The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Science. The lowest is 56% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lewis & Clark Middle School
Lewis & Clark Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in Bellevue, within the Bellevue Public Schools district. The school is a regular public school, and its enrollment is relatively modest for a two-grade middle school. About a quarter of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is lower than in many Nebraska schools and reflects the economic profile of the families it draws from. The student body is predominantly White, with sizeable groups of students who identify as two or more races, as well as Hispanic and Black students, giving the school a degree of diversity that is characteristic of Bellevue’s suburban, military-adjacent population.
On state assessments, Lewis & Clark’s results present a mixed picture. In English language arts, seventh graders and eighth graders both scored at a proficiency rate that sits around the midpoint for the state, with about three out of five students meeting the standard. Math proficiency was a touch lower, particularly in eighth grade, where roughly half of students reached the bar. Science, which is tested only in eighth grade, stands out as a clear strength: a substantial majority of students scored proficient, well above the school’s own performance in the other subjects. When placed alongside other schools within Sarpy County, Lewis & Clark’s combined proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile, meaning its overall academic achievement is lower than most of its county peers. The school’s own trend data shows that proficiency rates across math and ELA have declined from levels seen a few years earlier, though the data available does not allow for a direct year-over-year comparison due to assessment changes. A parent may want to discuss with the school what supports are in place to address the math and reading scores for the incoming seventh grade.
Because Lewis & Clark serves only middle school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were not available in the source information. Bellevue, where the school is located, is a suburban city in Sarpy County that is part of the Omaha metro area. Its economy and identity have long been shaped by Offutt Air Force Base, which houses the U.S. Strategic Command. The city’s growth was rapid during the 1990s, spurred by the Kennedy Freeway and base-related employment, though recent census estimates show a minor population decline. The housing market in the school’s ZIP code is moderately priced, with typical home values slightly above the state median and monthly rents that are manageable relative to local incomes. Bellevue’s built environment is car-oriented, with limited weekday bus service to downtown Omaha, and recreational anchors include Fontenelle Forest and Haworth Park along the Missouri River.
The district itself did not have any recent major changes such as bond measures or curriculum overhauls that could be confirmed from public records, so the context for families considering Lewis & Clark is largely the school’s current academic profile and its place within a stable, middle-class suburban community. This is a school where the science program is a notable strength, where the student body is not economically disadvantaged by local standards, and where a parent would want to look into the school’s approach to math and literacy instruction, given the downward trend in those areas.
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