Best Middle Schools in Lincoln, NE

The city of Lincoln, Nebraska is home to 12 middle schools that are part of the Lincoln Public Schools district, which is ranked 95 out of 115 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. These middle schools serve students in grades 6-8 and exhibit a wide range of academic performance, with some standout schools and others struggling to meet state standards.

Among the top-performing middle schools in Lincoln are Moore Middle School, ranked 11th out of 123 Nebraska middle schools with a 5-star rating, and Lux Middle School, ranked 29th in the state with a 4-star rating. These schools consistently outperform district and state averages on standardized tests, with over 75% of students proficient or better in core subjects. In contrast, some middle schools like Culler Middle School and Dawes Middle School struggle, with significantly lower proficiency rates.

The data reveals significant disparities in academic performance, student demographics, and funding across the Lincoln middle schools. Chronic absenteeism is a concern district-wide, and there is no clear correlation between higher spending per student and better outcomes. Understanding the factors that contribute to the success of the top-performing schools could help inform strategies to raise the performance of the lower-performing schools and provide more equitable educational opportunities for all students in the Lincoln Public Schools district.