schoolsbycounty

Hamilton County Schools & Education

School Score

70/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,804

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

70/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#34

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Hamilton County

Measured School Summary

Hamilton County performs at an average level with a school score of 70/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.4%.

Funding Context

Hamilton County spends $9,804 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 9% above the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Hamilton 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 3 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

70/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #34 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

90.4%

3.5 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,804

$717 below the state average

School coverage

8

3 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

Hamilton County has 8 public schools across 3 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.

Parent decision brief

What Hamilton 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

Hamilton 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

#34

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 6 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.

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

1,226 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 1

4 listed schools in this county slice.

GILTNER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

246 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

HAMPTON PUBLIC SCHOOL

Elementary and high visible

191 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Hamilton County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Eight-School Educational Infrastructure

Hamilton County maintains a robust educational network featuring eight public schools across three districts. The system serves 1,663 students through three elementary schools, one middle school, three high schools, and one specialized facility. This infrastructure provides a stable foundation for the county's growing student population.

Aurora Public Schools Leads County Districts

Aurora Public Schools stands as the largest district by far, managing four schools and educating 1,226 students. Smaller districts like Giltner and Hampton serve 246 and 191 students respectively, ensuring localized attention. Currently, the county offers no charter school options, with 100% of enrollment occurring in traditional public districts.

Blending Small-Town Centers and Rural Classrooms

The county features an even split between four town-based and four rural schools, offering a mix of educational environments. Enrollment sizes vary significantly, ranging from 513 students at Aurora Elementary to just 110 at Hampton Elementary. With an average school size of 208 students, most children benefit from intimate learning communities.

School Overview

Total Schools

8

in Hamilton County

Reported Enrollment

1,663

8 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary3
Middle1
High3
Other1

3 School Districts in Hamilton County

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

4 schools
1,226 students

GILTNER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools
246 students

HAMPTON PUBLIC SCHOOL

2 schools
191 students

8 Public Schools in Hamilton 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

Level

Showing 8 of 8 matching schools

AURORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AURORA, 68818 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary513 students

AURORA HIGH SCHOOL

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AURORA, 68818 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High374 students

AURORA MIDDLE SCHOOL

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AURORA, 68818 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle269 students

GILTNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GILTNER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GILTNER, 68841 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary152 students

HAMPTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HAMPTON PUBLIC SCHOOL

HAMPTON, 68843 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary110 students

GILTNER HIGH SCHOOL

GILTNER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GILTNER, 68841 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High94 students

HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL

HAMPTON PUBLIC SCHOOL

HAMPTON, 68843 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High81 students

AURORA PRESCHOOL

AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AURORA, 68818 / Town: Distant

RecordPKOther70 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,804

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?
Hamilton County has a school score of 70/100, 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 Hamilton County?
The high school graduation rate in Hamilton County is 90.4%, 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 Hamilton County spend per student?
Hamilton County spends $9,804 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 Hamilton County, Nebraska — FAQ

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

Hamilton County maintains a robust educational network featuring eight public schools across three districts. The system serves 1,663 students through three elementary schools, one middle school, three high schools, and one specialized facility. This infrastructure provides a stable foundation for the county's growing student population.

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

Aurora Public Schools stands as the largest district by far, managing four schools and educating 1,226 students. Smaller districts like Giltner and Hampton serve 246 and 191 students respectively, ensuring localized attention. Currently, the county offers no charter school options, with 100% of enrollment occurring in traditional public districts.

What is the school experience like in Hamilton County?

The county features an even split between four town-based and four rural schools, offering a mix of educational environments. Enrollment sizes vary significantly, ranging from 513 students at Aurora Elementary to just 110 at Hampton Elementary. With an average school size of 208 students, most children benefit from intimate learning communities.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed 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.