South Central Nebraska Unified 5

The South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District consists of 8 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools, serving students in the South Central Nebraska region. While the district as a whole is ranked 156th out of 212 in Nebraska, there are standout schools within the district, such as Sandy Creek Middle School, which ranks 47th out of 238 Nebraska middle schools and has a 4-star rating, and Lawrence/Nelson High School, which ranks 138th out of 215 Nebraska high schools and has the highest ACT proficiency rates in the district.

The schools in the district have a predominantly white student population, ranging from 79.9% to 94.34% white students, with the percentage of Hispanic students varying from 3.17% to 15.15%. Test scores are generally below the state averages, with some exceptions, such as Sandy Creek Middle School, which outperforms the district and state in most grade-level assessments. The free/reduced lunch rates range from 24.24% to 50%, indicating a mix of socioeconomic backgrounds across the schools, and spending per student varies significantly, from $16,608 at Lawrence-Nelson Middle School to $30,341 at Lawrence/Nelson High School.

The data suggests that there may be significant variation in the quality of education across the schools in the South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District, with some schools, such as Sandy Creek Middle School and Lawrence/Nelson High School, standing out as strong performers, while others may face unique challenges. The wide range in student-teacher ratios and spending per student also raises questions about equity in resource allocation and access to quality education across the district.