Hastings Public Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Hastings, Nebraska - 8 schools

An equity score of 39/100 ranks Hastings Public Schools #138 of 200 districts in Nebraska (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,975 per pupil, Hastings Public Schools ranks #211 of 244 Nebraska districts by per-pupil spending (Nebraska districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,644
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$12,975
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Hastings Public Schools operates 8 public schools serving 3,644 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Nebraska. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Adams County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,975 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 244 Nebraska districts by per-pupil spending. See how Nebraska compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 36.4% local, 50.3% state, and 13.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 39/100, ranked #138 of 200 in Nebraska against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (4 AP courses district-wide), a 291.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 30.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 63.2% White, 29.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lincoln Elementary School, with a diversity index of 57.9/100.

Its largest campus is Hastings Senior High School, enrolling 991 students (26% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Alcott Elementary School, at 267 students, a 4x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Hastings Senior High School accounts for 26.2% of all Hastings Public Schools student enrollment

That concentration means Hastings 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

Hastings Public Schools school enrollment varies 3.7× across entities

Hastings Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 267 students (lowest) to 991 students (highest), a spread of 724 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

Hastings Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 291:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Hastings Public Schools is typically wider than the Hastings Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Hastings Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 30.4% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

13.3%
Federal
50.3%
State
36.4%
Local

Funding Equity

39
Equity Score
138 / 200
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in Hastings Public Schools.

White 63.2%
Hispanic or Latino 29.4%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 5.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 49.1/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Hastings Public Schools's schools, above the Nebraska average of 34.9.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Lincoln Elementary School 57.9
  2. 2 Longfellow Elementary School 56.7
  3. 3 Alcott Elementary School 56.5
  4. 4 Hastings Middle School 50.8
  5. 5 Raymond a Watson Elem School 49.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
4 AP courses total
291.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
30.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Hastings Public Schools

School Enrollment
Hastings Senior High School
991
Hastings Middle School
757
Morton Early Learning Center
501
Hawthorne Elementary School
343
Raymond a Watson Elem School
336
Longfellow Elementary School
305
Lincoln Elementary School
289
Alcott Elementary School
267

How Hastings Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Nebraska districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Scottsbluff Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
North Platte Public Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
So Sioux City Community Schs Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Ralston Public Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Lexington Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Hastings Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $14,202/pupil
Compare vs Hastings Public Schools →
Lincoln Public Schools
41,850 students · 76 schools · $12,831/pupil
Compare vs Hastings Public Schools →
Millard Public Schools
23,637 students · 36 schools · $11,075/pupil
Compare vs Hastings Public Schools →
Papillion La Vista Community Schools
12,031 students · 22 schools · $11,412/pupil
Compare vs Hastings Public Schools →
Elkhorn Public Schools
11,319 students · 20 schools · $11,003/pupil
Compare vs Hastings Public Schools →

Compare Hastings Public Schools

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

Compare vs Omaha Public Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Hastings Public Schools?

Hastings Public Schools has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 6 combined. Total enrollment is 3,644 students.

How much does Hastings Public Schools spend per student?

Hastings Public Schools spends $12,975 per student. The district has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #138 in Nebraska.

What is the demographic composition of Hastings Public Schools?

Hastings Public Schools students are 63.2% White, 29.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Hastings Public Schools?

Hastings Public Schools has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #138 out of 200 districts in Nebraska.