- Enrollment
- 1,663
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Kearney, NE
Horizon Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Horizon Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 317239001104
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Horizon Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Nebraska schools.
- #12 of 15
- public schools in Kearney · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.8:1
- large classes for Nebraska
- 28.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Horizon Middle School has class sizes larger than 78% of Nebraska schools. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Middle School ranks #12 of 15 public schools in Kearney, NE.
School address
District: Kearney Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 317239001104 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Horizon Middle School held near 631 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 41.2 → 41.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 317239001104 · Kearney, NE Middle · MID · TRAD
648 enr · 15.8:1 · 28.9% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Kearney High School (1,663 students)
Horizon Middle School held near 631 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE held 41.2 → 41.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Nebraska schools → · Find another →
Horizon Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kearney High S
Kearney High School
1,663 students
- This school 648
Horizon Middle School
648 students
- Sunrise Middle 536
Sunrise Middle School
536 students
- Meadowlark Ele 417
Meadowlark Elementary School
417 students
- Kenwood Elemen 398
Kenwood Elementary School
398 students
- Northeast Elem 397
Northeast Elementary School
397 students
What this shows Horizon Middle School reports 648 students on the CCD universe file.
How Horizon Middle School compares
Horizon Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 17% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.9% | ▼ 6% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 648 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
648
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% below the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 78% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,473
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $18,497
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 648 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
40
in-school suspensions + 49 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.5%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Two or More 2.0%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 78.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.7, Horizon Middle School is about as mixed as the Nebraska school average of 34.9.
Programs
District finance for Kearney Public Schools reports $11,473 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Horizon Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Meadowlark Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kenwood Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northeast Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Horizon Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 417
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 398
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 397
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~648 students)
Frequently asked questions about Horizon Middle School
How many students attend Horizon Middle School?
Horizon Middle School has 648 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Kearney, NE. CCD year-over-year: 619 (2022-23) → 631 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Horizon Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Horizon Middle School is 15.8:1, which is 17% higher than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Horizon Middle School?
28.9% of students at Horizon Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Horizon Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Horizon Middle School is White at 78.5% of enrollment, in Kearney, NE.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Horizon Middle School?
Horizon Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Horizon Middle School rank among public schools in Kearney?
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Middle School ranks #12 of 15 public schools in Kearney, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Kearney on the city page.
What other schools are in Kearney Public Schools?
Besides Horizon Middle School, Kearney Public Schools also operates Kearney High School (1,663 students), Sunrise Middle School (536 students), and Meadowlark Elementary School (417 students). See the Kearney Public Schools district page for the complete list.