Is Northwest High School a good school?

Northwest High School ranks 76 th of 168 Nebraska high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northwest High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 653 students attended Northwest High School.

What is the racial makeup of Northwest High School?

Students at Northwest High School are 82% White, 13% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

What schools feed into Northwest High School?

Northwest High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : 1r Elementary Elementary : Cedar Hollow School Elementary : St Libory Elementary School

Northwest High School

Summary:

Northwest High School is a public high school located in Grand Island, Nebraska, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 703 students. The school is part of the Northwest Public Schools district, which is ranked 33 out of 182 districts in Nebraska and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Northwest High School consistently outperforms the state average in academic performance, with proficiency rates exceeding the state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science on both ACT and NSCAS (Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System) tests. The school's four-year graduation rates have also been high, ranging from 87.0% to 99.0% over the past few years, consistently outperforming the state average. Additionally, the school's performance for female, male, Hispanic, and white student subgroups is generally strong, with the school's performance for low socioeconomic status (SES) students particularly noteworthy, ranking in the top 20% of Nebraska high schools in this category.

While Northwest High School generally outperforms nearby schools such as Giltner High School, St. Paul Junior/Senior High School, and Wood River Rural High School, the nearby Doniphan-Trumbull Secondary school, which is ranked higher than Northwest High School, demonstrates even stronger academic performance. However, Northwest High School faces challenges with relatively high chronic absenteeism rates and a significant population of students from low-income backgrounds, with free and reduced lunch rates ranging from 15.56% to 24.75% over the past few years.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2710 N North Rd
Grand Island, NE 68803-1199

(308) 385-6394

District: Northwest Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
76^th of 168 Nebraska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,911

Feeder schools for Northwest High School:

Elementary:	1r Elementary
	Cedar Hollow School
	St Libory Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.7

Number of students: 653

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.2%

Hispanic:

13.5%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 24%

See top rated Nebraska high schools

Compare Northwest High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Northwest High School ranks better than 54.8% of high schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.96. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Northwest High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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 (82.2%), Hispanic (13.5%), two or more races (2.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 24% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northwest High School is 12.7. (See more...)

Compare Northwest High School employs 51.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northwest High School is $13,911.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Northwest High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Northwest High School 76^th of 168 Nebraska public high schools. (See Northwest High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Northwest Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Northwest Public Schools 33^rd of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Northwest High School.

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Rank History for Northwest High School

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Rank History for all students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	36.27	196^th	249	21.3%
2007	39.30	189^th	247	23.5%
2008	10.99	248^th	252	1.6%
2009	18.72	244^th	251	2.8%
2010	42.91	180^th	249	27.7%
2011	55.33	118^th	252	53.2%
2012	50.13	138^th	245	43.7%
2013	63.70	79^th	247	68.0%
2014	60.92	106^th	247	57.1%
2015	45.62	146^th	242	39.7%
2016	58.55	109^th	246	55.7%
2017	45.39	121^st	219	44.7%
2018	29.62	161^st	219	26.5%
2019	51.08	105^th	217	51.6%
2021	54.46	97^th	209	53.6%
2022	42.48	124^th	202	38.6%
2023	49.91	107^th	215	50.2%
2024	56.96	76^th	168	54.8%

See the entire list of Nebraska High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	33.36	51^st	79	35.4%
2019	53.75	31^st	82	62.2%
2021	15.43	78^th	83	6.0%
2022	49.50	31^st	74	58.1%
2023	53.71	33^rd	89	62.9%
2024	85.12	11^th	62	82.3%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	26.43	110^th	144	23.6%
2019	31.34	103^rd	142	27.5%
2021	51.97	66^th	138	52.2%
2022	45.75	71^st	132	46.2%
2023	50.72	69^th	136	49.3%
2024	58.60	45^th	93	51.6%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	34.97	88^th	138	36.2%
2019	70.06	44^th	140	68.6%
2021	49.14	63^rd	130	51.5%
2022	36.31	85^th	135	37.0%
2023	44.74	77^th	135	43.0%
2024	64.89	40^th	93	57.0%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	67.62	10^th	41	75.6%
2019	87.21	5^th	43	88.4%
2022	48.23	20^th	41	51.2%
2023	52.80	16^th	41	61.0%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Northwest High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	25.97	158^th	205	22.9%
2019	44.35	115^th	207	44.4%
2021	50.24	94^th	200	53.0%
2022	41.62	118^th	196	39.8%
2023	50.74	99^th	206	51.9%
2024	57.90	58^th	125	53.6%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Northwest High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	623	1	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	630
1989	610	0	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	617
1990	566	0	0	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	573
1991	586	0	3	9	2	n/a	n/a	0	600
1992	623	0	4	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	637
1993	621	1	5	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	637
1994	643	1	3	12	1	n/a	n/a	0	660
1995	648	1	2	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	667
1996	648	1	2	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	667
1997	646	0	2	13	1	n/a	n/a	0	662
1998	670	1	3	25	1	n/a	n/a	0	700
1999	691	1	3	10	2	n/a	n/a	13	720
2000	665	1	1	22	2	n/a	n/a	0	691
2001	688	0	1	24	2	n/a	n/a	0	715
2002	646	1	7	24	1	n/a	n/a	0	679
2003	646	1	7	24	1	n/a	n/a	0	679
2004	613	2	4	35	3	n/a	n/a	0	657
2005	606	4	4	34	2	n/a	n/a	0	650
2006	645	3	3	55	3	n/a	n/a	0	709
2007	630	3	2	54	2	n/a	n/a	0	691
2008	625	7	4	57	5	n/a	n/a	0	698
2009	629	8	6	58	2	n/a	n/a	0	703
2010	620	10	6	60	1	n/a	n/a	0	697
2011	590	8	3	66	3	1	0	0	671
2012	633	11	0	73	3	0	1	0	721
2013	650	7	0	81	2	0	3	0	743
2014	651	5	3	94	5	0	1	0	759
2015	627	4	5	71	3	0	3	0	713
2016	629	3	5	78	3	0	4	0	722
2017	612	2	8	83	6	0	8	0	719
2018	624	8	4	92	7	1	6	0	742
2019	634	4	7	94	5	0	11	0	755
2020	630	5	6	97	5	0	16	0	759
2021	577	4	6	90	9	0	19	0	705
2022	579	4	5	77	8	0	21	0	694
2023	574	5	1	90	6	0	27	0	703
2024	537	4	1	88	7	0	16	0	653

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 Northwest High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	630	42.0	15.0	6.5
1989	617	42.9	14.3	8.4
1990	573	41.8	13.7	8
1991	600	41.8	14.3	8.5
1992	637	41.6	15.3	6.4
1993	637	39.3	16.2	7.8
1994	660	42.4	15.6	6.8
1995	667	43.2	15.4	5.7
1996	667	43.2	15.4	5.7
1997	662	41.8	15.8	5.7
1998	700	42.6	16.4	9.9
1999	720	43.0	16.7	15
2000	691	45.6	15.2	13.5
2001	715	46.7	15.3	12
2002	679	47.3	14.4	12.8
2003	679	47.3	14.4	12.8
2004	657	47.0	14.0	14.2
2005	650	44.6	14.6	14.9
2006	709	45.6	15.5	21.2
2007	691	45.8	15.1	19.1
2008	698	44.1	15.8	20.5
2009	703	45.8	15.3	26.3
2010	697	45.5	15.3	29.4
2011	671	45.5	14.7	26.4
2012	721	45.5	15.8	27.5
2013	743	48.2	15.4	29.1
2014	759	52.5	14.4	28.5
2015	713	47.0	15.1	27.2
2016	722	48.0	15.0	24.4
2017	719	46.8	15.3	26.4
2018	742	47.3	15.6	23
2019	755	49.6	15.2	25.7
2020	759	49.2	15.4	25.6
2021	705	50.1	14.0	23.7
2022	694	49.5	14.0	15.6
2023	703	51.1	13.7	24.8
2024	653	51.1	12.7	24

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 Northwest High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	630	42.0	15.0	6.5
1989	617	42.9	14.3	8.4
1990	573	41.8	13.7	8
1991	600	41.8	14.3	8.5
1992	637	41.6	15.3	6.4
1993	637	39.3	16.2	7.8
1994	660	42.4	15.6	6.8
1995	667	43.2	15.4	5.7
1996	667	43.2	15.4	5.7
1997	662	41.8	15.8	5.7
1998	700	42.6	16.4	9.9
1999	720	43.0	16.7	15
2000	691	45.6	15.2	13.5
2001	715	46.7	15.3	12
2002	679	47.3	14.4	12.8
2003	679	47.3	14.4	12.8
2004	657	47.0	14.0	14.2
2005	650	44.6	14.6	14.9
2006	709	45.6	15.5	21.2
2007	691	45.8	15.1	19.1
2008	698	44.1	15.8	20.5
2009	703	45.8	15.3	26.3
2010	697	45.5	15.3	29.4
2011	671	45.5	14.7	26.4
2012	721	45.5	15.8	27.5
2013	743	48.2	15.4	29.1
2014	759	52.5	14.4	28.5
2015	713	47.0	15.1	27.2
2016	722	48.0	15.0	24.4
2017	719	46.8	15.3	26.4
2018	742	47.3	15.6	23
2019	755	49.6	15.2	25.7
2020	759	49.2	15.4	25.6
2021	705	50.1	14.0	23.7
2022	694	49.5	14.0	15.6
2023	703	51.1	13.7	24.8
2024	653	51.1	12.7	24

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 Northwest High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$30 (0.2%)	$11,410 (91.1%)	$12,526
2020	$48 (0.4%)	$11,303 (91.0%)	$12,426
2021	$110 (0.8%)	$12,376 (90.8%)	$13,634
2022	$478 (3.5%)	$12,169 (87.9%)	$13,850
2023	$192 (1.4%)	$12,431 (89.4%)	$13,911

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Northwest High 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.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 105^th of 217 High schools	Ranks 107^th of 215 High schools	1.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (Northwest High School)	39.2	37	2.2%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Northwest Public Schools)	39.2	37	2.2%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	37.4	33.4	4.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Northwest High School)	40.9	29.2	11.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Northwest Public Schools)	40.9	29.2	11.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	30.9	26.2	4.6%
11th Grade Science (Northwest High School)	26.9	30.5	3.6%
11th Grade Science (Northwest Public Schools)	26.9	30.5	3.6%
11th Grade Science (Nebraska)	26.4	25.3	1.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	755	703	6.9%
African American	4	5	25%
American Indian	5	6	20%
Asian	7	1	85.7%
Hispanic	94	90	4.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	634	574	9.5%
Two or More Races	11	27	145.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	25.7%	24.8%	0.9%

Schools Near Northwest High 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
Northwest High School	Public	9-12	2710 N North Rd	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Northwest Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-6394	653	51	12.7	24.0%	537 (82.2%)	4 (0.6%)	88 (13.5%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.5%)	57	76^th of 168 public high schools	54.8%		49.9	107^th of 215 public high schools	50.2%	31	$13,911	$192	$12,431
Grand Island Senior High School	Public	9-12	2124 N Lafayette Ave	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5950	2,670	168	15.9	66.9%	835 (31.3%)	109 (4.1%)	1,628 (61.0%)	21 (0.8%)	15 (0.6%)	1 (0.0%)	61 (2.3%)	4.9	159^th of 168 public high schools	5.4%		11.8	199^th of 215 public high schools	7.4%	40	$15,173	$1,669	$10,929
Indra House	Public	9-12	2131 N Lafayette Street	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5635	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Success Academy	Public	6-12	1912 N Lafayette Ave	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5885	0	3	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Career Pathways Institute	Public	11-12	1215 Adams Street	Grand Island	68801	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5601	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Wyandotte Learning Center	Public	11-12	315 Wyandotte St	Grand Island	68801	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5922	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Doniphan-Trumbull Secondary	Public	7-12	302 W Plum	Doniphan	68832	Hall County	Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 845-6531	201	19	10.7	28.9%	188 (93.5%)	1 (0.5%)	10 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	83.4	20^th of 168 public high schools	88.1%		59.7	87^th of 215 public high schools	59.5%	67	$21,701	$492	$18,691
Wood River Rural High School	Public	9-12	13800 W Wood River Rd	Wood River	68883	Hall County	Wood River Rural Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 583-2249	161	16	9.8	47.2%	114 (70.8%)	6 (3.7%)	38 (23.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	71.8	48^th of 168 public high schools	71.4%		13.7	196^th of 215 public high schools	8.8%	148	$42,537	$972	$34,616
Centura Secondary School	Public	7-12	201 N Hwy 11	Cairo	68824	Hall County	Centura Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 485-4258	199	24	8.2	34.2%	180 (90.5%)	3 (1.5%)	12 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	57.2	75^th of 168 public high schools	55.4%		36.1	137^th of 215 public high schools	36.3%	62	$20,582	$674	$17,724
Giltner High School	Public	7-12	#2 West 6th Rd	Giltner	68841	Hamilton County	Giltner Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 849-2238	97	12	8.1	38.1%	90 (92.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)								(n/a)	$22,077	$560	$17,798

Northwest High School

Northwest High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Northwest Public Schools:

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Northwest High School

Rank History for all students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Female students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Male students at Northwest High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Northwest High School

Rank History for White students at Northwest High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Northwest High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Northwest High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Northwest High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Northwest High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Northwest High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Northwest High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest High School

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