Best Public Schools in Zip Code 68856

The 68856 zip code area is home to two schools, Anselmo-Merna Elementary-Merna and Anselmo-Merna High School, both part of the Anselmo-Merna Public Schools district. While the district is ranked 93 out of 182 in Nebraska and has a 2-star rating, the schools themselves show some standout performance indicators.

Anselmo-Merna Elementary-Merna has demonstrated strong academic achievement, with 3rd and 6th grade students scoring significantly above the state average in English Language Arts and Mathematics on the NSCAS assessments. The school also maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 11.9, suggesting students may receive more individualized attention. In contrast, Anselmo-Merna High School boasts a high 4-year graduation rate of 88.1%, exceeding the state average, and an even lower student-teacher ratio of 8.2.

However, both schools face the challenge of higher-than-average chronic absenteeism rates of 21.1%, which is an area that may require further investigation and targeted interventions. Additionally, the difference in spending per student between the elementary and high school levels, with Anselmo-Merna High School spending $24,739 per student compared to $19,740 at the elementary level, is noteworthy and warrants further exploration to understand the factors driving this disparity.