Best Public Schools in Pender, NE

The city of Pender, Nebraska is home to two exceptional public schools, Pender Elementary School and Pender High School, which are part of the highly-ranked Pender Public Schools district. Both schools have consistently earned top rankings in the state, with Pender Elementary ranked 43rd out of 459 Nebraska elementary schools and Pender High ranked 22nd out of 215 high schools in the 2022-2023 school year.

Pender Elementary School stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with students significantly outperforming the state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science proficiency across all grade levels. For example, 92% of 3rd graders are proficient or better in ELA, compared to 63% statewide, and 94% are proficient or better in Math, compared to 58% statewide. Pender High School also excels, with students outperforming the state in ACT English Language Arts (52% vs. 33.35%), Math (48% vs. 26.23%), and Science (44% vs. 25.25%) proficiency.

Both schools maintain a diverse student population, with a notable representation of Hispanic and Native American students, and provide equitable access to resources, as evidenced by their similar free and reduced lunch rates. Additionally, the schools' high spending per student, at $19,238 for Pender Elementary and $17,593 for Pender High, likely contributes to their exceptional educational outcomes and the resources available to students. Overall, the data indicates that Pender Public Schools are delivering a high-quality education and preparing students for academic success.