South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District

30671 Hwy 14
Fairfield, NE 68938-2757
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public preschools serving 404 students in South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Nebraska.
Public Preschools in South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the Nebraska public pre school average of 60%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 20% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public preschool average of 38% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NE)
# Schools
6 Schools
606 Schools
# Students
733 Students
158,704 Students
# Teachers
66 Teachers
11,524 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 245 school districts in Nebraska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NE)
#166 out of 246 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
67%
58%
40%
47%
55-59%
62%
(21-22)
≥90%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.32
0.57
% American Indian
n/a
2%
% Asian
n/a
3%
% Hispanic
16%
22%
% Black
1%
6%
% White
81%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $21,093 is higher than the state median of $15,484. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,558 is higher than the state median of $16,797. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (NE)
Total Revenue
$16 MM
$5,080 MM
Spending
$14 MM
$5,511 MM
Revenue / Student
$21,093
$15,484
Spending / Student
$19,558
$16,797

Best South Central Nebraska Unified 5 School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Sandy Creek Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
30671 Hwy 14
Fairfield, NE 68938
(402) 726-2412
Gr: PK-5 | 275 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #22.
Lawrence/nelson Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
411 E Second
Lawrence, NE 68957
(402) 756-7013
Gr: PK-5 | 129 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 733 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 19%
  • : ≥90% (Btm 50% in NE)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 67% (Top 50%)
  • : 40% (Btm 50%)
  • : 55-59% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NE Dept. of Education

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