Best Public Schools in Palmer, NE

The city of Palmer, Nebraska is home to two schools - Palmer Elementary School and Palmer Junior-Senior High, which serve students from elementary through high school. While Palmer Public Schools has seen notable success at the high school level, the elementary school appears to be underperforming compared to state averages.

Palmer Junior-Senior High has made significant strides in recent years, ranking 59 out of 215 Nebraska high schools and earning a 4-star rating. The school's test scores exceed state averages, with 43.75% of 11th graders proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 33.35%. Additionally, the school's 8th grade NSCAS proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics are higher than the state's. This success may be attributed to the school's relatively low student-teacher ratio of 9.9.

In contrast, Palmer Elementary School appears to be underperforming, ranking 331 out of 459 Nebraska elementary schools and earning a 1-star rating. The school's proficiency rates in NSCAS English Language Arts and Mathematics are generally lower than the state averages, with the largest gaps in 3rd grade math (38% proficient vs 58% statewide) and 5th grade ELA (45% proficient vs 56% statewide). This disparity in performance between the elementary and high school may be linked to the higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at the elementary school (57.69%) compared to the high school (42.98%).