High Plains Community 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.

Polk, Nebraska - 2 schools

An equity score of 72/100 ranks High Plains Community Schools #28 of 200 districts in Nebraska (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $22,818 per pupil, High Plains Community Schools ranks #27 of 244 Nebraska districts by per-pupil spending (Nebraska districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

223
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$22,818
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

High Plains Community Schools operates 2 public schools serving 223 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Nebraska. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Polk County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,818 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 244 Nebraska districts by per-pupil spending. See how Nebraska compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 82.0% local, 10.9% state, and 7.0% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 72/100, ranked #28 of 200 in Nebraska against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 103.5:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 14.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.3% White, 13.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is High Plains Community Elementary School, enrolling 114 students (55% of the district's total enrollment).

High Plains Community Elementary School accounts for 51.1% of all High Plains Community Schools student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of High Plains Community Schools a distant remainder — means High Plains Community Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

High Plains Community Schools student-counselor ratio is 104:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

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

High Plains Community Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 14.0% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Where does the funding come from?

7.0%
Federal
10.9%
State
82.0%
Local

Funding Equity

72
Equity Score
28 / 200
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in High Plains Community Schools.

White 85.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
African American 1.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
103.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
14.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in High Plains Community Schools

School Enrollment
High Plains Community Elementary School
114
High Plains Community Jr/Sr High School
93

How High Plains Community Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Nebraska districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Clarkson Public Schools Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Meridian Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Sterling Public Schools Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Schs Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Silver Lake Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to High Plains Community 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 High Plains Community Schools →
Lincoln Public Schools
41,850 students · 76 schools · $12,831/pupil
Compare vs High Plains Community Schools →
Millard Public Schools
23,637 students · 36 schools · $11,075/pupil
Compare vs High Plains Community Schools →
Elkhorn Public Schools
11,319 students · 20 schools · $11,003/pupil
Compare vs High Plains Community Schools →

Compare High Plains Community 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 High Plains Community Schools?

High Plains Community Schools has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 223 students.

How much does High Plains Community Schools spend per student?

High Plains Community Schools spends $22,818 per student. The district has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #28 in Nebraska.

What is the demographic composition of High Plains Community Schools?

High Plains Community Schools students are 85.3% White, 13.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for High Plains Community Schools?

High Plains Community Schools has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #28 out of 200 districts in Nebraska.