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

No. Use the Platte 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 Platte 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 Platte County?

Start with the 18 listed public schools and 4 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Platte County Schools & Education

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

Platte County, Nebraska

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

School Score

40/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

87.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,169

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

40/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#90

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Platte County

Measured School Summary

Platte County faces educational challenges with a school score of 40/100 and a graduation rate of 87.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,169 per pupil, Platte County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 38% below the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 32% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Platte 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

18 public schools and 4 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

40/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #90 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

87.2%

0.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,169

$3,352 below the state average

School coverage

4 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

Platte County has 18 public schools across 4 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 Platte 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.

Review-carefully county

Platte County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#90

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 24 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.

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

4,111 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 1Other 2

9 listed schools in this county slice.

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

952 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

319 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 1

3 listed schools in this county slice.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 07

Other grade structure

0 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 2

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 9 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 Platte County?

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

Platte County Per-Pupil Spending Far Below State and National Averages

Education data brief for Platte County, Nebraska.

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

Lead metric:Per-pupil spending

Platte County public schools report a per-pupil expenditure of $7,169, which is approximately 32% lower than the Nebraska state average of $10,521 and nearly half the national average of $13,000. Despite this lower funding level, the county's graduation rate of 87.2% remains slightly above both the state average of 86.9% and the national average of 87.0%. The county's composite school score is 39.5, which is lower than the Nebraska state average of 63.6 and the national median of 50.0. With 18 public schools serving 5,382 students, the system includes two alternative schools but no charter schools. Columbus Public Schools is the largest district, enrolling 4,111 students and managing Columbus High School, which has 1,273 students. The school mix includes 10 town-based and eight rural schools. Compare district boundaries before drawing conclusions.

Sources

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

School Overview

Total Schools

in Platte County

Reported Enrollment

5,382

18 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8

Middle2

High3

Other5

4 School Districts in Platte County

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

4 schools

952 students

HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

3 schools

319 students

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 07

2 schools

0 students

18 Public Schools in Platte County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; 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 18 of 18 matching schools

Public schools in Platte County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,273
COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	5–8	Middle	1,174
CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	PK–4	Primary	413
LOST CREEK ELEMENTARY SCH	Record	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	PK–4	Primary	356
SHELL CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68601Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	338
NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY	Record	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	PK–4	Primary	331
LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68601Rural: Distant	9–12	High	311
EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	PK–4	Primary	281
WEST PARK ELEMENTARY	Record	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	PK–4	Primary	262
HUMPHREY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HUMPHREY, 68642Rural: Remote	PK–9	Other	159
PLATTE CENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	PLATTE CENTER, 68653Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	156
HUMPHREY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	HUMPHREY, 68642Rural: Remote	7–12	High	148
LAKEVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68601Rural: Distant	7–8	Middle	147
PATHWAYS BEYOND/EARLY STEPS TO SUCCESS BUILDING	Record	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	PK	Other	21
LINDSAY ATTENDANCE CENTER	Record	HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LINDSAY, 68644Rural: Remote	PK–KG	Primary	12
ESU 7 CENTER	Record	EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 07	COLUMBUS, 68601Town: Remote	8–11	Alternative	0
ESU 7 LEARNING ACADEMY	Record	EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 07	COLUMBUS, 68601Town: Remote	PK–12	Alternative	0
KRAMER EDUCATION CENTER	Record	COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS	COLUMBUS, 68602Town: Remote	PK	Other	0

COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,273 students

COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

Profile5–8Middle1,174 students

CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary413 students

LOST CREEK ELEMENTARY SCH

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary356 students

SHELL CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68601 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary338 students

NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary331 students

LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68601 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High311 students

EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary281 students

WEST PARK ELEMENTARY

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary262 students

HUMPHREY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HUMPHREY, 68642 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–9Other159 students

PLATTE CENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

PLATTE CENTER, 68653 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary156 students

HUMPHREY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL

HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HUMPHREY, 68642 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High148 students

LAKEVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68601 / Rural: Distant

Record7–8Middle147 students

PATHWAYS BEYOND/EARLY STEPS TO SUCCESS BUILDING

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther21 students

LINDSAY ATTENDANCE CENTER

HUMPHREY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LINDSAY, 68644 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–KGPrimary12 students

ESU 7 CENTER

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 07

COLUMBUS, 68601 / Town: Remote

Record8–11Alternative0 students

ESU 7 LEARNING ACADEMY

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 07

COLUMBUS, 68601 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–12Alternative0 students

KRAMER EDUCATION CENTER

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, 68602 / Town: Remote

RecordPKOther0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,169

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Platte 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 Platte County?

Platte County has a school score of 40/100, which is a lower 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 Platte County?

The high school graduation rate in Platte County is 87.2%, which is below 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 Platte County spend per student?

Platte County spends $7,169 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

Colfax County

Nebraska

+0 pts

40/100

School score

Douglas County

Nebraska

-1 pts

39/100

School score

Dawes County

Nebraska

+2 pts

41/100

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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