High Plains Community Elementary School

Q: Is High Plains Community Elementary School a good school?

High Plains Community Elementary School ranks 196 th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

High Plains Community Elementary School is a public elementary school in Clarks, Nebraska, serving 121 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the High Plains Community Schools district, which is ranked 85 out of 182 districts in the state.

While the school has seen some areas of strong performance, such as 4th grade English Language Arts and 3rd grade Mathematics, it has also struggled in other areas, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 9.5% to 21.5% over the past few years. The school's statewide ranking has also declined significantly, from 52 out of 502 Nebraska elementary schools in 2009-2010 to 196 out of 428 in 2023-2024. Compared to nearby schools like Osceola Elementary School, High Plains Community Elementary School generally performs on par or slightly better in some areas, but lags behind in others, such as 4th grade English Language Arts.

The school also faces challenges related to its high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 27.87% to 46.9% over the past few years. This suggests a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, the school's spending per student has increased over the years, from $20,967 in 2019-2020 to $27,153 in 2022-2023, which is higher than the spending per student at some nearby schools. Despite these challenges, the school has seen a decrease in its student-teacher ratio, from 12 in 2020-2021 to 9.5 in 2022-2023, indicating a potential increase in resources and attention per student.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

205 W Pearl St
Clarks, NE 68628-0205

(308) 548-2216

District: High Plains Community Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
196^th of 428 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $27,153

Students who attend High Plains Community Elementary School usually attend:

High:

High Plains Community Junior/Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 10.2

Number of students: 113

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.4%

Hispanic:

10.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 34.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details High Plains Community Elementary School ranks better than 54.2% of elementary schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 60.11. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (89.4%), Hispanic (10.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 34.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at High Plains Community Elementary School is 10.2. (See more...)

Compare High Plains Community Elementary School employs 11 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at High Plains Community Elementary School is $27,153.

Schooldigger Rankings:

High Plains Community Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

High Plains Community Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks High Plains Community Schools 85^th of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for High Plains Community Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at High Plains Community Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2010	77.53	52^nd	502	89.6%
2022	39.65	291^st	457	36.3%
2023	51.88	226^th	459	50.8%
2024	60.11	196^th	428	54.2%

See the entire list of Nebraska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at High Plains Community Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	30.32	292^nd	388	24.7%
2023	43.97	223^rd	385	42.1%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Nebraska Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

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Enrollment information for High Plains Community Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2001	116	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	116
2002	42	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	42
2003	42	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	42
2004	49	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	50
2005	75	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	78
2006	65	0	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	70
2007	66	0	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	70
2008	67	0	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	72
2009	60	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	62
2010	55	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	56
2011	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	50
2012	48	0	0	4	0	0	0	52
2013	57	0	0	5	0	0	0	62
2014	54	2	0	6	0	0	0	62
2015	64	1	0	5	4	0	0	74
2016	53	0	0	11	0	0	0	64
2017	51	0	0	10	3	0	0	64
2018	62	0	0	14	0	0	0	76
2019	79	0	0	10	0	0	0	89
2020	139	0	0	17	0	0	0	156
2021	128	0	0	17	0	0	0	145
2022	109	0	0	13	0	0	0	122
2023	110	0	0	11	0	0	0	121
2024	101	0	0	12	0	0	0	113

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at High Plains Community Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2001	116	11.6	10.0	49.1
2002	42	5.5	7.6	50
2003	42	5.5	7.6	50
2004	50	5.4	9.3	48
2005	78	7.8	10.0	37.2
2006	70	6.7	10.4	38.6
2007	70	7.0	10.0	41.4
2008	72	7.5	9.6	44.4
2009	62	7.5	8.3	35.5
2010	56	6.5	8.5	44.6
2011	50	6.4	7.8	44
2012	52	6.3	8.2	53.8
2013	62	6.3	9.8	45.2
2014	62	6.1	10.0	50
2015	74	7.0	10.5	52.7
2016	64	6.0	10.6	51.6
2017	64	6.2	10.1	48.4
2018	76	7.2	10.4	31.6
2019	89	7.2	12.2	41.6
2020	156	12.0	13.0	43.6
2021	145	12.0	12.0	46.9
2022	122	10.7	11.3	27.9
2023	121	12.6	9.5	31.4
2024	113	11.0	10.2	34.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio High Plains Community Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2001	116	11.6	10.0	49.1
2002	42	5.5	7.6	50
2003	42	5.5	7.6	50
2004	50	5.4	9.3	48
2005	78	7.8	10.0	37.2
2006	70	6.7	10.4	38.6
2007	70	7.0	10.0	41.4
2008	72	7.5	9.6	44.4
2009	62	7.5	8.3	35.5
2010	56	6.5	8.5	44.6
2011	50	6.4	7.8	44
2012	52	6.3	8.2	53.8
2013	62	6.3	9.8	45.2
2014	62	6.1	10.0	50
2015	74	7.0	10.5	52.7
2016	64	6.0	10.6	51.6
2017	64	6.2	10.1	48.4
2018	76	7.2	10.4	31.6
2019	89	7.2	12.2	41.6
2020	156	12.0	13.0	43.6
2021	145	12.0	12.0	46.9
2022	122	10.7	11.3	27.9
2023	121	12.6	9.5	31.4
2024	113	11.0	10.2	34.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for High Plains Community Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$430 (1.5%)	$23,141 (79.9%)	$28,948
2020	$764 (3.6%)	$17,560 (83.8%)	$20,967
2021	$1,563 (7.2%)	$17,528 (80.2%)	$21,847
2022	$1,469 (6.1%)	$19,337 (80.7%)	$23,956
2023	$1,237 (4.6%)	$21,717 (80.0%)	$27,153

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on High Plains Community Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	89	121	36%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	10	11	10%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	79	110	39.2%
Two or More Races	0	0
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	41.6%	31.4%	10.2%

Schools Near High Plains Community Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
High Plains Community Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	205 W Pearl St	Clarks	68628	Merrick County	High Plains Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 548-2216	113	11	10.2	34.5%	101 (89.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60.1	196^th of 428 public elementary schools	54.2%		51.9	226^th of 459 public elementary schools	50.8%	30	$27,153	$1,237	$21,717
Central City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1711 15th Ave	Central City	68826	Merrick County	Central City Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 946-3057	317	23	13.7	47.6%	288 (90.9%)	7 (2.2%)	16 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	57.8	219^th of 428 public elementary schools	48.8%		61.8	179^th of 459 public elementary schools	61.0%	40	$17,640	$1,544	$13,388
Fullerton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	606 4th St	Fullerton	68638	Nance County	Fullerton Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 536-2431	164	13	12.8	40.9%	153 (93.3%)	5 (3.0%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	73.6	102^nd of 428 public elementary schools	76.2%		72.9	115^th of 459 public elementary schools	74.9%	13	$19,775	$1,457	$15,054
Osceola Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	341 S Kimmel	Osceola	68651	Polk County	Osceola Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 747-2091	116	11	10.8	31.0%	95 (81.9%)	1 (0.9%)	6 (5.2%)	1 (0.9%)	3 (2.6%)	1 (0.9%)	9 (7.8%)								(n/a)	$25,549	$1,179	$20,924
Cross County Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1270 123rd Road	Stromsburg	68666	Polk County	Cross County Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 764-5521	168	16	10.3	32.7%	159 (94.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	64.4	160^th of 428 public elementary schools	62.6%		61.8	178^th of 459 public elementary schools	61.2%	18	$22,257	$612	$17,880
Twin River Elementary-Genoa	Public	PK, KG-6	816 Willard Ave	Genoa	68640	Nance County	Twin River Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 993-2510	217	22	9.7	36.9%	195 (89.9%)	1 (0.5%)	14 (6.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.8%)	45.3	272^nd of 428 public elementary schools	36.4%		47.5	254^th of 459 public elementary schools	44.7%	18	$26,734	$759	$21,253

Frequently Asked Questions about High Plains Community Elementary School

What district is High Plains Community Elementary School in?

High Plains Community Schools

What is the racial makeup of High Plains Community Elementary School?

Students at High Plains Community Elementary School are 89% White, 11% Hispanic.

Is High Plains Community Elementary School a good school?

High Plains Community Elementary School ranks 196^th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of High Plains Community Elementary School attend?

Students who attend High Plains Community Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : High Plains Community Junior/Senior High School

How many students attend High Plains Community Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 113 students attended High Plains Community Elementary School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Nebraska Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.