For the 2025 school year, there are 28 public schools serving 8,430 students in Buffalo County, NE (there are 3 private schools, serving 631 private students). 93% of all K-12 students in Buffalo County, NE are educated in public schools (compared to the NE state average of 89%).
The top ranked public schools in Buffalo County, NE are Meadowlark Elementary School, Windy Hills Elementary School and Park 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 54% (versus the Nebraska public school average of 46%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Buffalo County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Nebraska public schools.
Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public school average of 38% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Buffalo County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Meadowlark Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1010 E 53rd St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Grades: PK-5
| 399 students
Rank: #22.
Windy Hills Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4211 20th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Grades: PK-5
| 255 students
Rank: #33.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3000 7th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Grades: PK-5
| 275 students
Rank: #44.
Buffalo Hills Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6110 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Grades: PK-5
| 298 students
Rank: #55.
Amherst Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
100 N Sycamore
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Grades: PK-6
| 213 students
Rank: #66.
Glenwood Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8105 9th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Grades: PK-5
| 126 students
Rank: #77.
Ravenna Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
41750 Carthage Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3202
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3202
Grades: PK-6
| 233 students
Rank: #88.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
300 W 24th St
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Grades: PK-5
| 271 students
Rank: #99.
Kenwood Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
915 16th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Grades: PK-5
| 385 students
Rank: #1010.
Horizon Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
915 W 35th St
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8120
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8120
Grades: 6-8
| 631 students
Rank: #1111.
Elm Creek Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | 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
Grades: PK-6
| 202 students
Rank: #1212.
Shelton High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
210 9th St
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-5459
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-5459
Grades: 7-12
| 110 students
Rank: #1313.
Ravenna Senior High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
41750 Carthage Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3249
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3249
Grades: 7-12
| 168 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Kearney High School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2702 West 11th Street
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8060
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8060
Grades: 9-12
| 1,654 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | 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
Grades: PK-5
| 418 students
Rank: #1616.
Amherst High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 N Sycamore
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Grades: 7-12
| 167 students
Rank: #1717.
West Kearney High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2802 30th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 338-2011
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 338-2011
Grades: 9-12
| 54 students
Rank: #1818.
Sunrise Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4611 Ave N
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8150
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8150
Grades: 6-8
| 543 students
Rank: #1919.
Bryant Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1611 Ave C
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Grades: PK-5
| 243 students
Rank: #2020.
Elm Creek High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
230 East Calkins Avenue
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Grades: 7-12
| 155 students
Rank: #2121.
Emerson Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2705 Ave E
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Grades: PK-5
| 211 students
Rank: #2222.
Gibbon Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1030 Court Street
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-6546
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-6546
Grades: PK-6
| 320 students
Rank: #2323.
Pleasanton Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
303 Church St
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Grades: PK-6
| 188 students
Rank: #2424.
Pleasanton High School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
303 Church St
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Grades: 7-12
| 135 students
Rank: #2525.
Gibbon High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1030 Court Street
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-5721
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-5721
Grades: 7-12
| 250 students
Rank: #2626.
Shelton Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
210 9th St
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-6558
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-6558
Grades: PK-6
| 171 students
Rank: n/an/a
Hanny Arram Center
Alternative School
3907 6th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-6900
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-6900
Grades: 5-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
1511 5th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Grades: PK
| 355 students
Buffalo County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
1404 East 39th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-6977
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-6977
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
7700 E 78th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 237-5664
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 237-5664
Grades: PK-8
| 9 students
26520 Pawnee Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 467-2339
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 467-2339
Grades: PK-8
| 2 students
74204 L Road
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 995-4771
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 995-4771
Grades: PK-6
| 19 students
2041 East 56th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 236-7145
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 236-7145
Grades: PK-8
| n/a students
Kearney Student Services (Closed 2011)
Special Education School
910 East 34th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8233
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8233
Grades: PK
| n/a students
561 Webb St
Odessa, NE 68861
(308) 237-5415
Odessa, NE 68861
(308) 237-5415
Grades: PK-8
| 29 students
29050 145th Road
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-1618
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-1618
Grades: PK-6
| 16 students
123 1st Street Box 9
Riverdale, NE 68870
(308) 893-2481
Riverdale, NE 68870
(308) 893-2481
Grades: PK-8
| 46 students
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 Park 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 89%).
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 38% (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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