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

No. Use the Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

Start with the 22 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Lincoln County Schools & Education

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

Lincoln County, Nebraska

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

School Score

59/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,938

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

59/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#55

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lincoln County

Measured School Summary

Lincoln County performs at an average level with a school score of 59/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.8%.

Funding Context

At $7,938 per pupil, Lincoln County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 7% below the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 25% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lincoln 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

22 public schools and 6 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

59/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #55 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

90.8%

3.9 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,938

$2,583 below the state average

School coverage

6 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

Lincoln County has 22 public schools across 6 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 Lincoln 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

Lincoln 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

#55

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 5 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.

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

3,782 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 1Other 2

12 listed schools in this county slice.

HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

557 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

SUTHERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

305 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

MAXWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

258 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 12 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 Lincoln County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Regional Education Powerhouse

Lincoln County supports 5,269 students through 22 public schools organized into 6 school districts. The system includes 12 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 6 high schools, serving as the central educational hub for west-central Nebraska.

High Graduation Success on Lean Spending

Lincoln County maintains a strong 90.8% graduation rate, outperforming both the state and national averages. The districts achieve this with a per-pupil expenditure of $7,938, which is nearly $2,600 less than the Nebraska state average of $10,521.

North Platte Public Schools at the Center

North Platte Public Schools is the largest district by far, managing 12 schools and 3,782 students. Sutherland and Maxwell Public Schools also provide important regional options, though no charter schools exist in the county.

Mixing Town Hubs with Rural Outposts

The county features 10 town-based schools and 12 rural locations, with an average school size of 240 students. North Platte High School is the largest with 1,212 students, while elementary schools like Jefferson offer a smaller setting for 296 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Lincoln County

Reported Enrollment

5,269

22 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary12

Middle2

High6

Other2

6 School Districts in Lincoln County

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

557 students

SUTHERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

305 students

MAXWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

258 students

BRADY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

184 students

WALLACE PUBLIC SCH DIST 65 R

2 schools

183 students

22 Public Schools in Lincoln County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 22 matching schools

Public schools in Lincoln County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
NORTH PLATTE HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	9–12	High	1,212
ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	7–8	Middle	566
HERSHEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HERSHEY, 69143Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	303
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	296
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	284
MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Rural: Fringe	6	Middle	265
HERSHEY HIGH SCHOOL	Record	HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HERSHEY, 69143Rural: Distant	7–12	High	254
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	240
MCDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	234
CODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	229
EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	212
SUTHERLAND HIGH SCHOOL	Record	SUTHERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SUTHERLAND, 69165Rural: Remote	7–12	High	153
SUTHERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	SUTHERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS	SUTHERLAND, 69165Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	152
MAXWELL HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MAXWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS	MAXWELL, 69151Rural: Remote	7–12	High	147
LAKE MALONEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	115
MAXWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MAXWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS	MAXWELL, 69151Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	111
WALLACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WALLACE PUBLIC SCH DIST 65 R	WALLACE, 69169Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	100
BRADY HIGH SCHOOL	Record	BRADY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	BRADY, 69123Rural: Remote	7–12	High	96
BUFFALO EARLY LEARNING CENTER	Record	NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	NORTH PLATTE, 69101Town: Remote	PK	Other	93
BRADY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	BRADY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	BRADY, 69123Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	88

NORTH PLATTE HIGH SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,212 students

ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

Record7–8Middle566 students

HERSHEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HERSHEY, 69143 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary303 students

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary296 students

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary284 students

MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Rural: Fringe

Record6Middle265 students

HERSHEY HIGH SCHOOL

HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HERSHEY, 69143 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High254 students

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary240 students

MCDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary234 students

CODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary229 students

EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary212 students

SUTHERLAND HIGH SCHOOL

SUTHERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SUTHERLAND, 69165 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High153 students

SUTHERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SUTHERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SUTHERLAND, 69165 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary152 students

MAXWELL HIGH SCHOOL

MAXWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MAXWELL, 69151 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High147 students

LAKE MALONEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary115 students

MAXWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MAXWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MAXWELL, 69151 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary111 students

WALLACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WALLACE PUBLIC SCH DIST 65 R

WALLACE, 69169 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary100 students

BRADY HIGH SCHOOL

BRADY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BRADY, 69123 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High96 students

BUFFALO EARLY LEARNING CENTER

NORTH PLATTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NORTH PLATTE, 69101 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther93 students

BRADY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BRADY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BRADY, 69123 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary88 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,938

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

Lincoln County has a school score of 59/100, 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 Lincoln County?

The high school graduation rate in Lincoln County is 90.8%, 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 Lincoln County spend per student?

Lincoln County spends $7,938 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 Lincoln County, Nebraska — FAQ

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

How do schools in Lincoln County perform academically?

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

What is the school experience like in Lincoln County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Greeley County

Nebraska

+0 pts

59/100

School score

Pawnee County

Nebraska

+0 pts

59/100

School score

Adams County

Nebraska

-0 pts

59/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 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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