Cherry County Schools & Education
Cherry County, Nebraska
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
76/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
91.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 86.9%
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,352
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,521
School Score
76/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 64/100
State Score Position
#17
of 93 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Cherry County
Measured School Summary
Cherry County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 76/100 and a graduation rate of 91.2%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Cherry County spends $11,352 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 19% above the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Cherry 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
8 public schools and 2 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
76/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #17 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.
Completion
91.2%
4.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$11,352
$831 above the state average
School coverage
8
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Cherry County has 8 public schools across 2 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.
What Cherry 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.
Small-system county
Cherry County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#17
of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points above 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.
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
623 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS
Elementary to high school visible
158 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Cherry County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cherry 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 Cherry 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 Wide-Ranging District with Eight Schools
Cherry County operates eight public schools across two districts, serving 781 students in the heart of the Sandhills. The network includes four elementary, two middle, and two high schools.
Valentine Community Schools Dominates
Valentine Community Schools is the primary district, managing 623 students across five schools. The remaining students attend Cody-Kilgore Public Schools, and there are zero charter schools in the region.
A Mix of Town and Sandhills Rural
Schools are split between five rural and three town-based locales, with an average size of just 98 students. Valentine Elementary is the largest at 279 students, while Cody-Kilgore High School offers an extremely small environment for 51 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Cherry County
Reported Enrollment
781
8 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Cherry County
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS
8 Public Schools in Cherry County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALENTINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | VALENTINE, 69201Town: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 279 |
| VALENTINE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | VALENTINE, 69201Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 164 |
| VALENTINE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | VALENTINE, 69201Town: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 160 |
| CODY-KILGORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS | KILGORE, 69216Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 72 |
| CODY-KILGORE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS | CODY, 69211Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 51 |
| CODY-KILGORE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS | CODY, 69211Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 35 |
| SIMEON SCHOOL | Record | VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | VALENTINE, 69201Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 16 |
| CUTCOMB LAKE SCHOOL | Record | VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | VALENTINE, 69201Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 4 |
VALENTINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
VALENTINE, 69201 / Town: Remote
VALENTINE HIGH SCHOOL
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
VALENTINE, 69201 / Town: Remote
VALENTINE MIDDLE SCHOOL
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
VALENTINE, 69201 / Town: Remote
CODY-KILGORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS
KILGORE, 69216 / Rural: Remote
CODY-KILGORE HIGH SCHOOL
CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS
CODY, 69211 / Rural: Remote
CODY-KILGORE MIDDLE SCHOOL
CODY-KILGORE PUBLIC SCHS
CODY, 69211 / Rural: Remote
SIMEON SCHOOL
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
VALENTINE, 69201 / Rural: Remote
CUTCOMB LAKE SCHOOL
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
VALENTINE, 69201 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$11,352
State avg $10,521
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Cherry County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Nebraska counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Nebraska?
How should I read the school score in Cherry County?
What is the graduation rate in Cherry County?
How much does Cherry County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Cherry County, Nebraska — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Cherry County, Nebraska?
Cherry County operates eight public schools across two districts, serving 781 students in the heart of the Sandhills. The network includes four elementary, two middle, and two high schools.
What are the major school districts in Cherry County, Nebraska?
Valentine Community Schools is the primary district, managing 623 students across five schools. The remaining students attend Cody-Kilgore Public Schools, and there are zero charter schools in the region.
What is the school experience like in Cherry County?
Schools are split between five rural and three town-based locales, with an average size of just 98 students. Valentine Elementary is the largest at 279 students, while Cody-Kilgore High School offers an extremely small environment for 51 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.