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

No. Use the Saline 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 Saline 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 Saline County?

Start with the 13 listed public schools and 4 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Saline County Schools & Education

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

Saline County, Nebraska

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

School Score

46/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

84.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

84.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,269

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

46/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#85

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Saline County

Measured School Summary

Saline County has midrange measured school signals (score: 46/100) with a graduation rate of 84.6%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Saline County spends $8,269 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 29% below the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 21% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Saline 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

13 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

46/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #85 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

84.6%

2.3 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,269

$2,252 below the state average

School coverage

4 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

Saline County has 13 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 Saline 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

Saline 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

#85

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 18 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.

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

2,230 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 1

6 listed schools in this county slice.

WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

624 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

251 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

Elementary and high visible

235 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Saline County?

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

Broad School Network Across Four Districts

Saline County maintains 13 public schools that serve a growing population of 3,340 students. The network includes five elementary schools, five high schools, and two middle schools spread across four districts.

Meeting Challenges with Efficient Spending

Local schools operate on a per-pupil expenditure of $8,269, which is significantly lower than the $13,000 national benchmark. The current graduation rate stands at 84.6%, just below the Nebraska state average of 86.9%.

Crete Public Schools Leads Enrollment

Crete Public Schools is the largest district, educating 2,230 students across six schools. Other local options include Wilber-Clatonia and Friend Public Schools, though no charter schools currently operate in the county.

A Mix of Rural and Town Locales

Eight of the county's schools are located in rural areas, while five serve the more populated town centers. Crete High School is the largest campus with 690 students, offering a different social scale than the smaller rural buildings.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Saline County

Reported Enrollment

3,340

13 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5

Middle2

High5

Other1

4 School Districts in Saline County

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

6 schools

2,230 students

WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

3 schools

624 students

FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools

251 students

DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

2 schools

235 students

13 Public Schools in Saline 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 data

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Level

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Showing 13 of 13 matching schools

Public schools in Saline County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
CRETE HIGH SCHOOL	Record	CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CRETE, 68333Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	690
CRETE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CRETE, 68333Town: Distant	6–8	Middle	477
CRETE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CRETE, 68333Town: Distant	PK–2	Primary	450
CRETE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL	Record	CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CRETE, 68333Town: Distant	3–5	Primary	415
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT WILBER	Record	WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	WILBER, 68465Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	294
CRETE PRESCHOOL	Record	CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CRETE, 68333Town: Distant	PK	Other	198
WILBER-CLATONIA HIGH SCHOOL	Record	WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	WILBER, 68465Rural: Distant	9–12	High	187
FRIEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS	FRIEND, 68359Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	147
DORCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL	DORCHESTER, 68343Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	144
WILBER-CLATONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	WILBER, 68465Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	143
FRIEND HIGH SCHOOLS	Record	FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS	FRIEND, 68359Rural: Remote	7–12	High	104
DORCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL	Record	DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL	DORCHESTER, 68343Rural: Distant	7–12	High	91
CRETE SUCCESS ACADEMY	Record	CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	CRETE, 68333Town: Distant	9–12	Alternative	0

CRETE HIGH SCHOOL

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CRETE, 68333 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High690 students

CRETE MIDDLE SCHOOL

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CRETE, 68333 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle477 students

CRETE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CRETE, 68333 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary450 students

CRETE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CRETE, 68333 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary415 students

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT WILBER

WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

WILBER, 68465 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary294 students

CRETE PRESCHOOL

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CRETE, 68333 / Town: Distant

RecordPKOther198 students

WILBER-CLATONIA HIGH SCHOOL

WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

WILBER, 68465 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High187 students

FRIEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FRIEND, 68359 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary147 students

DORCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

DORCHESTER, 68343 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary144 students

WILBER-CLATONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL

WILBER-CLATONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

WILBER, 68465 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle143 students

FRIEND HIGH SCHOOLS

FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FRIEND, 68359 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High104 students

DORCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

DORCHESTER, 68343 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High91 students

CRETE SUCCESS ACADEMY

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CRETE, 68333 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,269

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Saline 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 Saline County?

Saline County has a school score of 46/100, 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 Saline County?

The high school graduation rate in Saline County is 84.6%, 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 Saline County spend per student?

Saline County spends $8,269 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 Saline County, Nebraska — FAQ

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

How do schools in Saline County perform academically?

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

What is the school experience like in Saline County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Box Butte County

Nebraska

-0 pts

45/100

School score

Logan County

Nebraska

+2 pts

47/100

School score

Chase County

Nebraska

-2 pts

43/100

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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