Palmyra District O R 1, NE

Original Research by School Decision on Palmyra District O R 1

Palmyra District O R 1 serves students from preschool through twelfth grade across three schools in Otoe County, Nebraska. With a total enrollment that is small for a district spanning pre-kindergarten through high school, the district covers the villages of Palmyra, Bennet, and several surrounding rural communities. The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of students who identify as Hispanic, Black, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not reported, so a parent cannot tell from these records how many students receive free or reduced-price meals or how many have individualized education programs.

State assessment results are available for most elementary and middle grades in math and English language arts, and for fifth-grade science. In math, third and fourth graders posted strong proficiency rates, well above most peers statewide; fifth-grade math was also solid. In English language arts, fourth graders performed best, while third, fifth, and sixth graders were close behind; seventh-grade ELA was softer, with a little more than half of students scoring at the proficient level. Fifth-grade science results were notably high, with most students meeting or exceeding the standard. Results for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade math and eighth-grade ELA and science were not reported individually, likely because the tested cohorts were small enough that the state suppressed data. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the district above the midpoint among Otoe County’s two districts.

Chronic absenteeism is low and ranks among the best in the county, suggesting most students attend school consistently. Per-pupil current spending falls in the lower range of the county, which is something a parent may want to discuss with the district to understand how resources are allocated across its three schools. The district’s high school graduation rate was not available in this data set, so no picture of on-time completion can be drawn from these records.

Housing within the district boundaries spans a wide range of values across multiple ZIP codes. The weighted average home value sits just above the state median and slightly below the national median. Rental data is sparse, covering only a few ZIP codes, with monthly rents around typical levels for the region. Nearby larger towns are a short drive, and the area’s unemployment rate has remained low nationally.

The district recently had no major reported changes—no referendums, curriculum shifts, or property tax adjustments surfaced in a search of publicly available information. Stability appears to be the prevailing condition.

For a parent or resident, this is a small, rural district with a tight-knit feel. Elementary academics are a clear strength, particularly in math and science. Middle school performance is harder to assess because results for several grades were suppressed. The absence of graduation and college readiness data means a parent interested in postsecondary preparation should ask the high school directly about course pathways, dual enrollment, and support services. Families who value low chronic absenteeism and a small, predominantly homogeneous peer environment will likely find the fit comfortable. Those concerned about resource levels or middle-level academic outcomes may want to dig deeper with the school principal or district office.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

738

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 1%

White 94%

Asian 0%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

ELEMENTARY AT BENNET

JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL AT PALMYRA

PALMYRA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

3 grades reported

81%

Grade 3

88%

Grade 4

76%

Grade 5

English Language Arts

5 grades reported

68%

Grade 3

75%

Grade 4

68%

Grade 5

67%

Grade 6

56%

Grade 7

Science

1 grade reported

92%

Grade 5

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$351,623

Year-over-year change+5.2%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$235K to $741K

vs. state typical1.26x

vs. national typical0.95x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
68418	Palmyra	$340K	+5.3%	46.4%
68317	Bennet	$405K	+4.4%	29.3%
68344	Douglas	$235K	+7.0%	13.5%
68347	Eagle	$354K	+4.0%	3.0%
68454	Unadilla	$275K	+7.2%	2.1%
68301	Adams	$392K	+3.6%	1.5%
68324	Burr	$288K	+2.9%	1.3%
68526	Lincoln	$464K	+3.7%	1.1%
68461	Walton	$741K	+6.8%	1.0%
68430	Roca	$611K	+4.6%	0.9%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,332/mo

Year-over-year change-0.2%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,195 to $1,438/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
68526	Lincoln	$1,438	-0.2%	1.1%
68430	Roca	$1,195	—	0.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,774/mo

Home price / national median income4.2x

Annual rent / national median income19.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$442/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.