Public schools in Kearney, NE
15 open public schools with an address in Kearney, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,013
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15:1
Nebraska median 12.5:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Kearney public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Kearney, NE: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,013 students, an average of 401 per school. The largest campus is Kearney High School (1,663 students), and the largest elementary school is Meadowlark Elementary School (417).
Kearney Public Schools operates the most schools here (14), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15:1, higher than the statewide school median of 12.5:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 33% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Kearney
Elementary schools in Kearney
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryant Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 248 | 12.9:1 | |
| Buffalo Hills Elementary Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 272 | 16.6:1 | |
| Central Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 284 | 14.5:1 | |
| Emerson Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 235 | 13:1 | |
| Kenwood Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 398 | 15.5:1 | |
| Meadowlark Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 417 | 17.8:1 | |
| Northeast Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 397 | 13.3:1 | |
| Park Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 257 | 16.8:1 | |
| Windy Hills Elementary School Kearney Public Schools | PK–05 | 259 | 17.2:1 |
Middle schools in Kearney
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Middle School Kearney Public Schools | 06–08 | 648 | 15:1 | |
| Sunrise Middle School Kearney Public Schools | 06–08 | 536 | 12.1:1 |
High schools in Kearney
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanny Arram Center Kearney Public Schools · Alternative School | 06–12 | 2 | 0.3:1 | |
| Kearney High School Kearney Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,663 | 18.2:1 | |
| West Kearney High School West Kearney High School | 08–12 | 65 | 3.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Kearney
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney Education Center Kearney Public Schools | PK–PK | 332 | 21.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White75.2%
- Hispanic17.7%
- Black2.4%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.6%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial2.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Kearney schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,013 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Kearney
How many public schools are in Kearney, NE?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Kearney: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 6,013 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Kearney?
Schools with an address in Kearney belong to 2 education agencies, led by Kearney Public Schools (14 schools), West Kearney High School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Kearney?
Kearney High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Kearney, with 1,663 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Kearney?
No school with an address in Kearney is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Nebraska.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Kearney schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Kearney public schools is 15:1, higher than the Nebraska school median of 12.5:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Kearney guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Nebraska cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Nebraska cities