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

No. Use the Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo County?

Start with the 28 listed public schools and 8 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Buffalo County Schools & Education

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

Buffalo County, Nebraska

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

School Score

37/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

87.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,010

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

37/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#92

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Buffalo County

Measured School Summary

Buffalo County faces educational challenges with a school score of 37/100 and a graduation rate of 87.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,010 per pupil, Buffalo County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 42% below the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 33% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Buffalo 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

28 public schools and 8 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

37/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #92 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

87.2%

0.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,010

$3,511 below the state average

School coverage

8 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Buffalo County has 28 public schools across 8 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 Buffalo 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.

Review-carefully county

Buffalo County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#92

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 27 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.

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

6,152 students

Elementary 10Middle 2High 2Other 1

15 listed schools in this county slice.

GIBBON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

554 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

RAVENNA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

413 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

AMHERST PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

394 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 15 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 Buffalo County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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 Diverse and Extensive School Network

Buffalo County manages a large education system with 28 public schools across eight different districts. This network serves 8,510 students and includes 16 elementary schools and 9 high schools to accommodate the growing population.

High Graduation Rates with Efficient Spending

Students here achieve an 87.2% graduation rate, slightly outperforming the national average of 87.0%. Despite this success, the county operates efficiently with a $7,010 per-pupil expenditure, which is significantly lower than the $13,000 national benchmark.

Kearney Public Schools Anchors the Region

Kearney Public Schools is the largest district by far, educating 6,152 students across 15 schools. While no charter schools exist in the county, the district offers diverse options including an alternative school and the large Kearney Education Center for preschool.

From Urban Centers to Rural Outposts

The county features a mix of 12 town-based and 16 rural schools, with an average enrollment of 315 students per campus. Kearney High School serves as a massive regional hub with 1,629 students, contrasting with the smaller, more personal rural campuses in the outlying districts.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Buffalo County

Reported Enrollment

8,510

28 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary16

Middle2

High9

Other1

8 School Districts in Buffalo County

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GIBBON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

554 students

RAVENNA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

413 students

AMHERST PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

394 students

ELM CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

374 students

PLEASANTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

304 students

SHELTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

269 students

WEST KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL

1 school

50 students

28 Public Schools in Buffalo 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 20 of 28 matching schools

Public schools in Buffalo County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,629
HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	619
SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68847Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	577
KEARNEY EDUCATION CENTER	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Town: Distant	PK	Other	416
MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68847Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	408
NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68847Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	398
KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	381
GIBBON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GIBBON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	GIBBON, 68840Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	318
BUFFALO HILLS ELEMENTARY	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	316
PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	282
WINDY HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	259
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68845Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	254
RAVENNA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	RAVENNA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	RAVENNA, 68869Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	244
BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68847Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	241
EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	KEARNEY, 68847Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	241
GIBBON HIGH SCHOOL	Record	GIBBON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	GIBBON, 68840Rural: Distant	7–12	High	236
ELM CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	ELM CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ELM CREEK, 68836Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	225
AMHERST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	AMHERST PUBLIC SCHOOLS	AMHERST, 68812Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	224
PLEASANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	PLEASANTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	PLEASANTON, 68866Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	176
AMHERST HIGH SCHOOL	Record	AMHERST PUBLIC SCHOOLS	AMHERST, 68812Rural: Remote	7–12	High	170

KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,629 students

HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle619 students

SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68847 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle577 students

KEARNEY EDUCATION CENTER

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Town: Distant

RecordPKOther416 students

MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68847 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary408 students

NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68847 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary398 students

KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary381 students

GIBBON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GIBBON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GIBBON, 68840 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary318 students

BUFFALO HILLS ELEMENTARY

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary316 students

PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary282 students

WINDY HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary259 students

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68845 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary254 students

RAVENNA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

RAVENNA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

RAVENNA, 68869 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary244 students

BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68847 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary241 students

EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

KEARNEY, 68847 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary241 students

GIBBON HIGH SCHOOL

GIBBON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GIBBON, 68840 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High236 students

ELM CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ELM CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ELM CREEK, 68836 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary225 students

AMHERST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

AMHERST PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AMHERST, 68812 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary224 students

PLEASANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PLEASANTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PLEASANTON, 68866 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary176 students

AMHERST HIGH SCHOOL

AMHERST PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AMHERST, 68812 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High170 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,010

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Buffalo 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 Buffalo County?

Buffalo County has a school score of 37/100, which is a lower 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 Buffalo County?

The high school graduation rate in Buffalo County is 87.2%, which is below 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 Buffalo County spend per student?

Buffalo County spends $7,010 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 Buffalo County, Nebraska — FAQ

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

How do schools in Buffalo County perform academically?

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

What is the school experience like in Buffalo County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Lancaster County

Nebraska

-0 pts

37/100

School score

Douglas County

Nebraska

+1 pts

39/100

School score

Platte County

Nebraska

+2 pts

40/100

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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