The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cambridge Middle School
Cambridge Middle School serves students in grades five through eight in the small rural town of Cambridge, Nebraska, in Furnas County. It is a regular public school and part of the Cambridge Public Schools district, which operates a single K-12 campus. The middle school shares that campus, and the district itself covers a wide area across several counties, but the school itself draws primarily from the town and surrounding countryside.
The enrollment is small. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a very small Hispanic share. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records we reviewed.
The most striking feature of the school’s academic profile comes from the most recent state assessment results. For the 2024-25 school year, across every tested grade level in math, English language arts, and science, the proficiency rate was reported as zero percent. That is, no student scored at the proficient level on the Nebraska NSCAS tests. The multi-year trends show that in prior years proficiency rates were higher, ranging from roughly half to three-quarters in some subjects, so the 2024-25 results represent a sharp departure. When placed against other districts in Furnas County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to discuss these results directly with the school to understand what happened in the most recent testing cycle and what steps are being taken.
Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to examine. We also looked for data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access but found none available for this school.
Housing in the Cambridge area is more affordable than state and national averages, with values having declined slightly in the past year. The town has a small, walkable core, but most daily life revolves around the highway corridor. The population has been declining modestly, consistent with rural Nebraska trends. Major employers include the Tri Valley Health System and the school district itself. Civic anchors include McKinley Park, a large community park with a pool, trails, and sports facilities, along with a public library and a museum.
The district brief turned up no recent changes such as bond measures, curriculum shifts, or facility projects that would be of immediate interest to parents. The school’s website was not examined as part of this data set.
Given the small size and rural setting, Cambridge Middle School offers an environment where students are likely to be well known by staff. The assessment numbers, however, are a significant concern. The reported zero proficiency across all subjects and grades in the most recent year is an outlier even among neighboring districts. This is the primary fact a family would need to explore further with the school administration to get a full picture of current academic conditions and supports.
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