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Kenesaw Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

Summary

Kenesaw Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in the small town of Kenesaw, Nebraska. With 142 students, the school consistently outperforms the state average in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency across grades 3-6. In fact, Kenesaw Elementary has seen a significant improvement in its statewide ranking, moving from the bottom 10% of Nebraska elementary schools in 2015-2016 to the top 25% in 2023-2024, where it ranked 113 out of 428 schools.

One key factor contributing to Kenesaw Elementary's success is its relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 9.7 to 12.3 over the past few years, which is lower than the nearby schools. Additionally, the school spends more per student ($20,833 in 2022-2023) compared to the nearby schools, which may also play a role in its academic performance. However, the school has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, from 12.6% in 2022-2023 to 21.1% in 2023-2024, which is an area of concern that the school should address.

When compared to nearby schools, Alcott Elementary and Lincoln Elementary in the Hastings Public Schools district have lower proficiency rates and lower statewide rankings than Kenesaw Elementary. However, Wood River Elementary School, which is part of the Wood River Rural Schools district, also performs well and has a higher statewide ranking than Kenesaw Elementary School.

139

Students ?

10.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,043

Per pupil spending ?

22.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

110 N 5th Ave
Kenesaw, NE 68956-0129

(402) 752-3215

District: Kenesaw Public Schools

Students who attend Kenesaw Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Kenesaw Secondary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.1%

Hispanic:

7.2%

Two or more races:

0.7%

See top rated Nebraska public schools

Compare Kenesaw Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 28th percentile in 2014 → 74th in 2024

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Nebraska average (78% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 46 percentile points since 2014

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school78%

District avg71%

Nebraska avg58%

Not ranked this year

Kenesaw Elementary School did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

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
2024	71.5	113 of 428	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	68.3	143 of 459	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.8	276 of 457	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.8	227 of 442	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.7	272 of 452	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.1	199 of 450	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	29.8	358 of 459	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.8	434 of 480	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	21.8	414 of 488	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	34.6	348 of 483	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	46.2	292 of 485	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	63.1	158 of 480	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.1	136 of 473	71.2%	★★★★☆
2010	61.7	182 of 502	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.0	106 of 471	77.5%	★★★★☆
2008	74.5	32 of 478	93.3%	★★★★★
2007	67.2	137 of 430	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	68.9	115 of 418	72.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2024	54.2	126 of 261	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.8	158 of 385	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.1	300 of 388	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.8	248 of 368	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.1	298 of 391	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.1	212 of 391	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2024)52nd percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Nebraska (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics79%+21 vs state

English Language Arts76%+17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Kenesaw 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)					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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Kenesaw Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	110 N 5th Ave	Kenesaw	68956	Adams County	Kenesaw Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 752-3215	139	13	10.8	22.3%	128 (92.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)								(n/a)	70.6	73.7			75.6					79.5	$24,043	$1,914	$18,305
Adams Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	975 S Adams Central Ave	Hastings	68901	Adams County	Adams Central Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 463-0040	506	34	14.7	14.0%	459 (90.7%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.2%)	78	54^th of 294 public elementary schools	81.6%		80.8	67^th of 428 public elementary schools	84.3%	13	88.2	80.0	75.3	71.8	78.7	80.9	73.8	83.1	67.6	76.4	$13,089	$180	$11,584
Shelton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	210 9th St	Shelton	68876	Buffalo County	Shelton Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 647-6558	159	15	10.8	37.1%	115 (72.3%)	2 (1.3%)	38 (23.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.5%)								(n/a)					68.0					62.7	$20,899	$1,222	$16,494
Hawthorne Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 W 9th St	Hastings	68901	Adams County	Hastings Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 461-7540	343	29	11.8	54.5%	241 (70.3%)	2 (0.6%)	83 (24.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.7%)								(n/a)	49.2	55.9			48.1					49.2	$14,474	$1,227	$11,571
Raymond A Watson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1720 N Crane	Hastings	68901	Adams County	Hastings Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 461-7593	336	26	12.8	45.2%	223 (66.4%)	3 (0.9%)	80 (23.8%)	5 (1.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (7.1%)	24.3	241^st of 294 public elementary schools	18.0%		36.2	305^th of 428 public elementary schools	28.7%	64		61.2	47.1		48.3		67.4	45.6		46.7	$16,213	$1,503	$13,116
Gibbon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1030 Court Street	Gibbon	68840	Buffalo County	Gibbon Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 468-6546	324	23	13.9	45.7%	144 (44.4%)	4 (1.2%)	176 (54.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.7	181^st of 294 public elementary schools	38.4%		37	300^th of 428 public elementary schools	29.9%	119		54.8		68.2	57.4				63.6	52.7	$17,238	$1,804	$12,838
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	720 S Franklin	Hastings	68901	Adams County	Hastings Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 461-7589	289	28	10.2	81.0%	148 (51.2%)	1 (0.3%)	112 (38.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (9.0%)								(n/a)	50.9				46.2						$16,858	$2,617	$12,571
Longfellow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	828 N Hastings Ave	Hastings	68901	Adams County	Hastings Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 461-7584	305	25	12.0	50.5%	165 (54.1%)	4 (1.3%)	113 (37.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.6%)	22.5	249^th of 294 public elementary schools	15.3%		23.5	345^th of 428 public elementary schools	19.4%	96	59.2	45.5	54.4		52.8	63.3	50.9	50.9		54.7	$16,709	$1,387	$13,376
Wood River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1003 Lilly St	Wood River	68883	Hall County	Wood River Rural Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 583-2525	224	23	9.7	41.1%	163 (72.8%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (25.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)								(n/a)					63.0	66.7	77.1			71.7	$22,159	$2,251	$17,856
Alcott Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	313 N Cedar	Hastings	68901	Adams County	Hastings Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 461-7580	267	23	11.4	66.7%	136 (50.9%)	1 (0.4%)	111 (41.6%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (5.6%)								(n/a)	52.3				43.8					46.9	$16,158	$1,941	$12,334

Frequently Asked Questions about Kenesaw Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Kenesaw Elementary School?

Students at Kenesaw Elementary School are 92% White, 7% Hispanic.

How many students attend Kenesaw Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 139 students attended Kenesaw Elementary School.

What district is Kenesaw Elementary School in?

Kenesaw Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Kenesaw Elementary School attend?

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

High : Kenesaw Secondary 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.