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

No. Use the Dawson 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 Dawson 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 Dawson County?

Start with the 19 listed public schools and 5 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Dawson County Schools & Education

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

Dawson County, Nebraska

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

School Score

75/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

92.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,847

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

75/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#21

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Dawson County

Measured School Summary

Dawson County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 75/100 and a graduation rate of 92.7%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Dawson County spends $8,847 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 17% above the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Dawson 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

19 public schools and 5 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

75/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #21 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

92.7%

5.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,847

$1,674 below the state average

School coverage

5 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

Dawson County has 19 public schools across 5 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 Dawson 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.

Higher-signal county

Dawson County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#21

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 11 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.

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

3,221 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 2

8 listed schools in this county slice.

COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

949 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 1

4 listed schools in this county slice.

GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

847 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 1

3 listed schools in this county slice.

OVERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

277 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

LEXINGTON 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 Dawson County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Dawson 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?

Data Story

Dawson County Graduation Rates Reach 92.7 Percent Amid Low Spending

Education data brief for Dawson County, Nebraska.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:Graduation rate

Dawson County maintains a high school graduation rate of 92.7%, notably exceeding the Nebraska state average of 86.9% and the national average of 87.0%. This rate is achieved with a per-pupil expenditure of $8,847, which is roughly 16% lower than the state average of $10,521 and approximately 32% lower than the national average of $13,000. The county's composite school score of 74.9 is also higher than the state average of 63.6. With 5,516 total students, Dawson County features a larger enrollment than many of its neighbors, largely driven by Lexington Public Schools, which serves 3,221 students across eight schools. The county's 19 schools include one special education facility and a majority of schools located in town settings. No charter schools are active in the county's five districts. Check the NCES directory for specific enrollment figures by grade.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Dawson County

Reported Enrollment

5,516

19 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8

Middle2

High5

Other4

5 School Districts in Dawson County

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

8 schools

3,221 students

COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

4 schools

949 students

GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS

3 schools

847 students

OVERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

277 students

SUMNER-EDDYVILLE-MILLER SCHS

2 schools

222 students

19 Public Schools in Dawson 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 data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 19 of 19 matching schools

Public schools in Dawson County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Town: Remote	9–12	High	913
LEXINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	685
COZAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	COZAD, 69130Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	428
DUDLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS	GOTHENBURG, 69138Town: Remote	PK–6	Primary	422
GOTHENBURG SECONDARY SCHOOL	Record	GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS	GOTHENBURG, 69138Town: Remote	7–12	High	389
BRYAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	383
MORTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Town: Remote	PK–1	Primary	360
PERSHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Town: Remote	4–5	Primary	317
SANDOZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Town: Remote	2–3	Primary	296
EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Rural: Fringe	PK	Other	267
COZAD HIGH SCHOOL	Record	COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	COZAD, 69130Town: Remote	9–12	High	260
COZAD MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	COZAD, 69130Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	197
OVERTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	OVERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	OVERTON, 68863Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	164
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT SUMNER	Record	SUMNER-EDDYVILLE-MILLER SCHS	SUMNER, 68878Rural: Remote	PK–7	Primary	115
OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL	Record	OVERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	OVERTON, 68863Rural: Distant	7–12	High	113
JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH AT SUMNER	Record	SUMNER-EDDYVILLE-MILLER SCHS	SUMNER, 68878Rural: Remote	7–12	High	107
COZAD EARLY EDUCATION CENTER	Record	COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	COZAD, 69130Town: Remote	PK	Other	64
SWEDE PRESCHOOL ACADEMY	Record	GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS	GOTHENBURG, 69138Town: Remote	PK	Other	36
EARLY INTERVENTION/HOMEBOUND	Record	LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LEXINGTON, 68850Rural: Fringe	PK	Special Education	0

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High913 students

LEXINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle685 students

COZAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

COZAD, 69130 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary428 students

DUDLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GOTHENBURG, 69138 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary422 students

GOTHENBURG SECONDARY SCHOOL

GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GOTHENBURG, 69138 / Town: Remote

Record7–12High389 students

BRYAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary383 students

MORTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–1Primary360 students

PERSHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Town: Remote

Record4–5Primary317 students

SANDOZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Town: Remote

Record2–3Primary296 students

EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPKOther267 students

COZAD HIGH SCHOOL

COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

COZAD, 69130 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High260 students

COZAD MIDDLE SCHOOL

COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

COZAD, 69130 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle197 students

OVERTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

OVERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OVERTON, 68863 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary164 students

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT SUMNER

SUMNER-EDDYVILLE-MILLER SCHS

SUMNER, 68878 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–7Primary115 students

OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL

OVERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

OVERTON, 68863 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High113 students

JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH AT SUMNER

SUMNER-EDDYVILLE-MILLER SCHS

SUMNER, 68878 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High107 students

COZAD EARLY EDUCATION CENTER

COZAD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

COZAD, 69130 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther64 students

SWEDE PRESCHOOL ACADEMY

GOTHENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GOTHENBURG, 69138 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther36 students

EARLY INTERVENTION/HOMEBOUND

LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON, 68850 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPKSpecial Education0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,847

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Dawson 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 Dawson County?

Dawson County has a school score of 75/100, which is a higher 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 Dawson County?

The high school graduation rate in Dawson County is 92.7%, 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 Dawson County spend per student?

Dawson County spends $8,847 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.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Nemaha County

Nebraska

+0 pts

75/100

School score

Garden County

Nebraska

-0 pts

75/100

School score

Sheridan County

Nebraska

-0 pts

75/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 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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