Wood River Elementary School

Q: Is Wood River Elementary School a good school?

Wood River Elementary School ranks 112 th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Wood River Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 230 students in grades PK-5 in Wood River, Nebraska, which is part of the Wood River Rural Schools district.

Wood River Elementary consistently outperforms the state average in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency across grades 3-5. For example, in 2023-2024, 77.14% of 3rd graders, 52% of 4th graders, and 59% of 5th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state averages of 58.91%, 58.98%, and 57.43%, respectively. Similarly, in Mathematics, 80% of 3rd graders, 78% of 4th graders, and 82.76% of 5th graders were proficient or better, compared to the state averages of 60.65%, 59.96%, and 61.1%. Additionally, the school has a relatively low percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with only 37.33% to 46.96% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch over the past few years, which is significantly lower than the nearby Grand Island Public Schools.

However, Wood River Elementary has seen a steady increase in chronic absenteeism, from 4.8% in 2020-2021 to 21.1% in 2023-2024, which is now on par with the nearby Grand Island Public Schools. This trend warrants further investigation, as high chronic absenteeism can negatively impact student learning and academic achievement. Comparing Wood River Elementary to other nearby schools, such as Cedar Hollow School, which also demonstrates strong academic performance, could provide valuable insights and potential areas for collaboration.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1003 Lilly St
Wood River, NE 68883-0488

(308) 583-2525

District: Wood River Rural Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
112^th of 428 Nebraska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $22,599

Students who attend Wood River Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Wood River Rural Middle School
High:	Wood River Rural High School

Student/teacher ratio: 9.6

Number of students: 220

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.5%

Hispanic:

21.4%

African American:

2.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 45.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Wood River Elementary School ranks better than 73.8% of elementary schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 71.48. (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 (74.5%), Hispanic (21.4%), African American (2.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 45.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wood River Elementary School is 9.6. (See more...)

Compare Wood River Elementary School employs 22.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wood River Elementary School is $22,599.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Wood River Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Wood River Rural Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Wood River Rural Schools 26^th of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Wood River Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Wood River Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2008	56.69	257^th	478	46.2%
2009	45.78	338^th	471	28.2%
2010	47.30	318^th	502	36.7%
2011	35.05	345^th	473	27.1%
2012	23.82	411^th	480	14.4%
2013	29.15	383^rd	485	21.0%
2014	32.97	358^th	483	25.9%
2015	35.10	357^th	488	26.8%
2016	49.04	263^rd	480	45.2%
2017	43.67	280^th	459	39.0%
2018	49.85	232^nd	450	48.4%
2019	57.16	182^nd	452	59.7%
2021	58.07	177^th	442	60.0%
2022	58.28	186^th	457	59.3%
2023	58.94	192^nd	459	58.2%
2024	71.48	112^th	428	73.8%

See the entire list of Nebraska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Wood River Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	62.53	95^th	281	66.2%
2019	65.83	89^th	298	70.1%
2021	68.64	61^st	264	76.9%
2022	88.49	9^th	259	96.5%
2023	70.15	73^rd	312	76.6%

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

Rank History for Female students at Wood River Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	30.18	266^th	341	22.0%
2019	36.18	240^th	349	31.2%
2021	53.56	133^rd	318	58.2%
2022	57.77	135^th	337	59.9%
2023	41.10	209^th	349	40.1%

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

Rank History for Male students at Wood River Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	70.36	80^th	347	76.9%
2019	57.50	151^st	367	58.9%
2021	54.70	144^th	328	56.1%
2022	49.26	182^nd	356	48.9%
2023	31.34	273^rd	366	25.4%

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

Rank History for White students at Wood River Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	42.40	224^th	391	42.7%
2019	54.50	162^nd	391	58.6%
2021	43.51	207^th	368	43.8%
2022	48.43	193^rd	388	50.3%
2023	49.95	195^th	385	49.4%

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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, August 15, 2017

amazing teachers and amazing school! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Wood River Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2007	165	0	0	47	0	n/a	n/a	212
2008	162	0	2	38	0	n/a	n/a	202
2009	164	2	1	41	0	n/a	n/a	208
2010	156	5	2	47	0	n/a	n/a	210
2011	215	7	0	72	0	1	0	295
2012	204	7	0	69	0	1	0	281
2013	201	7	0	78	1	1	0	288
2014	190	6	0	77	0	1	0	274
2015	216	9	0	67	1	1	0	294
2016	196	8	0	73	0	0	0	277
2017	200	6	0	62	0	2	0	270
2018	201	6	0	58	4	3	0	272
2019	187	7	0	57	2	3	1	257
2020	186	6	0	54	2	1	1	250
2021	170	6	0	47	1	0	1	225
2022	171	5	0	51	1	0	3	231
2023	170	5	0	52	1	0	2	230
2024	164	6	0	47	0	0	3	220

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 Wood River Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	212	15.5	13.7	33.5
2008	202	18.8	10.7	30.2
2009	208	16.9	12.3	31.3
2010	210	17.8	11.7	44.8
2011	295	19.5	15.1	54.6
2012	281	19.5	14.3	54.8
2013	288	n/a	n/a	57.6
2014	274	17.6	15.4	54.4
2015	294	18.0	16.3	52.7
2016	277	19.0	14.5	52
2017	270	20.9	12.9	52.2
2018	272	20.1	13.5	55.9
2019	257	21.1	12.1	55.3
2020	250	21.9	11.4	49.6
2021	225	22.0	10.2	37.3
2022	231	23.0	10.0	40.7
2023	230	22.7	10.1	47
2024	220	22.7	9.6	45.9

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 Wood River Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	212	15.5	13.7	33.5
2008	202	18.8	10.7	30.2
2009	208	16.9	12.3	31.3
2010	210	17.8	11.7	44.8
2011	295	19.5	15.1	54.6
2012	281	19.5	14.3	54.8
2013	288	n/a	n/a	57.6
2014	274	17.6	15.4	54.4
2015	294	18.0	16.3	52.7
2016	277	19.0	14.5	52
2017	270	20.9	12.9	52.2
2018	272	20.1	13.5	55.9
2019	257	21.1	12.1	55.3
2020	250	21.9	11.4	49.6
2021	225	22.0	10.2	37.3
2022	231	23.0	10.0	40.7
2023	230	22.7	10.1	47
2024	220	22.7	9.6	45.9

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 Wood River Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,362 (9.2%)	$11,417 (76.9%)	$14,851
2020	$1,755 (10.5%)	$13,845 (82.8%)	$16,715
2021	$2,751 (15.1%)	$14,278 (78.4%)	$18,223
2022	$3,031 (14.4%)	$16,799 (79.7%)	$21,086
2023	$3,762 (16.6%)	$17,235 (76.3%)	$22,599

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wood River 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.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 182^nd of 452 Elementary schools	Ranks 192^nd of 459 Elementary schools	1.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wood River Elementary School)	65	75	10%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wood River Rural Schools)	65	75	10%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	56	63	7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Wood River Elementary School)	73	79	6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Wood River Rural Schools)	73	79	6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	55	58	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Wood River Elementary School)	58	46	12%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Wood River Rural Schools)	58	46	12%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	58	55	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Wood River Elementary School)	49	62	13%
4th Grade Mathematics (Wood River Rural Schools)	49	62	13%
4th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	51	58	7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Wood River Elementary School)	38	53	15%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Wood River Rural Schools)	38	53	15%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	48	56	8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Wood River Elementary School)	56	68	12%
5th Grade Mathematics (Wood River Rural Schools)	56	68	12%
5th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	54	65	11%
5th Grade Science (Wood River Elementary School)	79	82	3%
5th Grade Science (Wood River Rural Schools)	79	82	3%
5th Grade Science (Nebraska)	68	76	8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	257	230	10.5%
African American	7	5	28.6%
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	57	52	8.8%
Pacific Islander	3	0	100%
White	187	170	9.1%
Two or More Races	1	2	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	55.3%	47%	8.3%

Schools Near Wood River 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
Wood River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1003 Lilly St	Wood River	68883	Hall County	Wood River Rural Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 583-2525	220	23	9.6	45.9%	164 (74.5%)	6 (2.7%)	47 (21.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	71.5	112^th of 428 public elementary schools	73.8%		58.9	192^nd of 459 public elementary schools	58.2%	80	$22,599	$3,762	$17,235
Shelton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	210 9th St	Shelton	68876	Buffalo County	Shelton Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(308) 647-6558	171	15	11.7	46.8%	130 (76.0%)	2 (1.2%)	36 (21.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	40.9	289^th of 428 public elementary schools	32.5%		42.3	285^th of 459 public elementary schools	37.9%	4	$20,233	$1,006	$15,687
Cedar Hollow School	Public	PK, KG-8	4900 S Engleman Rd	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Northwest Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-6306	377	25	14.9	19.4%	333 (88.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	81.3	62^nd of 428 public elementary schools	85.5%		76.1	94^th of 459 public elementary schools	79.5%	32	$11,890	$579	$10,791
Shoemaker Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4160 W Old Potash Hwy	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5936	444	27	16.1	55.9%	223 (50.2%)	12 (2.7%)	183 (41.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.0%)	34.4	313^th of 428 public elementary schools	26.9%		39.3	305^th of 459 public elementary schools	33.6%	8	$13,011	$947	$10,332
Doniphan-Trumbull Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	302 W Plum	Doniphan	68832	Hall County	Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 845-2730	253	25	10.1	26.5%	226 (89.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	64.1	165^th of 428 public elementary schools	61.4%		54.4	217^th of 459 public elementary schools	52.7%	52	$22,469	$2,017	$17,631
Early Learning Center	Public	PK	4360 W Capital Ave	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5655	323	13	24.5		123 (38.1%)	6 (1.9%)	181 (56.0%)	7 (2.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.2%)								(n/a)
Engleman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1812 Mansfield Rd	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5902	481	28	17.0	33.5%	337 (70.1%)	13 (2.7%)	109 (22.7%)	7 (1.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.5%)	65.6	149^th of 428 public elementary schools	65.2%		62.5	173^rd of 459 public elementary schools	62.3%	24	$12,713	$642	$10,252
Gates Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 W Louise St	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5892	303	20	14.9	63.4%	146 (48.2%)	15 (5.0%)	125 (41.3%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.3%)	19.1	362^nd of 428 public elementary schools	15.4%		27.8	363^rd of 459 public elementary schools	20.9%	1	$14,644	$1,215	$11,903
Stolley Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 W Stolley Park Rd	Grand Island	68801	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5913	279	17	15.9	48.7%	159 (57.0%)	6 (2.2%)	96 (34.4%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.0%)	49.6	253^rd of 428 public elementary schools	40.9%		42.9	284^th of 459 public elementary schools	38.1%	31	$16,322	$929	$12,624
Newell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 W 13th St	Grand Island	68803	Hall County	Grand Island Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(308) 385-5905	378	26	14.5	68.5%	129 (34.1%)	46 (12.2%)	189 (50.0%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.9%)	33.8	316^th of 428 public elementary schools	26.2%		38.7	307^th of 459 public elementary schools	33.1%	9	$14,131	$895	$11,705

Frequently Asked Questions about Wood River Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Wood River Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Wood River Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Wood River Rural Middle School
High : Wood River Rural High School

What district is Wood River Elementary School in?

Wood River Rural Schools

What is the racial makeup of Wood River Elementary School?

Students at Wood River Elementary School are 75% White, 21% Hispanic, 3% African American, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Wood River Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 220 students attended Wood River Elementary School.

Is Wood River Elementary School a good school?

Wood River Elementary School ranks 112^th of 428 Nebraska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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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.