GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska — 19 schools

9,990
Total Enrollment
19
Schools
$13,910
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS operates 19 public schools serving 9,990 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Nebraska. The school portfolio breaks down into 15 other, 3 middle, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 9,983 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Hall County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,910 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 35.1% local, 48.4% state, and 16.5% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $91,051 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 37/100, ranked #142 of 200 in Nebraska against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 19 schools offering Advanced Placement (19 AP courses district-wide), a 439.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 59.4% Hispanic or Latino, 31.9% White, 4.8% African American across the district's schools.

Grand Island Senior High School accounts for 27.0% of all GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS school enrollment varies 31× across entities

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS school enrollment ranges from 87 students (lowest) to 2,696 students (highest), a spread of 2,609 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS student-counselor ratio is 439:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS chronic absenteeism rate is 18.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS is typically wider than the GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

16.5%
Federal
48.4%
State
35.1%
Local

Funding Equity

37
Equity Score
142 / 200
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Hall County county, where this district is located.

$867
Studio/mo
$978
1 BR/mo
$1,215
2 BR/mo
$1,530
3 BR/mo
$2,005
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$91,051
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 19 schools in GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

White 31.9%
Hispanic or Latino 59.4%
African American 4.8%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 2.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 19
Schools with AP
19 AP courses total
439.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

School Enrollment
Grand Island Senior High School
2,696
Walnut Middle School
777
Westridge Middle School
694
Barr Middle School
648
Howard Elementary School
484
Starr Elementary School
453
Engleman Elementary School
448
Shoemaker Elementary School
438
Dodge Elementary School
436
Wasmer Elementary School
373
Jefferson Elementary School
352
Newell Elementary School
348
West Lawn Elementary School
338
Lincoln Elementary School
328
Gates Elementary School
284
Early Learning Center
278
Knickrehm Elementary School
263
Stolley Park Elem School
258
Seedling Mile Elem School
87

Nearby Districts in Nebraska

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
51,754 students · 111 schools · $17,584/pupil
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LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
41,850 students · 76 schools · $14,943/pupil
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MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
23,637 students · 36 schools · $13,267/pupil
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ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
11,319 students · 20 schools · $13,062/pupil
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Compare GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS has 19 schools, including 1 high, 3 middle, 15 other. Total enrollment is 9,990 students.

How much does GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS spend per student?

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS spends $13,910 per student. The district has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #142 in Nebraska.

What is the average teacher salary in GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

The average teacher salary in GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS is $91,051 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Hall County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS students are 59.4% Hispanic or Latino, 31.9% White, 4.8% African American, 0.8% Asian, averaged across 19 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #142 out of 200 districts in Nebraska. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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