The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Riverside Middle School
Riverside Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in the village of Spalding, Nebraska. It is part of Riverside Public Schools, a small district that covers this rural part of Greeley County. The school itself is very small, with an enrollment that reflects the scale of the community it serves. The student body is largely White, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need among families.
Spalding is a rural village with a deep agricultural heritage and a close-knit atmosphere. The town’s civic life centers on places like Spalding City Park, the public library, and the auditorium, and the community holds annual alumni events that tie together the local schools. The Spalding Economic Development Group has been working on affordable housing and downtown revitalization, signaling efforts to address population and housing pressures common in small rural towns. For a family considering this school, the setting offers a quiet, low-density environment where the school is woven into the fabric of daily life.
Turning to academics, the state testing data for Riverside Middle School presents a picture that a parent will want to examine carefully. The most recently reported assessment results for the 2024-25 school year show proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science that are very low across all three grade levels. However, the school’s multi-year trend data for the same year shows higher aggregate proficiency levels, which creates an inconsistency in the reported figures. It is unclear whether this discrepancy stems from a change in the assessment, a data reporting error, or some other factor. As a result, a parent considering this school may wish to contact Riverside Middle School directly for clarification on how students are performing on state assessments and what the most reliable measure of academic achievement is.
What is consistent is the school’s standing relative to other districts in Greeley County. The overall proficiency index, which combines performance across tested subjects and grades, places Riverside Middle School in the bottom quartile among the county’s two districts. This is a clear signal that academic outcomes as measured by state tests are weaker than those of the only neighboring district.
Beyond test scores, there are several areas where public data is absent. Graduation rate is not applicable for a middle school. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were not reported in the available sources, nor were details about course offerings, staffing ratios, or special education and English learner populations. The school’s Title I status and magnet status are also not listed. For a family that values transparency on these fronts, following up with district administration would be necessary.
Riverside Middle School serves a small, economically challenged, and predominantly White student body in a close-knit rural community. The academic data is clouded by conflicting figures, but what is clear is that the school’s test-based performance ranks low among its county peers. A parent considering this school should seek direct information about classroom instruction, support services, and the school’s own explanation for the reported assessment numbers. The setting itself offers a stable, small-town environment where the school and community are closely linked.
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