Lancaster County Schools & Education
Lancaster County, Nebraska
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
81.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
81.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 86.9%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,884
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,521
School Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 64/100
State Score Position
#93
of 93 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lancaster County
Measured School Summary
Lancaster County faces educational challenges with a school score of 37/100 and a graduation rate of 81.5%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,884 per pupil, Lancaster 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 trails the state average by 5.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 25% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lancaster 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
95 public schools and 9 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 #93 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.
Completion
81.5%
5.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,884
$2,637 below the state average
School coverage
95
9 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
Lancaster County has 95 public schools across 9 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 Lancaster 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.
Dominant-district county
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS carries most of the listed public-school system, with 76 of 95 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#93
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.
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
41,850 students
76 listed schools in this county slice.
NORRIS SCHOOL DIST 160
Elementary to high school visible
2,483 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
MALCOLM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary and high visible
644 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
PALMYRA DISTRICT O R 1
Elementary school only in this slice
400 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 76 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 Lancaster County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lancaster County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Lancaster 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.
Nebraska's Major Urban Education Hub
Lancaster County is home to a massive educational infrastructure with 95 public schools serving nearly 48,000 students across 9 districts. This diverse system includes 47 elementary schools, 17 middle schools, 24 high schools, and 12 alternative education centers.
Managing Scale on a Tight Budget
The county faces challenges with an 81.5% graduation rate, which falls below the state average of 86.9%. School districts here operate on $7,884 per pupil, a figure significantly lower than both the state average and the $13,000 national benchmark.
Lincoln Public Schools Dominates the Region
Lincoln Public Schools is the primary district, managing 76 schools and 41,850 students. While there are no charter schools, the county offers 12 alternative schools and 3 special education facilities to meet varied student needs.
A Bustling City School Experience
With 75 schools located in the city, the average campus size is 599 students, though many high schools are much larger. Lincoln East High is the largest with 2,268 students, offering an urban experience vastly different from the county's 18 rural schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
95
in Lancaster County
Reported Enrollment
47,895
95 schools reporting
School Districts
9
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
9 School Districts in Lancaster County
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
GuideNORRIS SCHOOL DIST 160
PALMYRA DISTRICT O R 1
MALCOLM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL
MORTON SCHOOL
PATHFINDER ED PRG-LANCASTER CO
CHILD GUIDANCE SCHOOL
NEBRASKA YOUTH ACADEMY
95 Public Schools in Lancaster County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 7 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 95 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68510City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,268 |
| LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68510City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,196 |
| SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68512City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,171 |
| NORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68504City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,072 |
| LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68506City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,929 |
| LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68507City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,812 |
| SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL | Profile | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68516City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,136 |
| SCHOO MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68521Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 917 |
| IRVING MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68502City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 890 |
| KOOSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68521Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 889 |
| GOODRICH MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68521City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 877 |
| ROPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68522City: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 863 |
| PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68508City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 834 |
| BELMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68521City: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 814 |
| LUX MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68506City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 791 |
| ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68512City: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 762 |
| NORRIS HIGH SCHOOL | Record | NORRIS SCHOOL DIST 160 | FIRTH, 68358Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 757 |
| ARNOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68524City: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 739 |
| MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68526Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 738 |
| POUND MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LINCOLN, 68516City: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 727 |
LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68510 / City: Large
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68510 / City: Large
SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68512 / City: Large
NORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68504 / City: Large
LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68506 / City: Large
LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68507 / City: Large
SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68516 / City: Large
KOOSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68521 / Rural: Fringe
ROPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68522 / City: Large
BELMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68521 / City: Large
ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68512 / City: Large
ARNOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LINCOLN, 68524 / City: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,884
State avg $10,521
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lancaster 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 Lancaster County?
What is the graduation rate in Lancaster County?
How much does Lancaster County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lancaster County, Nebraska — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lancaster County, Nebraska?
Lancaster County is home to a massive educational infrastructure with 95 public schools serving nearly 48,000 students across 9 districts. This diverse system includes 47 elementary schools, 17 middle schools, 24 high schools, and 12 alternative education centers.
How do schools in Lancaster County perform academically?
The county faces challenges with an 81.5% graduation rate, which falls below the state average of 86.9%. School districts here operate on $7,884 per pupil, a figure significantly lower than both the state average and the $13,000 national benchmark.
What are the major school districts in Lancaster County, Nebraska?
Lincoln Public Schools is the primary district, managing 76 schools and 41,850 students. While there are no charter schools, the county offers 12 alternative schools and 3 special education facilities to meet varied student needs.
What is the school experience like in Lancaster County?
With 75 schools located in the city, the average campus size is 599 students, though many high schools are much larger. Lincoln East High is the largest with 2,268 students, offering an urban experience vastly different from the county's 18 rural schools.
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.