Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Improved Public Schools in Nebraska (2026)

The most improved public schools in Nebraska are Bruning-davenport Elem/davenpt, Newman Grove Elementary School and Ravenna Elementary School.
A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2021-26).
Improved Rank Range: 476 831 Avg. Improved Rank: 570

Most Improved Public Schools in Nebraska (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2021-26)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Bruning-davenport Elem/davenpt
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +831
(from 906 to 75)
Grades: 2-4
106 N Juniper Ave
Davenport, NE 68335
(402) 364-2225
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Newman Grove Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Rank Change: +700
(from 718 to 18)
Grades: PK-6
703 Hale Ave
Newman Grove, NE 68758
(402) 447-6051
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Ravenna Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +700
(from 846 to 146)
Grades: PK-6
41750 Carthage Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3202
Rank: #44.
Stapleton High School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +690
(from 833 to 143)
Grades: 7-12
702 6th Street
Stapleton, NE 69163
(308) 636-2252
Rank: #55.
Centennial Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +663
(from 846 to 183)
Grades: PK-5
1301 Centennial
Utica, NE 68456
(402) 534-2321
Rank: #66.
Elmwood-murdock Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Rank Change: +658
(from 679 to 21)
Grades: PK-6
400 West F St
Elmwood, NE 68349
(402) 994-2125
Rank: #77.
Arcadia High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +655
(from 730 to 75)
Grades: 7-12
320 W Owens St
Arcadia, NE 68815
(308) 789-6522
Rank: #88.
Arthur County High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +647
(from 906 to 259)
Grades: 7-12
111 Elm St
Arthur, NE 69121
(308) 764-2253
Rank: #99.
Oakland Craig Junior-senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +639
(from 833 to 194)
Grades: 7-12
309 N Davis
Oakland, NE 68045
(402) 685-5661
Rank: #1010.
Hay Springs Middle School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +637
(from 702 to 65)
Grades: 6-8
407 N Baker St
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 638-4434
Rank: #1111.
Ponca Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +618
(from 679 to 61)
Grades: 3-6
505 3rd St
Ponca, NE 68770
(402) 755-5700
Rank: #1212.
Maywood High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +614
(from 831 to 217)
Grades: 7-12
1 Tiger Dr
Maywood, NE 69038
(308) 362-4223
Rank: #1313.
Ravenna Senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +576
(from 854 to 278)
Grades: 7-12
41750 Carthage Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3249
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Elementary School At Scribner
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +565
(from 812 to 247)
Grades: PK-6
400 Pebble
Scribner, NE 68057
(402) 664-2568
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
High Plains Community Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +565
(from 906 to 341)
Grades: PK-6
205 W Pearl St
Clarks, NE 68628
(308) 548-2216
Rank: #1616.
Atkinson Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +560
(from 679 to 119)
Grades: PK-6
1000 N Main
Atkinson, NE 68713
(402) 925-5483
Rank: #1717.
Twin River Sr High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +550
(from 870 to 320)
Grades: 7-12
816 Willard Ave
Genoa, NE 68640
(402) 993-2911
Rank: #1818.
Chase County Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +544
(from 627 to 83)
Grades: PK-4
520 E 9th St
Imperial, NE 69033
(308) 882-4228
Rank: #1919.
Hayes Center Secondary School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +542
(from 906 to 364)
Grades: 7-12
501 Troth St
Hayes Center, NE 69032
(308) 286-5600
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +534
(from 812 to 278)
Grades: PK-5
300 W 24th St
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Shell Creek Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +534
(from 812 to 278)
Grades: PK-6
16786 280th St
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-8008
Rank: #2222.
Bruning-davenport High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +525
(from 906 to 381)
Grades: 9-12
340 Carroll St
Bruning, NE 68322
(402) 353-4685
Rank: #2323.
Cedar Hollow School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +519
(from 677 to 158)
Grades: PK-8
4900 S Engleman Rd
Grand Island, NE 68803
(308) 385-6306
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Bridgeport High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +513
(from 679 to 166)
Grades: 7-12
800 Q St
Bridgeport, NE 69336
(308) 262-0346
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Hay Springs Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +513
(from 730 to 217)
Grades: PK-5
407 N Baker St
Hay Springs, NE 69347
(308) 638-4434
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
St. Libory Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +492
(from 786 to 294)
Grades: PK-8
435 St Paul Road
Saint Libory, NE 68872
(308) 687-6475
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Medicine Valley High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +492
(from 833 to 341)
Grades: 9-12
303 Crook Ave
Curtis, NE 69025
(308) 367-4106
Rank: #2828.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +491
(from 862 to 371)
Grades: PK-4
1205 S 2nd St
Norfolk, NE 68702
(402) 644-2557
Rank: #2929.
Boone Central Elem-albion
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +489
(from 679 to 190)
Grades: PK-4
605 S 6th
Albion, NE 68620
(402) 395-2134
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Meadows Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +485
(from 679 to 194)
Grades: PK-6
9225 Berry
Omaha, NE 68127
(402) 339-6655
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Stapleton Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +485
(from 702 to 217)
Grades: PK-6
702 6th Street
Stapleton, NE 69163
(308) 636-2252
Rank: #3232.
Lakeview Junior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +484
(from 817 to 333)
Grades: 7-8
3744 83rd Street
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-8518
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Mc Cook Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +481
(from 627 to 146)
Grades: PK-3
1500 W 3rd St
Mc Cook, NE 69001
(308) 345-5681
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Centura Secondary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +481
(from 879 to 398)
Grades: 7-12
201 N Hwy 11
Cairo, NE 68824
(308) 485-4258
Rank: #3535.
Perkins County Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +476
(from 707 to 231)
Grades: PK-6
419 Logan Ave
Grant, NE 69140
(308) 352-4313
Show 100 more public schools in NE (out of 890 total schools)
Loading...

Recent Articles

When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
Discover the hidden costs of public school in 2026, from supplies and fees to transportation, technology, and extracurricular expenses.
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
Learn how district budget cuts can affect class sizes, programs, staffing, transportation, and your child's daily school experience in 2026.
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
Learn how parents can assess school closure risk before buying or renting in a district, using enrollment, funding, and boundary data.

Quick Links

School Search Tools:
School by Type (NE):
Private & Boarding Schools:
State Links:

Most Popular Articles

Uniforms in U.S. Public Schools: 2025 Pros & Cons
Uniforms in U.S. Public Schools: 2025 Pros & Cons
 School Rankings by Category
School Rankings by Category
What are the Benefits of Public School Over Homeschooling?
What are the Benefits of Public School Over Homeschooling?
 Year-Round vs Traditional School Calendar: 2025 Insights
Year-Round vs Traditional School Calendar: 2025 Insights
 School Uniforms Debate in 2026: Evidence, Costs, Outcomes
School Uniforms Debate in 2026: Evidence, Costs, Outcomes

More Articles

Public School Policies
Public School Jobs
Local School Topics
Teaching
About Public Schools