The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Science. The lowest is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary School is a regular public school within the North Platte Public Schools district, serving students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of several elementary options in this central Nebraska city.
The school sits in a community shaped by the railroad. Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard, the world’s largest rail classification yard, anchors the local economy. The city has a mix of older residential neighborhoods near the downtown Canteen District and newer commercial development along the I-80 and U.S. Route 83 interchange. Major employers include Union Pacific, Great Plains Health, a recently opened Sustainable Beef meatpacking plant, and a Walmart distribution center. A parent considering Jefferson Elementary should know that the school’s immediate surroundings are largely auto-oriented, though the downtown core offers a more walkable main-street setting. The community has seen modest population stability over recent decades.
Jefferson serves a student body that is diverse along socioeconomic lines, though specific data on students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available. The enrolled population includes a mix of racial and ethnic backgrounds, with a substantial share of students identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
On state assessments, Jefferson’s academic performance presents a mixed picture, and in several areas it falls below typical results for elementary schools in Lincoln County. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates in math were very low across grades three, four, and five; the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among the county’s districts. Results in English language arts were somewhat higher but still well below a majority of students meeting the bar: roughly two of every five fourth graders and a bit more than one in three fifth graders scored proficient. Science, tested at fifth grade only, showed a stronger outcome, with about two-thirds of students reaching proficiency. The school’s multi-year trend data shows a single year of results for each subject, so it is not possible to see whether these numbers represent a change from prior years. A parent may want to ask the school about specific support in math and reading instruction, and what strategies are in place to raise proficiency.
Because Jefferson serves only elementary grades, it does not have a graduation rate or college-readiness measures such as Advanced Placement participation. No data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was available, so a family wondering about school climate would need to request that information directly.
The district itself reported no recent significant changes in curriculum, boundaries, or programming, so a parent cannot look to any major district shift to explain the current academic picture.
In terms of the local housing market, the area has home values and rents that are noticeably below state and national benchmarks, which may be a relevant consideration for families moving into the district. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is modest relative to median household income, suggesting housing is more affordable here than in many parts of the country.
Jefferson Elementary is a neighborhood school in a historically steady community shaped by rail and agriculture. Its academic results suggest that a family should ask about early literacy and math intervention, and about how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks. For a parent whose priority is a small elementary setting in a town with a stable housing market and a blue-collar economic base, this school is worth a closer look. For a parent seeking high test scores or a wide range of advanced academic offerings at the elementary level, other options in North Platte or the surrounding county may be a better fit.
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