schoolsbycounty

Thomas County Schools & Education

School Score

95/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

N/A

National avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,386

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

95/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#2

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Thomas County

Measured School Summary

Thomas County has a strong school score of 95/100. Graduation rate data is not available.

Funding Context

With $12,386 per pupil, Thomas County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 48% above the Nebraska average, while per-pupil spending is 18% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Thomas 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

3 public schools and 2 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

95/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #2 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

Not reported

Graduation-rate comparison is unavailable for this county.

Funding context

$12,386

$1,865 above the state average

School coverage

3

2 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

Thomas County has 3 public schools across 2 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.

Parent decision brief

What Thomas 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.

Small-system county

Thomas County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.

State position

#2

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 31 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

2 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.

THEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

137 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

SANDHILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary school only in this slice

47 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

SANDHILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Thomas County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Thomas County district systems?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

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 Thomas 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.

Intimate Educational Landscape in Thomas County

Thomas County manages three public schools across two districts, serving a total enrollment of 184 students. This rural infrastructure is comprised of two elementary schools and one high school.

Thedford and Sandhills District Split

Thedford Public Schools is the largest district, serving 137 students, while Sandhills Public Schools accounts for 82 students. The county does not have any charter schools, focusing resources entirely on its public district schools.

Exclusively Rural and Very Small Schools

All three schools are in rural settings, maintaining an average school size of 61 students. Thedford Elementary is the county's largest school with 81 students, providing a small-town atmosphere for all grade levels.

School Overview

Total Schools

3

in Thomas County

Reported Enrollment

184

3 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle0
High1
Other0

2 School Districts in Thomas County

THEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools
137 students

SANDHILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools
82 students

3 Public Schools in Thomas 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

Level

Showing 3 of 3 matching schools

THEDFORD ELEM ATTENDANCE CNTR

THEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THEDFORD, 69166 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary81 students

THEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL

THEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THEDFORD, 69166 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High56 students

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT HALSEY

SANDHILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HALSEY, 69142 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary47 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$12,386

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Thomas 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 Thomas County?
Thomas County has a school score of 95/100, which is a higher 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.
How much does Thomas County spend per student?
Thomas County spends $12,386 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 Thomas County, Nebraska — FAQ

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

Thomas County manages three public schools across two districts, serving a total enrollment of 184 students. This rural infrastructure is comprised of two elementary schools and one high school.

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

Thedford Public Schools is the largest district, serving 137 students, while Sandhills Public Schools accounts for 82 students. The county does not have any charter schools, focusing resources entirely on its public district schools.

What is the school experience like in Thomas County?

All three schools are in rural settings, maintaining an average school size of 61 students. Thedford Elementary is the county's largest school with 81 students, providing a small-town atmosphere for all grade levels.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed 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.