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Walnut Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

119^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 133 Nebraska Middle Schools

Better than 11% of Nebraska middle schools

Summary

Walnut Middle School is a public middle school located in Grand Island, Nebraska, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 789 students. The school is part of the Grand Island Public Schools district.

Walnut Middle School has consistently struggled academically, ranking in the bottom quarter of Nebraska middle schools over the past 10 years. The school has high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 18.9% to 26.0%, significantly higher than the state average. Walnut Middle School's proficiency rates on the NSCAS (Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System) exams are consistently lower than the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's 8th-grade proficiency rates were 49.26% in ELA, 45.93% in Math, and 58.52% in Science, compared to the state averages of 62%, 57.43%, and 76.11%, respectively. Additionally, Walnut Middle School has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 65.6% to 81.37% over the past few years.

When comparing Walnut Middle School to the other middle schools in the Grand Island Public Schools district, such as Barr Middle School and Westridge Middle School, Walnut consistently performs worse on academic assessments and has higher chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests there may be school-specific factors contributing to Walnut's underperformance. Despite increased spending per student at Walnut Middle School over the past few years, from $14,173 in 2020-2021 to $16,938 in 2023-2024, these additional resources have not translated into improved academic outcomes for the school.

777

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,938

Per pupil spending ?

81.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1600 N Custer Ave
Grand Island, NE 68803-2550

(308) 385-5990

District: Grand Island Public Schools

Students who attend Walnut Middle School usually attend:

High:

Grand Island Senior High School

Feeder schools for Walnut Middle School:

Elementary:	Howard Elementary School
	Jefferson Elementary School
	Knickrehm Elementary School
	Lincoln Elementary School
	More...
	Newell Elementary School
	West Lawn Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

71.3%

White:

21.5%

African American:

4.0%

See top rated Nebraska middle schools

Compare Walnut Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 7th percentile in 2015 → 11th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Nebraska average (45% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!Science scores 21 pts below the Nebraska average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg49%

Nebraska avg61%

119^th of 133

Nebraska public middle schools ?

Bottom 11%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From bottom 7% (2015) to bottom 11% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Nebraska Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Middle Schools in the Grand Island Public Schools

111^th of 118Grand Island Public Schools among Nebraska districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	8.5	119 of 133	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.1	181 of 200	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.4	207 of 238	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.3	233 of 249	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.2	211 of 223	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	4.0	241 of 247	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.2	218 of 225	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	5.0	230 of 236	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	13.2	239 of 255	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	16.1	238 of 256	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	18.4	227 of 252	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.2	231 of 248	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	21.4	230 of 255	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	24.5	212 of 246	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	19.5	233 of 254	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	39.4	190 of 243	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	39.0	195 of 245	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	30.6	188 of 227	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	33.5	190 of 226	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2024	52.3	10 of 22	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.3	10 of 35	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	28.1	2 of 2	0.0%	★★★★☆
2021	36.8	16 of 27	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	21.3	12 of 15	20.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.3	20 of 22	9.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	7.3	68 of 72	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	88 of 106	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.8	122 of 146	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.1	135 of 150	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.1	127 of 137	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	4.6	151 of 156	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.2	141 of 147	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	29.8	18 of 24	25.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.4	37 of 56	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.0	39 of 67	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.8	38 of 61	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.5	47 of 59	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.7	57 of 62	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.6	51 of 56	8.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2022	54.0	4 of 5	20.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	14.3	11 of 11	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	22.8	39 of 46	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.8	63 of 92	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.3	107 of 144	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.0	93 of 118	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.5	97 of 115	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	8.7	114 of 123	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.5	112 of 120	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	8.4	66 of 72	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.3	85 of 106	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	135 of 156	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.4	144 of 160	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.1	136 of 144	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	4.2	148 of 153	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.9	136 of 141	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2019	29.3	8 of 9	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2023	9.8	69 of 70	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.8	43 of 44	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	10.5	90 of 94	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.2	119 of 141	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.0	188 of 217	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.3	213 of 234	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.8	195 of 204	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.3	218 of 222	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.7	191 of 203	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2024)55th percentile+45 vs school

Hispanic (2025)25th percentile+14 vs school

Homeless (2022)20th percentile+14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)15th percentile+5 vs school

Migrant (2019)11th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)8th percentile~ school

Female (2025)6th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)4th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2023)1st percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Nebraska (2024-2025) ?

Science59%-21 vs state

Mathematics44%-14 vs state

English Language Arts41%-18 vs state

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What people are saying

by a student on FaceBook
Wednesday, May 21, 2014

One of the best academic and good character schools I've been to. Close Quote

Schools Near Walnut Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NSCAS English Language Arts (2025)				NSCAS Mathematics (2025)				NSCAS Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NSCAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts All Grades	NSCAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 7th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 8th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics All Grades	NSCAS Science 8th Grade	NSCAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Walnut Middle School	Public	6-8	1600 N Custer Ave	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 385-5990	777	56	13.7		167 (21.5%)	31 (4.0%)	554 (71.3%)	9 (1.2%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.5%)	8.5	119^th of 133 public middle schools	10.5%		14.1	181^st of 200 public middle schools	9.5%	62	34.4	37.5	49.3	40.5	43.9	42.5	45.9	44.2	58.5	58.5	$16,938	$1,195	$13,657
Westridge Middle School	Public	6-8	4111 W 13th St	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5886	694	51	13.7		347 (50.0%)	20 (2.9%)	285 (41.1%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.9%)	27.3	101^st of 133 public middle schools	24.1%		29.5	157^th of 200 public middle schools	21.5%	56	44.5	48.5	65.4	52.7	52.1	48.0	54.8	51.7	78.5	78.5	$16,815	$1,122	$13,427
Barr Middle School	Public	6-8	602 W Stolley Park Rd	Grand Island	68801	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5875	648	51	12.5		158 (24.4%)	45 (6.9%)	411 (63.4%)	6 (0.9%)	6 (0.9%)	3 (0.5%)	19 (2.9%)	9.1	117^th of 133 public middle schools	12.0%		13.9	183^rd of 200 public middle schools	8.5%	66	51.2	39.6	38.5	42.8	47.5	44.3	39.1	43.5	55.0	55.0	$16,881	$828	$13,458
Wood River Rural Middle School	Public	6-8	13800 W Wood River Rd	Wood River	68883	Hall County	Wood River Rural Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 583-2249	98	9	10.8	48.0%	65 (66.3%)	4 (4.1%)	25 (25.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	2 (2.0%)	58.8	66^th of 133 public middle schools	50.4%		75.4	41^st of 200 public middle schools	79.5%	25		71.0	63.2	67.7			71.1	77.8			$557	$00	$517
Aurora Middle School	Public	6-8	300 L St	Aurora	68818	Hamilton County	Aurora Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 694-6923	256	24	10.8	30.5%	221 (86.3%)	3 (1.2%)	20 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.7%)	61.9	63^rd of 133 public middle schools	52.6%		74.9	43^rd of 200 public middle schools	78.5%	20	68.7	65.1	76.0	69.6	66.7	68.6	68.0	67.7	82.7	82.7	$21,395	$42	$16,539

Frequently Asked Questions about Walnut Middle School

Is Walnut Middle School a good school?

Walnut Middle School ranks in the bottom 10.5% of Nebraska middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Walnut Middle School attend?

Students who attend Walnut Middle School usually go on to attend Grand Island Senior High School

How many students attend Walnut Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 777 students attended Walnut Middle School.

What district is Walnut Middle School in?

Grand Island Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Walnut Middle School?

Students at Walnut Middle School are 71% Hispanic, 21% White, 4% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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Schools in Grand Island, NE

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Nebraska Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.