For the 2026 school year, there are 28 public schools serving 8,430 students in Buffalo County, NE (there are 3 private schools, serving 624 private students). 93% of all K-12 students in Buffalo County, NE are educated in public schools (compared to the NE state average of 88%).
The top-ranked public schools in Buffalo County, NE are Meadowlark Elementary School, Windy Hills Elementary School and Glenwood Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Buffalo County, NE public schools have an average math proficiency score of 68% (versus the Nebraska public school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Buffalo County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Nebraska public schools.
Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public school average of 39% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Buffalo County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Meadowlark Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1010 E 53rd St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Gr: PK-5 | 417 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
Windy Hills Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4211 20th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Gr: PK-5 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #33.
Glenwood Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
8105 9th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Gr: PK-5 | 118 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #44.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3000 7th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Gr: PK-5 | 257 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #55.
Amherst Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
100 N Sycamore
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Gr: PK-6 | 203 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #66.
Buffalo Hills Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6110 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Gr: PK-5 | 272 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Kenwood Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
915 16th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Gr: PK-5 | 398 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Ravenna Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
41750 Carthage Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3202
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3202
Gr: PK-6 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #99.
Horizon Middle School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
915 W 35th St
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8120
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8120
Gr: 6-8 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 W 24th St
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Gr: PK-5 | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Ravenna Senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
41750 Carthage Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3249
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3249
Gr: 7-12 | 170 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1212.
Elm Creek Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
230 East Calkins Avenue
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Gr: PK-6 | 215 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #1313.
Amherst High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 N Sycamore
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Gr: 7-12 | 157 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1414.
Shelton High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
210 9th St
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-5459
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-5459
Gr: 7-12 | 117 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #1515.
Sunrise Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4611 Ave N
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8150
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8150
Gr: 6-8 | 536 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Bryant Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1611 Ave C
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Gr: PK-5 | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
910 E 34th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8230
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8230
Gr: PK-5 | 397 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1818.
Pleasanton Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
303 Church St
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Gr: PK-6 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #1919.
Elm Creek High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
230 East Calkins Avenue
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Gr: 7-12 | 149 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #2020.
Pleasanton High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
303 Church St
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Gr: 7-12 | 131 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #2121.
Kearney High School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2702 West 11th Street
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8060
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8060
Gr: 9-12 | 1,663 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #2222.
Emerson Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2705 Ave E
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Gr: PK-5 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Gibbon Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1030 Court Street
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-6546
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-6546
Gr: PK-6 | 324 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
West Kearney High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2802 30th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 338-2011
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 338-2011
Gr: 8-12 | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Gibbon High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1030 Court Street
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-5721
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-5721
Gr: 7-12 | 251 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Shelton Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
210 9th St
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-6558
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-6558
Gr: PK-6 | 159 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: n/an/a
Hanny Arram Center
Alternative School
3907 6th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-6900
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-6900
Gr: 6-12 | 2 students
Rank: n/an/a
1511 5th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Gr: PK | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Buffalo County, NE?
The top-ranked public schools in Buffalo County, NE include Meadowlark Elementary School, Windy Hills Elementary School and Glenwood Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Buffalo County?
28 public schools are located in Buffalo County.
What percentage of students in Buffalo County go to public school?
93% of all K-12 students in Buffalo County are educated in public schools (compared to the NE state average of 88%).
What is the racial composition of students in Buffalo County?
Buffalo County public schools minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public schools average of 39% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Buffalo County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Buffalo County include: Park Elementary School vs. Central Elementary School, Park Elementary School vs. Windy Hills Elementary School
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