Lawrence - Nelson Middle School

Lawrence - Nelson Middle School is a small public middle school in Nelson, Nebraska, serving grades 6-8 with just 53 students as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school is part of the South Central Nebraska Unified 5 District, which is ranked 156 out of 212 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Lawrence - Nelson Middle School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (94.34%) compared to surrounding schools, its academic performance is generally lower than district and state averages. For example, in 2022-2023, the school's 7th-grade ELA proficiency rate was 32%, compared to the district's 51% and the state's 54%. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 47.17% to 52.17% over the past three years, higher than nearby schools like Sandy Creek Middle School (50%) and Bruning-Davenport Middle School (36.73%). Additionally, Lawrence - Nelson Middle School's per-student spending is higher than the state average, likely due to its small size.

The school's statewide ranking has declined over the past few years, from 98 out of 223 Nebraska middle schools in 2020-2021 to 185 out of 238 in 2022-2023, suggesting its academic performance may be declining relative to other middle schools. The school's performance for white students and low-socioeconomic status students has also declined, with the white student subgroup ranking 202 out of 217 Nebraska middle schools in 2022-2023. Compared to nearby schools like Sandy Creek Middle School, which consistently outperforms Lawrence - Nelson Middle School, the small size, high percentage of low-income students, and declining academic performance may present challenges in providing a well-rounded education for all students.