The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Science. The lowest is 53% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Elmwood-murdock Elem School
Elmwood-Murdock Elementary is a regular public school in the small, rural village of Elmwood, Nebraska, serving students from preschool through sixth grade. It belongs to the Elmwood-Murdock Public Schools district, a single-district system that also operates a secondary school elsewhere. The school is situated on West F Street in the village center, embedded within a traditional small-town grid of residential streets, a few local businesses, and civic institutions like the public library and community center. Elmwood itself has a quiet, residential character with limited commercial activity, no public transit, and a modest population that has grown slowly over recent years. For families considering the area, the village offers a close-knit setting where the school sits within walking distance of much of the community, though daily life outside the village center typically requires a car.
Academically, the school presents a mixed picture that a parent will want to examine grade by grade. On the positive side, several tested grades show strong proficiency in math and reading. Third graders, for instance, performed well in both math and English language arts, and fifth graders also achieved solid results in math, reading, and science. Sixth graders showed good math proficiency. However, other grade levels posted very low proficiency rates that stand out as soft spots: fourth grade math and sixth grade reading both recorded zero percent proficient, and fourth grade reading was below the school’s own averages. When the school’s overall performance across all tested subjects and grades is compared with other districts in Cass County, it places in the bottom quartile. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or high school outcome data to consider. A parent moving to the area would want to ask the school directly about the grade-level discrepancies and what supports are in place for students who are not yet on track.
The student body is small and overwhelmingly white, with very few students identifying as any other race or ethnicity. About a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a modest share of families with lower household income. Data on special education identification and English learner status were not available, so those are gaps a family should explore with the school. The building serves as the only elementary school in the district, so class sizes and the school’s overall feel are shaped by a single-site community school model.
Housing in the Elmwood area is affordable relative to national medians and roughly in line with Nebraska’s statewide benchmark. Home values have risen moderately in recent years, and the village has experienced slow growth through infill rather than large new subdivisions. For a family looking for a small-town public elementary school with a neighborhood feel, Elmwood-Murdock Elementary offers a clear, straightforward option. The academic results warrant close attention to specific grade levels and a conversation with the school about how it addresses the gaps visible in the data.
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