Kearney County Schools & Education
Kearney County, Nebraska
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
69/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 86.9%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,173
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,521
School Score
69/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 64/100
State Score Position
#38
of 93 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Kearney County
Measured School Summary
Kearney County performs at an average level with a school score of 69/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.0%.
Funding Context
Kearney County spends $9,173 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 7% above the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Kearney 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
7 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
69/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #38 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.
Completion
91.0%
4.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,173
$1,348 below the state average
School coverage
7
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
Kearney County has 7 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.
What Kearney 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
Kearney 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
#38
of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 5 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.
MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
820 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
AXTELL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Elementary and high visible
335 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
WILCOX-HILDRETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary and high visible
176 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Kearney County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Kearney 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 Kearney 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.
Diverse School Mix in Kearney County
Kearney County supports 1,331 students through 7 public schools organized into 3 distinct districts. The infrastructure is well-balanced with 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools serving the growing student body.
High Success Rates with Efficient Spending
The county boasts a 91.0% graduation rate, significantly outperforming the national average of 87.0%. Educators achieve these results with a per-pupil expenditure of $9,173, which is considerably lower than the state average of $10,521 and the national average of $13,000.
Minden Public Schools Drives Enrollment
Minden Public Schools is the largest district, educating 820 students across 3 schools, while Axtell Community Schools serves another 335 students. No charter schools operate in the county, as traditional public districts manage 100% of the student population.
Balancing Town and Rural Environments
The county features a mix of 3 town-based schools and 4 rural locations, with an average school size of 190 students. C L Jones Middle School is the largest facility with 324 students, while Axtell High School provides a smaller high school experience for 135 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Kearney County
Reported Enrollment
1,331
7 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Kearney County
MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AXTELL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
WILCOX-HILDRETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
7 Public Schools in Kearney 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 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C L JONES MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MINDEN, 68959Town: Remote | 4–8 | Middle | 324 |
| MINDEN HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MINDEN, 68959Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 264 |
| MINDEN EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MINDEN, 68959Town: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 232 |
| AXTELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | AXTELL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | AXTELL, 68924Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 200 |
| AXTELL HIGH SCHOOL | Record | AXTELL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | AXTELL, 68924Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 135 |
| WILCOX-HILDRETH JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | Record | WILCOX-HILDRETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS | WILCOX, 68982Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 98 |
| WILCOX-HILDRETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | WILCOX-HILDRETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS | WILCOX, 68982Rural: Remote | PK–2 | Primary | 78 |
MINDEN EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MINDEN, 68959 / Town: Remote
AXTELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
AXTELL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
AXTELL, 68924 / Rural: Distant
WILCOX-HILDRETH JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL
WILCOX-HILDRETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WILCOX, 68982 / Rural: Remote
WILCOX-HILDRETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WILCOX-HILDRETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WILCOX, 68982 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,173
State avg $10,521
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Kearney 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 Kearney County?
What is the graduation rate in Kearney County?
How much does Kearney County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Kearney County, Nebraska — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Kearney County, Nebraska?
Kearney County supports 1,331 students through 7 public schools organized into 3 distinct districts. The infrastructure is well-balanced with 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools serving the growing student body.
How do schools in Kearney County perform academically?
The county boasts a 91.0% graduation rate, significantly outperforming the national average of 87.0%. Educators achieve these results with a per-pupil expenditure of $9,173, which is considerably lower than the state average of $10,521 and the national average of $13,000.
What are the major school districts in Kearney County, Nebraska?
Minden Public Schools is the largest district, educating 820 students across 3 schools, while Axtell Community Schools serves another 335 students. No charter schools operate in the county, as traditional public districts manage 100% of the student population.
What is the school experience like in Kearney County?
The county features a mix of 3 town-based schools and 4 rural locations, with an average school size of 190 students. C L Jones Middle School is the largest facility with 324 students, while Axtell High School provides a smaller high school experience for 135 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.