Red Willow County Schools & Education
Red Willow County, Nebraska
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
78/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
94.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
94.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 86.9%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,579
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,521
School Score
78/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 64/100
State Score Position
#15
of 93 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Red Willow County
Measured School Summary
Red Willow County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 78/100 and a graduation rate of 94.5%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Red Willow County spends $8,579 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 23% above the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 18% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Red Willow 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
78/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #15 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.
Completion
94.5%
7.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,579
$1,942 below the state average
School coverage
8
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Red Willow 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.
What Red Willow 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
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS carries most of the listed public-school system, with 5 of 8 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#15
of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 14 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.
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
1,376 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
SOUTHWEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary and high visible
294 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 15
High school only in this slice
0 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Red Willow County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Red Willow 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 Red Willow 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 Schooling Across Three Local Districts
Red Willow County supports 1,670 students across eight public schools and three distinct districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and four high schools to serve the region's youth.
McCook Public Schools Leads the Region
McCook Public Schools is the county's largest district, managing five schools and educating 1,376 students. There are currently no charter schools in the county, with traditional districts providing all public education services.
Small-Town Feel with Mid-Sized Schools
Most students attend one of the six schools located in town settings, while two schools serve the surrounding rural areas. Enrollment ranges from 464 students at McCook Senior High to 179 at Southwest Elementary-Indianola.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Red Willow County
Reported Enrollment
1,670
8 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Red Willow County
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SOUTHWEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 15
8 Public Schools in Red Willow 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 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC COOK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MC COOK, 69001Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 464 |
| MC COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MC COOK, 69001Town: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 408 |
| MC COOK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MC COOK, 69001Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 307 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MC COOK, 69001Town: Remote | 4–5 | Primary | 197 |
| SOUTHWEST ELEMENTARY-INDIANOLA | Record | SOUTHWEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS | INDIANOLA, 69034Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 179 |
| SOUTHWEST JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | Record | SOUTHWEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS | BARTLEY, 69020Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 115 |
| MC COOK ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION | Record | MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MC COOK, 69001Town: Remote | 7–12 | Alternative | 0 |
| STEP SCHOOL | Record | EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 15 | MCCOOK, 69001Town: Remote | 7–12 | Alternative | 0 |
MC COOK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MC COOK, 69001 / Town: Remote
MC COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MC COOK, 69001 / Town: Remote
MC COOK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MC COOK, 69001 / Town: Remote
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MC COOK, 69001 / Town: Remote
SOUTHWEST ELEMENTARY-INDIANOLA
SOUTHWEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INDIANOLA, 69034 / Rural: Distant
SOUTHWEST JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL
SOUTHWEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BARTLEY, 69020 / Rural: Remote
MC COOK ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MC COOK, 69001 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,579
State avg $10,521
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Red Willow 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 Red Willow County?
What is the graduation rate in Red Willow County?
How much does Red Willow County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Red Willow County, Nebraska — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Red Willow County, Nebraska?
Red Willow County supports 1,670 students across eight public schools and three distinct districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and four high schools to serve the region's youth.
What are the major school districts in Red Willow County, Nebraska?
McCook Public Schools is the county's largest district, managing five schools and educating 1,376 students. There are currently no charter schools in the county, with traditional districts providing all public education services.
What is the school experience like in Red Willow County?
Most students attend one of the six schools located in town settings, while two schools serve the surrounding rural areas. Enrollment ranges from 464 students at McCook Senior High to 179 at Southwest Elementary-Indianola.
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.