.3	16.5	33.7
2011	1467	87.9	16.6	31
2012	1429	81.8	17.4	36.6
2013	1456	84.9	17.1	38.5
2014	1423	85.8	16.5	37.7
2015	1397	87.0	16.0	37.1
2016	1441	85.0	16.9	36.8
2017	1439	89.3	16.1	34.7
2018	1497	89.9	16.6	38.5
2019	1547	88.9	17.3	35.9
2020	1599	88.3	18.1	34.7
2021	1598	93.1	17.1	36
2022	1635	90.9	17.9	32.9
2023	1629	90.7	17.9	35.2
2024	1654	91.7	18.0	37.8

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 Kearney High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$214 (2.0%)	$8,689 (81.6%)	$10,646
2020	$214 (2.1%)	$8,473 (81.5%)	$10,391
2021	$451 (4.0%)	$9,041 (80.1%)	$11,289
2022	$852 (6.8%)	$9,479 (75.8%)	$12,512
2023	$308 (2.4%)	$10,356 (79.4%)	$13,043

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kearney 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 136^th of 217 High schools	Ranks 80^th of 215 High schools	25.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (Kearney High School)	33.3	44.1	10.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Kearney Public Schools)	33.3	44.1	10.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	37.4	33.4	4.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Kearney High School)	31.2	33.4	2.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Kearney Public Schools)	31.2	33.4	2.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	30.9	26.2	4.6%
11th Grade Science (Kearney High School)	27.6	32.5	4.8%
11th Grade Science (Kearney Public Schools)	27.6	32.5	4.8%
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	1547	1629	5.3%
African American	33	40	21.2%
American Indian	9	9
Asian	22	14	36.4%
Hispanic	215	258	20%
Pacific Islander	4	2	50%
White	1253	1285	2.6%
Two or More Races	11	21	90.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	35.9%	35.2%	0.7%

Schools Near Kearney 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
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
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)
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
Axtell High School	Public	7-12	500 Main St	Axtell	68924	Kearney County	Axtell Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 743-2415	138	14	9.7	34.8%	128 (92.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.9%)	75.3	37^th of 168 public high schools	78.0%		69	61^st of 215 public high schools	71.6%	24	$21,117	$264	$17,939
Gibbon High School	Public	7-12	1030 Court Street	Gibbon	68840	Buffalo County	Gibbon Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 468-5721	250	21	11.8	55.2%	129 (51.6%)	2 (0.8%)	117 (46.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	9.1	157^th of 168 public high schools	6.5%		16.4	188^th of 215 public high schools	12.6%	31	$18,488	$763	$15,976
Minden High School	Public	9-12	622 West Third	Minden	68959	Kearney County	Minden Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 832-2254	244	24	10.0	35.2%	210 (86.1%)	1 (0.4%)	29 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	38.3	112^th of 168 public high schools	33.3%		43.8	119^th of 215 public high schools	44.7%	7	$20,211	$427	$15,434
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

Kearney High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Kearney Public Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Kearney High School

Rank History for all students at Kearney High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Kearney High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kearney High School

Rank History for Female students at Kearney High School

Rank History for Male students at Kearney High School

Rank History for African American students at Kearney High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kearney High School

Rank History for White students at Kearney High School

Enrollment information for Kearney High School

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