The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Knickrehm Elementary School
Knickrehm Elementary School serves families in central Grand Island, a mid-sized regional hub in Hall County known for its mix of agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, and for hosting the Nebraska State Fair. The school is a regular public elementary school within Grand Island Public Schools, covering pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Its enrollment is small for its grade band, and the student body is predominantly Hispanic, with white students making up the next largest group and small shares of several other racial and ethnic groups. Data on the share of students from low-income households and the share receiving special education or English learner services was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about its support programs and funding profile.
State assessment results for the most recent school year show proficiency rates in math, reading, and science that are reported at zero percent across third, fourth, and fifth grades. A multi-year trend in the data, however, suggests a more complex picture. In the same school year, the all-grades combined proficiency rate for reading was about half of students, and for math it was reported at zero percent. The multi-year trend indicates that reading proficiency had been around half of students in prior years as well, while math had been reported at a notably higher level in past years before dropping to the zero percent figure in the most recent year. Science proficiency has been at zero percent for the available trend period. These discrepancies mean a parent should recognize that the reported results may reflect a change in testing or reporting that is not fully explained in the available data, and should discuss current student performance directly with school leadership. Compared to other districts in Hall County, Knickrehm’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits in the bottom quartile.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. Discipline data, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism rates were not provided. No information on program offerings such as gifted education, arts, or extracurriculars was available, which makes it hard to assess the depth of enrichment at this school.
Grand Island as a city is largely auto-dependent. It is the largest city in Nebraska without fixed-route public transit; its transit system is entirely demand-responsive, requiring reservations in advance. The historic Railside district downtown offers a more walkable pocket with dining and entertainment, but the broader city spreads across a sizeable area with traffic circles designed for traffic flow rather than pedestrians. Major employers include a large ammunition manufacturer, a regional medical center, and over 90 manufacturing plants. The city has seen growth and revitalization in the 21st century, including a new hospital opened in recent years and ongoing investment in the downtown Railside district. The district added a new elementary school in recent years, which affected capacity and attendance boundaries.
For a family considering this school, the core information is straightforward: Knickrehm is a small, diverse elementary school in a midsized, car-dependent regional hub with a significant manufacturing and agricultural economy. The state’s academic proficiency results are weak, and the inconsistency in the reported data is a clear flag to inquire further. Without data on special programs, staffing, or student support services, a parent will want to visit, talk to the principal, and ask about the classroom experience, intervention strategies, and enrichment opportunities before making a decision.
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