Is Benson High School a good school?

Benson High School ranks in the bottom 0.9% of Nebraska high schools.

How many students attend Benson High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,570 students attended Benson High School.

What is the racial makeup of Benson High School?

Students at Benson High School are 35% African American, 25% Asian, 17% Hispanic, 15% White, 6% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

What schools feed into Benson High School?

Benson High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Benson West Elementary School Elementary : Fontenelle Elementary School Elementary : Harrison Elementary School Elementary : Kennedy Elementary School Elementary : King Elementary School Elementary : Rose Hill Elementary School Elementary : Walnut Hill Elementary School Middle : Monroe Middle School

Benson High School

Summary:

Benson High School is a public high school in Omaha, Nebraska, serving 1,570 students in grades 9-12. Despite its diverse student population, the school consistently ranks among the lowest-performing high schools in the state, with significantly below-average academic performance across all subject areas.

Benson High School faces significant challenges, including low proficiency rates in English Language Arts (7.36%), Mathematics (3.54%), and Science (3%) on the ACT. The school's racial makeup is diverse, with a student population that is 15.22% White, 34.9% African American, 17.39% Hispanic, and 24.97% Asian. However, this diversity is not reflected in the school's academic performance, as it ranks among the lowest in the state for various student subgroups. Additionally, 74.17% of Benson High School's students come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, and the school's spending per student has increased from $13,516 in 2019-2020 to $17,908 in 2022-2023, without a corresponding improvement in academic outcomes.

Interestingly, Benson High School's performance is similar to that of North High School, another Omaha Public Schools high school located just 1.6 miles away. Both schools rank among the lowest-performing high schools in Nebraska and have similar racial and socioeconomic demographics. This persistent low performance and the disconnect between increased spending and lack of improvement in student outcomes suggest that Benson High School faces deep-rooted challenges that have not been effectively addressed, raising concerns about the school's ability to provide equitable educational opportunities for all its students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

5120 Maple St
Omaha, NE 68104-3599

(531) 299-2520

District: Omaha Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
213^th of 215 Nebraska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,908

Feeder schools for Benson High School:

Elementary:	Benson West Elementary School
	Fontenelle Elementary School
	Harrison Elementary School
	Kennedy Elementary School
	More...
	King Elementary School
	Rose Hill Elementary School
	Walnut Hill Elementary School
Middle:	Monroe Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 20.4

Number of students: 1,570

Racial breakdown:

African American:

34.9%

Asian:

25.0%

Hispanic:

17.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 74.2%

See top rated Nebraska high schools

Compare Benson High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Benson High School ranks worse than 99.1% of high schools in Nebraska. It also ranks 5^th among 7 ranked high schools in the Omaha Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 2.34. (See more...)

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

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Benson High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (34.9%), Asian (25%), Hispanic (17.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Benson High School is 20.4. 11 high schools in the Omaha Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Benson High School employs 76.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Benson High School is $17,908, which is the highest among 19 high schools in the Omaha Public Schools District!

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Benson High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Benson High School 213^th of 215 Nebraska public high schools. (See Benson High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

White students:

Omaha Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Omaha Public Schools 205^th of 212 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Benson High School.

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Your rating for Benson High School?

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Rank History for Benson High School

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Rank History for all students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	47.96	162^nd	249	34.9%
2007	15.68	240^th	247	2.8%
2008	14.09	246^th	252	2.4%
2009	36.64	198^th	251	21.1%
2010	7.81	246^th	249	1.2%
2011	0.84	245^th	252	2.8%
2012	0.88	239^th	245	2.4%
2013	0.96	242^nd	247	2.0%
2014	0.15	244^th	247	1.2%
2015	0.21	240^th	242	0.8%
2016	0.27	243^rd	246	1.2%
2017	1.50	218^th	219	0.5%
2018	1.00	218^th	219	0.5%
2019	3.05	214^th	217	1.4%
2021	1.99	207^th	209	1.0%
2022	2.65	199^th	202	1.5%
2023	2.34	213^th	215	0.9%

See the entire list of Nebraska High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	27.02	22^nd	26	15.4%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	5.92	13^th	13	0.0%

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

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	7.18	79^th	79	0.0%
2019	18.22	74^th	82	9.8%
2021	10.48	81^st	83	2.4%
2022	13.43	69^th	74	6.8%
2023	10.15	89^th	89	0.0%

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

Rank History for Female students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	1.16	144^th	144	0.0%
2019	2.52	141^st	142	0.7%
2021	3.24	134^th	138	2.9%
2022	3.28	130^th	132	1.5%
2023	2.95	136^th	136	0.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	2.77	136^th	138	1.4%
2019	1.40	140^th	140	0.0%
2021	2.41	130^th	130	0.0%
2022	4.43	132^nd	135	2.2%
2023	3.42	132^nd	135	2.2%

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

Rank History for Asian students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2019	4.08	16^th	16	0.0%
2022	7.89	11^th	12	8.3%
2023	5.63	13^th	13	0.0%

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

Rank History for African American students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	13.91	13^th	14	7.1%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	20.86	35^th	41	14.6%
2019	19.13	38^th	43	11.6%

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

Rank History for White students at Benson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	2.00	201^st	205	2.0%
2019	0.29	207^th	207	0.0%
2021	4.49	197^th	200	1.5%
2022	4.76	191^st	196	2.6%
2023	2.77	204^th	206	1.0%

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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a citizen
Thursday, April 28, 2022

Very lit school doesn’t have racist white kids who call you out of your name very high on gang activity but I just think that helps for there own kind of protection and money making skills and also teachers don’t help students enough to the point where they can focus on school because there own mothers and fathers can’t pay the rent they have to support money reasons Close Quote

Enrollment information for Benson High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	704	342	40	24	6	n/a	n/a	0	1116
1989	690	318	41	22	8	n/a	n/a	0	1079
1990	719	357	34	17	8	n/a	n/a	0	1135
1991	685	370	38	22	10	n/a	n/a	0	1125
1992	687	364	42	22	13	n/a	n/a	0	1128
1993	685	427	43	35	14	n/a	n/a	0	1204
1994	667	458	30	37	15	n/a	n/a	0	1207
1995	821	466	36	71	18	n/a	n/a	0	1412
1996	821	466	36	71	18	n/a	n/a	0	1412
1997	855	526	29	71	22	n/a	n/a	0	1503
1998	855	564	25	97	27	n/a	n/a	0	1568
1999	770	589	30	53	29	n/a	n/a	62	1533
2000	719	608	25	125	19	n/a	n/a	0	1496
2001	711	628	27	114	23	n/a	n/a	0	1503
2002	618	684	30	99	25	n/a	n/a	0	1456
2003	618	684	30	99	25	n/a	n/a	0	1456
2004	626	675	32	75	28	n/a	n/a	0	1436
2005	627	730	33	104	37	n/a	n/a	0	1531
2006	640	759	24	125	33	n/a	n/a	0	1581
2007	595	723	26	140	30	n/a	n/a	0	1514
2008	578	701	39	156	30	n/a	n/a	0	1504
2009	584	716	51	146	29	n/a	n/a	0	1526
2010	539	701	79	169	24	n/a	n/a	0	1512
2011	447	586	76	213	21	12	147	0	1502
2012	408	582	114	200	21	8	130	0	1463
2013	349	521	100	179	16	8	111	0	1284
2014	334	489	129	182	17	5	106	0	1262
2015	298	449	168	191	16	7	89	0	1218
2016	323	539	225	223	14	10	73	0	1407
2017	331	553	250	230	15	9	78	0	1466
2018	328	571	291	240	11	6	72	0	1519
2019	275	551	285	286	12	6	72	0	1487
2020	266	525	303	298	11	6	94	0	1503
2021	277	512	317	284	12	5	99	0	1506
2022	265	522	345	285	15	3	110	0	1545
2023	239	548	392	273	16	1	101	0	1570

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 Benson High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1116	69.0	16.1	38.3
1989	1079	69.0	15.6	33.3
1990	1135	70.3	16.1	32.9
1991	1125	70.0	16.0	34
1992	1128	69.6	16.2	34.8
1993	1204	77.1	15.6	36
1994	1207	75.2	16.1	33.9
1995	1412	85.4	16.5	42.8
1996	1412	85.4	16.5	42.8
1997	1503	92.7	16.2	39.5
1998	1568	90.7	17.3	44.7
1999	1533	92.0	16.7	54.6
2000	1496	90.5	16.5	53
2001	1503	87.3	17.2	56.8
2002	1456	87.4	16.7	64.6
2003	1456	87.4	16.7	64.6
2004	1436	87.5	16.4	68.5
2005	1531	87.0	17.6	65.8
2006	1581	91.0	17.4	58.6
2007	1514	93.2	16.2	70.9
2008	1504	95.4	15.8	71.7
2009	1526	97.8	15.6	69.9
2010	1512	101.8	14.8	74.2
2011	1502	105.7	14.2	76
2012	1463	96.0	15.2	77.3
2013	1284	76.7	16.7	80.8
2014	1262	78.0	16.1	81.5
2015	1218	79.0	15.4	81.6
2016	1407	83.0	16.9	83.9
2017	1466	90.6	16.1	78.8
2018	1519	88.6	17.1	86.5
2019	1487	91.6	16.2	79.4
2020	1503	94.1	15.9	82.6
2021	1506	83.1	18.1	88.1
2022	1545	88.6	17.4	74.2
2023	1570	76.6	20.4	n/a

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 Benson High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1116	69.0	16.1	38.3
1989	1079	69.0	15.6	33.3
1990	1135	70.3	16.1	32.9
1991	1125	70.0	16.0	34
1992	1128	69.6	16.2	34.8
1993	1204	77.1	15.6	36
1994	1207	75.2	16.1	33.9
1995	1412	85.4	16.5	42.8
1996	1412	85.4	16.5	42.8
1997	1503	92.7	16.2	39.5
1998	1568	90.7	17.3	44.7
1999	1533	92.0	16.7	54.6
2000	1496	90.5	16.5	53
2001	1503	87.3	17.2	56.8
2002	1456	87.4	16.7	64.6
2003	1456	87.4	16.7	64.6
2004	1436	87.5	16.4	68.5
2005	1531	87.0	17.6	65.8
2006	1581	91.0	17.4	58.6
2007	1514	93.2	16.2	70.9
2008	1504	95.4	15.8	71.7
2009	1526	97.8	15.6	69.9
2010	1512	101.8	14.8	74.2
2011	1502	105.7	14.2	76
2012	1463	96.0	15.2	77.3
2013	1284	76.7	16.7	80.8
2014	1262	78.0	16.1	81.5
2015	1218	79.0	15.4	81.6
2016	1407	83.0	16.9	83.9
2017	1466	90.6	16.1	78.8
2018	1519	88.6	17.1	86.5
2019	1487	91.6	16.2	79.4
2020	1503	94.1	15.9	82.6
2021	1506	83.1	18.1	88.1
2022	1545	88.6	17.4	74.2
2023	1570	76.6	20.4	n/a

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 Benson High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$996 (7.8%)	$11,401 (88.9%)	$12,831
2020	$1,389 (10.3%)	$11,458 (84.8%)	$13,516
2021	$1,402 (9.8%)	$12,565 (87.5%)	$14,367
2022	$1,394 (8.7%)	$12,387 (77.1%)	$16,061
2023	$2,421 (13.5%)	$13,169 (73.5%)	$17,908

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Benson 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 214^th of 217 High schools	Ranks 213^th of 215 High schools	0.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (Benson High School)	8	7.4	0.6%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Omaha Public Schools)	19	13.8	5.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	37.4	33.4	4.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Benson High School)	4.4	3.5	0.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Omaha Public Schools)	12	7	5%
11th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	30.9	26.2	4.6%
11th Grade Science (Benson High School)	2.4	3	0.6%
11th Grade Science (Omaha Public Schools)	10.8	8.5	2.3%
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	1487	1570	5.6%
African American	551	548	0.5%
American Indian	12	16	33.3%
Asian	285	392	37.5%
Hispanic	286	273	4.5%
Pacific Islander	6	1	83.3%
White	275	239	13.1%
Two or More Races	72	101	40.3%

Schools Near Benson High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				ACT English Language Arts (2023)	ACT Mathematics (2023)	ACT 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	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Benson High School	Public	9-12	5120 Maple St	Omaha	68104	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(531) 299-2520	1,570	77	20.4		239 (15.2%)	548 (34.9%)	273 (17.4%)	392 (25.0%)	16 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	101 (6.4%)	2.3	213^th of 215 public high schools	0.9%		2.7	199^th of 202 public high schools	1.5%	14	7.4	3.5	3.0	$17,908	$2,421	$13,169
Omaha Home For Boys Schools	Public	8-12	4343 N 52nd St	Omaha	68104	Douglas County	Omaha Home For Boys School	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 457-7155	0	2	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Radius High School	Public	9-12	5040 Grand Avenue	Omaha	68104	Douglas County	Radius Omaha	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(531) 895-0055	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Parrish Program	Public	7-12	4315 Cuming St	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-2860	0	2	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
North High School	Public	9-12	4410 N 36th St	Omaha	68111	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-2700	1,796	80	22.4		399 (22.2%)	902 (50.2%)	333 (18.5%)	36 (2.0%)	15 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	110 (6.1%)	4.8	211^th of 215 public high schools	1.9%		5	196^th of 202 public high schools	3.0%	15	11.1	7.0	8.9	$17,329	$2,264	$12,800
Uno/Ops Middle College Program	Public	9-12	Uno 6001 Dodge St; Kayser Hall	Omaha	68182	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 554-3992	0	2	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Career Center	Public	9-12	3230 Burt St	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-0330	0	24	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Ops Virtual High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	3230 Burt St - Rm 474b	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	No	(531) 299-0269	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Transition Program North	Public	12	4839 North 72nd Street	Omaha	68134	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-2960	0	5	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Esl Teen Literacy Program	Public	9-12	3230 Burt St	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-2620	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Benson High School

Benson High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Omaha Public Schools:

Average Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Benson High School

Rank History for all students at Benson High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Benson High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Benson High School

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

Rank History for Female students at Benson High School

Rank History for Male students at Benson High School

Rank History for Asian students at Benson High School

Rank History for African American students at Benson High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Benson High School

Rank History for White students at Benson High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Benson High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Benson High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Benson High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Benson High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Benson High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Benson High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Benson High School

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