South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District

30671 Hwy 14
Fairfield, NE 68938-2757
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Nebraska for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 144 students in South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Nebraska.
Public Middle Schools in South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the Nebraska public middle school average of 44%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public middle school average of 34% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NE)
# Schools
6 Schools
336 Schools
# Students
733 Students
80,801 Students
# Teachers
66 Teachers
6,586 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

District Rank

South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 245 school districts in Nebraska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NE)
#188 out of 246 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
46%
46%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Nebraska by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
40%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Nebraska by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
55-59%
62%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Nebraska by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
≥90%
87%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and public school graduation rate of Nebraska by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.32
0.52
# American Indian Students
3 Students
1,431 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
2%
# Asian Students
1 Student
2,155 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
3%
# Hispanic Students
116 Students
15,703 Students
% Hispanic Students
16%
19%
# Black Students
4 Students
4,374 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
593 Students
53,695 Students
% White Students
81%
67%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
133 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
16 Students
3,310 Students
% of Two or more races Students
2%
4%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
102
137
# Students in K Grade:
54
238
# Students in 1st Grade:
59
240
# Students in 2nd Grade:
45
276
# Students in 3rd Grade:
56
258
# Students in 4th Grade:
45
360
# Students in 5th Grade:
43
1,359
# Students in 6th Grade:
48
15,828
# Students in 7th Grade:
44
23,395
# Students in 8th Grade:
52
24,061
# Students in 9th Grade:
50
3,765
# Students in 10th Grade:
44
3,741
# Students in 11th Grade:
43
3,520
# Students in 12th Grade:
48
3,623
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $21,093 is higher than the state median of $15,464. The school district revenue/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,558 is higher than the state median of $16,776. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NE)
Total Revenue
$16 MM
$5,080 MM
This chart displays total revenue of South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Nebraska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$14 MM
$5,511 MM
This chart displays total spending of South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Nebraska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$21,093
$15,464
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Nebraska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$19,558
$16,776
This chart displays average spending per public school student in South Central Nebraska Unified 5  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Nebraska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Sandy Creek Middle School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
30671 Highway 14
Fairfield, NE 68938
(402) 762-3561
Grades: 6-8
| 97 students
Rank: #22.
Lawrence - Nelson Middle School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
850 S Nevada
Nelson, NE 68961
(402) 225-3371
Grades: 6-8
| 47 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 733 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 19%
  • : ≥90% (Top 20% in NE)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 46% (Btm 50%)
  • : 40% (Btm 50%)
  • : 55-59% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NE Dept. of Education

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