Tri County Public Schools, NE

Original Research by School Decision on Tri County Public Schools

Tri County Public Schools serves students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade across a single campus arrangement in rural Jefferson County, Nebraska. The district operates two schools: an elementary school and a combined junior-senior high school. Its enrollment is small, with a student body that is overwhelmingly white and includes a modest share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of other racial backgrounds. Data on economic disadvantage and special education identification were not available in the records we reviewed, so a parent would need to ask the district directly about those supports.

Academically, the district’s state testing results from the most recent school year present a mixed picture, largely because of data suppression for very small cohorts. In the grades where scores were reported, math proficiency rates were strong across grades five through seven, with a higher share of students meeting the state standard than the county median. Eighth-grade math results were suppressed, likely reflecting the small number of test-takers. In English language arts, reported results for grades four through eight also showed a solid share of students at proficiency, though the figures varied by grade level, with the lowest reported rate in eighth grade. Science results were reported only for eighth grade, where a strong majority of students scored at the proficient level. When combining all available test data into a single proficiency index, the district’s performance lands in the top quartile among Jefferson County’s districts, meaning students as a group are outperforming the county average on the assessments that are measurable. This is a clear strength.

The graduation rate is not reported in the data provided, which is a notable gap for a district that serves students through twelfth grade. It is possible that the state did not publish the figure because of small cohort sizes or other reporting constraints, but a family with a high-school-aged child would want to verify this directly with the school.

Chronic absenteeism, a key indicator of student engagement, is low. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate is the best among Jefferson County’s districts, in the top quartile nationally. That suggests students tend to attend school consistently, which supports academic progress.

Per-pupil current spending falls in the middle range, upper half of the county’s districts. Without more detailed financial data, it is difficult to say exactly how those dollars are allocated, but the spending level is in line with or slightly above typical small rural Nebraska districts.

Housing in the area served by the district spans a broad range, from modestly priced homes in some communities to higher-value properties in others. The weighted average home value across the district’s zip codes is well below the Nebraska state median and below the national median, putting homeownership within reach for many families relative to incomes. Rental options appear limited; the only zip code with a reported rent index is in the city of Beatrice, which is not within the district itself but may be the nearest rental market. The estimated monthly mortgage payment, after a standard down payment, is moderately higher than the estimated rent, which could make buying more attractive for those who can manage a down payment.

We looked for recent district-wide changes, such as bond issues, leadership turnover, or program expansions, but found little of lasting impact in public records. The district appears to be operating in a stable, if low-profile, manner.

Tri County Public Schools is a small, predominantly white rural district with academic outcomes that compare favorably to its county neighbors where data is available. The main soft spots are the suppressed test results for some grades, which obscure a complete picture, and the absence of a published graduation rate, which a family should investigate. The student body is homogeneous, and the housing market in the broader area is reasonably affordable by state and national standards. This is a district that fits families comfortable with a very small school environment and who want to confirm academic supports through direct conversation with the school.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

420

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

Black 0%

White 93%

Asian 1%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

TRI COUNTY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL

TRI COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

3 grades reported

77%

Grade 5

82%

Grade 6

81%

Grade 7

English Language Arts

5 grades reported

74%

Grade 4

67%

Grade 5

70%

Grade 6

78%

Grade 7

65%

Grade 8

Science

1 grade reported

82%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$199,557

Year-over-year change+2.9%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$115K to $331K

vs. state typical0.72x

vs. national typical0.54x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
68341	De Witt	$199K	+2.1%	31.6%
68424	Plymouth	$202K	+6.5%	25.0%
68310	Beatrice	$185K	+4.0%	13.3%
68464	Western	$205K	-8.9%	10.8%
68377		$191K	+8.5%	10.1%
68422	Pickrell	$331K	+0.6%	0.9%
68328	Clatonia	$214K	-2.0%	0.8%
68331	Cortland	$320K	+1.6%	0.7%
68338	Daykin	$204K	+5.7%	0.5%
68352	Fairbury	$115K	+0.4%	0.4%
68342	Diller	$228K	+6.3%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,088/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
68310	Beatrice	$1,088	—	13.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,007/mo

Home price / national median income2.4x

Annual rent / national median income15.6%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$81/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$279,080 (+3.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.