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Meadowlark Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

7^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 294 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Better than 98% of Nebraska elementary schools

Summary

Meadowlark Elementary School is a public elementary school in Kearney, Nebraska, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 399. The school is part of the Kearney Public Schools district, which is ranked 41 out of 115 districts in Nebraska and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Meadowlark Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Nebraska, with a statewide ranking between 1st and 6th place over the past 10 years. The school has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating exceptional academic achievement. Meadowlark Elementary excels in the performance of various student subgroups, ranking among the top 3-8 elementary schools in Nebraska for female students, male students, and white students. Additionally, the school ranks 2nd out of 312 Nebraska elementary schools for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Meadowlark Elementary students consistently outperform their peers at the district and state levels in English Language Arts and Mathematics. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 85.33% of 4th-grade students and 80.28% of 5th-grade students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 70.31% and 55.79% at the district and state levels, respectively. In Mathematics, 92% of 4th-grade students and 88.73% of 5th-grade students were proficient or better, compared to 82.37% and 77.11% at the district level, and 60.65% and 58.74% at the state level. The school also has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 12.8% to 21.5% over the past few years, which is lower than the district and state averages. Additionally, Meadowlark Elementary spends more per student than the district average, with spending ranging from $9,966 to $12,280 per student over the past few years.

417

Students ?

17.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,280

Per pupil spending ?

14.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1010 E 53rd St
Kearney, NE 68847-8599

(308) 698-8210

District: Kearney Public Schools

Students who attend Meadowlark Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Sunrise Middle School
High:	Kearney High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.9%

Hispanic:

7.2%

African American:

2.4%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 99th percentile in 2015 → 98th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Nebraska average (89% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Nebraska elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Kearney Public Schools

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school89%

District avg70%

Nebraska avg58%

7^th of 294

Nebraska public elementary schools ?

Top 2%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Nebraska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 9Elementary Schools in the Kearney Public Schools

54^th of 118Kearney 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	92.9	7 of 294	97.6%	★★★★★
2024	96.0	1 of 428	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	94.2	5 of 459	98.9%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	6 of 457	98.7%	★★★★★
2021	88.1	26 of 442	94.1%	★★★★★
2019	91.1	20 of 452	95.6%	★★★★★
2018	94.2	10 of 450	97.8%	★★★★★
2017	89.1	17 of 459	96.3%	★★★★★
2016	96.3	7 of 480	98.5%	★★★★★
2015	96.6	6 of 488	98.8%	★★★★★
2014	89.9	18 of 483	96.3%	★★★★★
2013	91.0	16 of 485	96.7%	★★★★★
2012	94.1	8 of 480	98.3%	★★★★★
2011	95.3	9 of 473	98.1%	★★★★★
2010	76.5	59 of 502	88.2%	★★★★☆
2009	64.4	160 of 471	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	75.7	22 of 478	95.4%	★★★★★
2007	60.9	190 of 430	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	67.2	124 of 418	70.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2023	94.1	3 of 349	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	94.5	6 of 337	98.2%	★★★★★
2021	84.6	30 of 318	90.6%	★★★★★
2019	91.8	17 of 349	95.1%	★★★★★
2018	94.2	7 of 341	97.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2023	96.9	2 of 312	99.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2023	93.8	7 of 366	98.1%	★★★★★
2022	94.2	8 of 356	97.8%	★★★★★
2021	85.7	28 of 328	91.5%	★★★★★
2019	86.8	30 of 367	91.8%	★★★★★
2018	92.4	11 of 347	96.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	90.4	6 of 193	96.9%	★★★★★
2024	96.0	1 of 261	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	93.7	4 of 385	99.0%	★★★★★
2022	93.6	6 of 388	98.5%	★★★★★
2021	86.5	25 of 368	93.2%	★★★★★
2019	89.1	22 of 391	94.4%	★★★★★
2018	93.0	10 of 391	97.4%	★★★★★

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)99th percentile~ school

Female (2023)99th percentile~ school

Male (2023)98th percentile~ school

White (2025)97th percentile~ school

By subject vs Nebraska (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics92%+34 vs state

English Language Arts86%+27 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The staff is amazing in working with students. I am so proud to have my kids work with the staff at Meadowlark. It is like a private school in itself. Close Quote

Schools Near Meadowlark 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 All Grades	NSCAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NSCAS Mathematics 5th 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
Meadowlark Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1010 E 53rd St	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8210	417	23	17.7	14.4%	358 (85.9%)	10 (2.4%)	30 (7.2%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	10 (2.4%)	92.9	7^th of 294 public elementary schools	97.6%		96	1^st of 428 public elementary schools	99.8%	6		85.3	80.3	86.1		92.0	88.7	92.3			$12,280	$247	$10,734
Northeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	910 E 34th St	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8230	397	30	13.3	38.5%	255 (64.2%)	8 (2.0%)	108 (27.2%)	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (4.5%)	53.3	147^th of 294 public elementary schools	50.0%		58.8	209^th of 428 public elementary schools	51.2%	62	60.0	51.7	63.0	58.7	62.7	81.0	76.7	72.8	87.7	87.7	$12,734	$1,287	$10,345
Buffalo Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6110 11th Avenue	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8290	272	16	16.5	17.6%	241 (88.6%)	1 (0.4%)	19 (7.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.7%)	76.5	65^th of 294 public elementary schools	77.9%		83.4	49^th of 428 public elementary schools	88.6%	16	71.1	71.4	70.8	71.1	84.4	81.0	77.1	80.7	89.6	89.6	$13,854	$247	$11,482
Emerson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2705 Ave E	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8270	235	18	13.0	54.5%	152 (64.7%)	5 (2.1%)	70 (29.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.4%)	16.5	262^nd of 294 public elementary schools	10.9%		47.5	260^th of 428 public elementary schools	39.3%	2	48.8		41.2	46.7	58.1			53.3			$16,218	$1,853	$12,667
Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3000 7th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8280	257	15	16.7	28.4%	210 (81.7%)	5 (1.9%)	24 (9.3%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.1%)	80.4	42^nd of 294 public elementary schools	85.7%		83.8	47^th of 428 public elementary schools	89.0%	5	69.4	76.9	82.6	76.1	73.5	82.1	87.0	80.6			$12,604	$429	$11,040
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	300 W 24th St	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8040	284	20	14.4	52.1%	151 (53.2%)	10 (3.5%)	99 (34.9%)	6 (2.1%)	4 (1.4%)	4 (1.4%)	10 (3.5%)	31.5	224^th of 294 public elementary schools	23.8%		56.5	223^rd of 428 public elementary schools	47.9%	1	48.9	61.4	53.1	54.3	59.6		67.4	72.1	79.6	79.6	$16,305	$1,435	$11,918
Glenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8105 9th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8240	118	8	14.6	8.5%	113 (95.8%)	1 (0.8%)	4 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	69.6			73.4	78.3			82.8			$14,109	$304	$12,588
Windy Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4211 20th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8220	259	15	17.2	15.1%	223 (86.1%)	1 (0.4%)	22 (8.5%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.7%)	94.6	2^nd of 294 public elementary schools	99.3%		86.2	36^th of 428 public elementary schools	91.6%	34	84.8	85.0	89.1	86.4	89.1			92.4			$12,591	$312	$10,978
Bryant Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1611 Ave C	Kearney	68847	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 698-8190	248	19	12.8	58.1%	141 (56.9%)	6 (2.4%)	89 (35.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.8%)	56.9	131^st of 294 public elementary schools	55.4%		52.5	243^rd of 428 public elementary schools	43.2%	112	45.8	63.2	78.1	61.4	64.6	81.6	75.6	73.2	87.8	87.8	$15,509	$1,641	$12,449
Kenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	915 16th Ave	Kearney	68845	Buffalo County	Kearney Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 698-8200	398	26	15.4	32.9%	311 (78.1%)	2 (0.5%)	60 (15.1%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.8%)	64.1	105^th of 294 public elementary schools	64.3%		71.3	115^th of 428 public elementary schools	73.1%	10	63.2	73.3	70.4	68.8	69.1	76.7	64.8	69.9	91.6	91.6	$13,286	$247	$11,425

Frequently Asked Questions about Meadowlark Elementary School

How many students attend Meadowlark Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 417 students attended Meadowlark Elementary School.

What district is Meadowlark Elementary School in?

Kearney Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Meadowlark Elementary School?

Students at Meadowlark Elementary School are 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Meadowlark Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Sunrise Middle School
High : Kearney High School

Is Meadowlark Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Meadowlark Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 7^th of 294 Nebraska elementary schools.

Rate Meadowlark 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.