Bennington Middle School, Bennington NE

Original Research by School Decision on Bennington Middle School

Bennington Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade in the fast-growing suburb of Bennington, northwest of Omaha. The town describes itself as a small, car‑dependent residential community that has seen rapid population growth, and the school district is building to match it. Voters recently approved a bond issue for a second high school, and the district has already opened Bennington South Middle School, meaning this school is now one of two middle schools drawing from separate attendance boundaries. For families moving into the area, the growth context matters: the district is adding capacity, and attendance zones may shift.

The student body is moderate for a middle school. The peer group is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch, which points to limited economic diversity. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.

State assessment results from the most recent testing year show an uneven academic profile. In math, the share of students scoring proficient ranges from just above half to roughly three‑quarters depending on the grade, with eighth grade the strongest. In English language arts, eighth graders again perform well, with over three‑quarters proficient, while seventh graders fell just below half. Science is tested only in eighth grade, and the proficiency rate there is high. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index falls below the midpoint among districts in Douglas County. That puts it behind several of its immediate neighbors, though the range across the county is wide. Only a single year of testing data was available, so there is no trend to report. A parent should look into whether the school has specific supports for students who are not yet proficient, especially in seventh grade where both math and reading results are softer.

The community and housing context reinforces the growth story. Home values and rents in the Bennington area are above the national average, and the town’s rapid expansion is the backdrop for the district’s construction plans. The town was struck by a severe tornado in 2024, which damaged many homes and may affect rebuilding and local development patterns. The district itself is a major employer, and most residents commute to Omaha for work.

Information on programs, course access, staffing, discipline, and attendance was not provided. For a middle school, the absence of details on electives, advanced coursework, arts, athletics, or student climate means a family should investigate those areas independently. The school’s website or a visit would be the next step.

This is a school set in a fast‑changing suburb where the district is expanding to keep up with enrollment. Academically, it shows solid results in eighth grade and in science, while seventh grade presents a softer spot. The overall county comparison leaves room for improvement, and the lack of program and support data makes it important to ask direct questions. It likely fits families who value a suburban setting, a moderate‑sized middle school, and a district that is investing in new facilities, and who are comfortable digging into the specific academic and program offerings at this particular building.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 663%

School 63% · District 79% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▲ 63 pts above state median · ▲ 63 pts above county median

Grade 757%

School 57% · District 84% · ▼ 27 pts below district

▲ 57 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 874%

School 74% · District 87% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▲ 74 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 664%

School 64% · District 79% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▲ 57 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 749%

School 49% · District 75% · ▼ 27 pts below district

▲ 49 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 877%

School 77% · District 87% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 77 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Science

Grade 887%

School 87% · District 94% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 87 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

This schoolBENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income57%Higher-income78%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income73%Higher-income81%8 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income83%Higher-income89%6 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income61%Higher-income85%24 pp gap