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Emerson Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-4

222^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 294 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of Nebraska elementary schools

Summary

Emerson Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-4 in Columbus Public Schools, a district ranked 112 out of 115 in Nebraska. With 275 students, Emerson Elementary has consistently underperformed compared to state and district averages, ranking 211 out of 274 Nebraska elementary schools.

Emerson Elementary struggles academically, with low test scores in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. For example, in 2024-2025, only 44.9% of 3rd graders were proficient in ELA, compared to the state average of 57.45%. The school also has high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 6% to 21.1% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, Emerson has a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, between 51.96% and 58.55%, suggesting a large proportion of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Interestingly, the other elementary schools in the Columbus Public Schools district exhibit similar challenges, indicating a systemic issue within the district. However, Platte Center Elementary School, part of the Lakeview Community Schools district, consistently outperforms Emerson Elementary and the other Columbus schools, despite having a higher percentage of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. This suggests that factors beyond just socioeconomic status may be contributing to the academic performance of these schools.

286

Students ?

19.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,803

Per pupil spending ?

62.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2410 20th St
Columbus, NE 68602-0947

(402) 563-7030

District: Columbus Public Schools

Students who attend Emerson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Columbus Middle School
High:	Columbus High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

59.8%

White:

38.1%

Asian:

1.0%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 9th percentile in 2023 → 24th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 24th (2025) from a 9th-percentile low (2023)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Columbus Public Schools

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 17 pts below the Nebraska average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school54%

District avg44%

Nebraska avg58%

222^nd of 294

Nebraska public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 47 pts since 2015

From top 29% (2015) to bottom 24% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Nebraska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 4Elementary Schools in the Columbus Public Schools

114^th of 118Columbus 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	32.5	222 of 294	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.6	382 of 428	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.7	417 of 459	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.0	384 of 457	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.6	315 of 442	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.7	346 of 452	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.8	366 of 450	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	46.8	260 of 459	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	65.8	143 of 480	70.2%	★★★★☆
2015	67.1	141 of 488	71.1%	★★★★☆
2014	63.6	159 of 483	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	47.4	284 of 485	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	49.0	264 of 480	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	39.2	313 of 473	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.3	319 of 502	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	23.3	446 of 471	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	21.1	457 of 478	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	27.0	370 of 430	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	12.4	392 of 418	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2019	52.0	24 of 60	60.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2023	17.7	299 of 349	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.4	295 of 337	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.0	224 of 318	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.7	286 of 349	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2024	36.7	32 of 53	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.3	79 of 108	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	43.3	48 of 81	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	69.5	14 of 68	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	42.1	64 of 90	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.5	46 of 81	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2023	21.0	273 of 312	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	54.6	119 of 264	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.0	231 of 298	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.6	169 of 281	39.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2023	11.9	337 of 366	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	314 of 356	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.4	263 of 328	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.0	212 of 367	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.0	259 of 347	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2021	35.5	257 of 368	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2019)60th percentile+37 vs school

Hispanic (2024)40th percentile+29 vs school

White (2021)30th percentile~ school

Female (2023)14th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)12th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2023)8th percentile~ school

By subject vs Nebraska (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics66%+8 vs state

English Language Arts41%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Emerson Elementary 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 3rd Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	NSCAS English Language Arts All Grades	NSCAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics All Grades	NSCAS Science 5th Grade	NSCAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Emerson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	2410 20th St	Columbus	68602	Platte County	Columbus Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 563-7030	286	15	19.7	62.9%	109 (38.1%)	1 (0.3%)	171 (59.8%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	32.5	222^nd of 294 public elementary schools	24.5%		14.6	382^nd of 428 public elementary schools	10.7%	160	44.9				41.5	61.2	71.1			66.0			$14,803	$1,439	$11,738
North Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	2200 31st St	Columbus	68602	Platte County	Columbus Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 563-7070	304	20	15.5	58.9%	98 (32.2%)	3 (1.0%)	198 (65.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	29.7	228^th of 294 public elementary schools	22.4%		26.5	334^th of 428 public elementary schools	22.0%	106	53.1	55.8			54.3	62.5				57.8			$15,214	$1,006	$12,874
West Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	4100 Adamy St	Columbus	68602	Platte County	Columbus Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 563-7075	215	14	15.3	58.6%	88 (40.9%)	4 (1.9%)	119 (55.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (0.9%)								(n/a)	50.0				56.8		59.0			56.8			$15,259	$1,473	$12,585
Lost Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	3772 33rd Ave	Columbus	68602	Platte County	Columbus Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 563-7045	318	25	12.7	52.2%	158 (49.7%)	14 (4.4%)	136 (42.8%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	11.4	270^th of 294 public elementary schools	8.2%		19.2	360^th of 428 public elementary schools	15.9%	90	43.1	41.5			42.2	61.5	42.7			51.0			$16,200	$1,748	$13,128
Centennial Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	500 Centennial St	Columbus	68602	Platte County	Columbus Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 563-8180	353	25	14.1	62.0%	140 (39.7%)	4 (1.1%)	199 (56.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	24.9	239^th of 294 public elementary schools	18.7%		31.7	321^st of 428 public elementary schools	25.0%	82	52.2	50.0			51.1	68.7	51.4			59.6			$15,013	$956	$12,710
Shell Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	16786 280th St	Columbus	68601	Platte County	Lakeview Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 564-8008	373	27	13.5	26.5%	284 (76.1%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (22.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	54.6	143^rd of 294 public elementary schools	51.4%		69.9	128^th of 428 public elementary schools	70.1%	15	58.1	79.3	58.2	64.0	65.2	60.5	77.4	67.3	64.0	67.7	89.1	89.1	$14,247	$1,072	$11,675
Bellwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	612 Park St	Bellwood	68624	Butler County	David City Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 538-4805	78	9	8.6	52.6%	61 (78.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (20.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.3%)								(n/a)										63.6			$33,338	$1,519	$27,161
Platte Center Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	155 Platte St	Platte Center	68653	Platte County	Lakeview Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 246-3465	168	12	14.4	49.4%	107 (63.7%)	1 (0.6%)	58 (34.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)								(n/a)				75.0	69.2			52.4		69.2			$16,465	$1,842	$13,195
Schuyler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2404 Denver	Schuyler	68661	Colfax County	Schuyler Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 352-9940	715	53	13.4	51.7%	42 (5.9%)	26 (3.6%)	637 (89.1%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	40.7	199^th of 294 public elementary schools	32.3%		36.3	304^th of 428 public elementary schools	29.0%	105	49.3	39.3	45.5		45.1	76.4	59.0	80.8		72.0	89.9	89.9	$15,989	$1,495	$12,729
Schuyler Elementary-Fisher's	Public	PK, KG-7	1098 Road J	Schuyler	68661	Colfax County	Schuyler Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 352-3700	31	4	7.2	35.5%	14 (45.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (48.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.5%)								(n/a)													$19,141	$963	$16,326

Frequently Asked Questions about Emerson Elementary School

What district is Emerson Elementary School in?

Columbus Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Emerson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Emerson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Columbus Middle School
High : Columbus High School

What is the racial makeup of Emerson Elementary School?

Students at Emerson Elementary School are 60% Hispanic, 38% White, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Emerson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 286 students attended Emerson Elementary School.

Is Emerson Elementary School a good school?

Emerson Elementary School ranks in the bottom 24.5% of Nebraska elementary schools.

Rate Emerson Elementary School!

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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.