schoolsbycounty

Valley County Schools & Education

School Score

71/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

91.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,388

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

71/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#26

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Valley County

Measured School Summary

Valley County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 71/100 and a graduation rate of 91.4%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Valley County spends $9,388 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 12% above the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Valley 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

4 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

71/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #26 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

91.4%

4.5 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,388

$1,133 below the state average

School coverage

4

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

Valley County has 4 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 Valley 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

Valley 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

#26

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 7 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.

ORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

562 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

ARCADIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

124 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

ARCADIA 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 Valley County?

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

Streamlined Schooling in Valley County

Valley County manages 686 students across four public schools and two districts. The system is split evenly between two elementary schools and two high schools, providing a clear pathway for students.

Ord and Arcadia School Districts

Ord Public Schools is the primary district with 562 students across two schools, while Arcadia Public Schools serves 124 students. There are no charter schools in the county, maintaining a 100% public school enrollment.

Small Rural Schools with a Large Hub

All four schools are rural, and the average school size is 172 students. Ord Elementary is the centerpiece of the county with 316 students, while Arcadia High School remains very small with only 46 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

4

in Valley County

Reported Enrollment

686

4 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle0
High2
Other0

2 School Districts in Valley County

ORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools
562 students

ARCADIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools
124 students

4 Public Schools in Valley 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 4 of 4 matching schools

ORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ORD, 68862 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary316 students

ORD JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL

ORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ORD, 68862 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High246 students

ARCADIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ARCADIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARCADIA, 68815 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary78 students

ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL

ARCADIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARCADIA, 68815 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High46 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,388

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Valley 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 Valley County?
Valley County has a school score of 71/100, 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.
What is the graduation rate in Valley County?
The high school graduation rate in Valley County is 91.4%, 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 Valley County spend per student?
Valley County spends $9,388 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 Valley County, Nebraska — FAQ

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

Valley County manages 686 students across four public schools and two districts. The system is split evenly between two elementary schools and two high schools, providing a clear pathway for students.

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

Ord Public Schools is the primary district with 562 students across two schools, while Arcadia Public Schools serves 124 students. There are no charter schools in the county, maintaining a 100% public school enrollment.

What is the school experience like in Valley County?

All four schools are rural, and the average school size is 172 students. Ord Elementary is the centerpiece of the county with 316 students, while Arcadia High School remains very small with only 46 students.

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.