Can I use Adams County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Adams County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Adams County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Adams County?

Start with the 18 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Adams County Schools & Education

Name: Adams County, Nebraska Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Adams County, Nebraska

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

59/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

89.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

89.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,645

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

59/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#56

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Adams County

Measured School Summary

Adams County performs at an average level with a school score of 59/100 and a solid graduation rate of 89.0%.

Funding Context

Adams County spends $8,645 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% below the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 18% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Adams County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

18 public schools and 6 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

59/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #56 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

89.0%

2.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,645

$1,876 below the state average

School coverage

6 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Adams County has 18 public schools across 6 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Adams County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Adams County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#56

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

3,644 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 1Other 1

8 listed schools in this county slice.

ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

1,004 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 1

3 listed schools in this county slice.

KENESAW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

283 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

High school only in this slice

103 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 8 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Adams County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Adams County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Adams County, Nebraska

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Robust Educational Framework in Adams County

Adams County supports a diverse educational infrastructure with 18 public schools serving 5,048 students across six districts. The network includes seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and six high schools, providing specialized pathways for local families. This comprehensive system ensures broad access to education from primary through secondary levels.

Hastings Public Schools Leads the Region

Hastings Public Schools is the dominant district, managing eight schools and educating 3,644 students. Adams Central Public Schools also plays a significant role with three schools and 1,004 students. There are currently no charter schools in the county, as the traditional public districts manage all 100% of the local student population.

A Blend of Town and Rural Learning

The county offers a diverse locale mix with 11 schools in town settings and 7 in rural areas. Hastings Senior High School is the largest campus with 1,067 students, while the average school size across the county is 337. Families can choose between larger town-based environments or smaller, more intimate rural school settings.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Adams County

Reported Enrollment

5,048

18 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7

Middle2

High6

Other3

6 School Districts in Adams County

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

3 schools

1,004 students

KENESAW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

283 students

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

226 students

WEST HASTINGS SCHOOL

2 schools

14 students

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 09

2 schools

0 students

18 Public Schools in Adams County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 18 of 18 matching schools

Public schools in Adams County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
HASTINGS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	9–12	High	1,067
HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	780
ADAMS CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Rural: Fringe	PK–6	Primary	499
ADAMS CENTRAL JR-SR HIGH SCH	Record	ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Rural: Fringe	7–12	High	430
HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	332
RAYMOND A WATSON ELEM SCHOOL	Record	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	332
LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	307
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	299
MORTON EARLY LEARNING CENTER	Record	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	PK	Other	278
ALCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	249
KENESAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KENESAW PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KENESAW, 68956Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	142
KENESAW SECONDARY SCHOOL	Record	KENESAW PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KENESAW, 68956Rural: Distant	7–12	High	141
SILVER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL	Record	SILVER LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ROSELAND, 68973Rural: Distant	7–12	High	103
ADAMS CENTRAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER	Record	ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS	JUNIATA, 68955Rural: Fringe	PK	Other	75
WEST HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL	Record	WEST HASTINGS SCHOOL	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	9–12	High	14
18+ PROGRAM	Record	EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 09	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	9–12	Special Education	0
ESU #9 PRESCHOOL HOME BASE PRG	Record	EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 09	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	PK	Other	0
WEST HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WEST HASTINGS SCHOOL	HASTINGS, 68901Town: Distant	7–8	Middle	0

HASTINGS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High1,067 students

HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle780 students

ADAMS CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary499 students

ADAMS CENTRAL JR-SR HIGH SCH

ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High430 students

HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary332 students

RAYMOND A WATSON ELEM SCHOOL

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary332 students

LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary307 students

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary299 students

MORTON EARLY LEARNING CENTER

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

RecordPKOther278 students

ALCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary249 students

KENESAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KENESAW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KENESAW, 68956 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary142 students

KENESAW SECONDARY SCHOOL

KENESAW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KENESAW, 68956 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High141 students

SILVER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL

SILVER LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ROSELAND, 68973 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High103 students

ADAMS CENTRAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

JUNIATA, 68955 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPKOther75 students

WEST HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL

WEST HASTINGS SCHOOL

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High14 students

18+ PROGRAM

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 09

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Special Education0 students

ESU #9 PRESCHOOL HOME BASE PRG

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 09

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

RecordPKOther0 students

WEST HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL

WEST HASTINGS SCHOOL

HASTINGS, 68901 / Town: Distant

Record7–8Middle0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,645

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Adams County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Nebraska counties have the highest graduation rates?

Washington County (96.3%), Seward County (96.2%), and Keith County (95.4%) currently lead Nebraska among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Nebraska?

Across Nebraska counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $10,521. The highest current county values are Wheeler County ($19,491), Sioux County ($18,861), and Loup County ($18,703). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Adams County?

Adams County has a school score of 59/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Adams County?

The high school graduation rate in Adams County is 89.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Adams County spend per student?

Adams County spends $8,645 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Adams County, Nebraska — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Adams County, Nebraska?

What are the major school districts in Adams County, Nebraska?

What is the school experience like in Adams County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Lincoln County

Nebraska

+0 pts

59/100

School score

Polk County

Nebraska

-0 pts

59/100

School score

Greeley County

Nebraska

+0 pts

59/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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