The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Science. The lowest is 47% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Blair Arbor Park Elementary
Blair Arbor Park Elementary serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Blair, Nebraska, as part of the Blair Community Schools district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of students from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. About a third of students qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a middle range for economic need relative to many Nebraska elementary schools. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the populations it serves.
State testing results from the most recent year show a mixed picture. In third-grade math, a solid majority of students met the proficiency benchmark, but by fourth and fifth grade, that share dropped to just under half. In English language arts, roughly half of third graders scored proficient, with similar results in fourth grade, but fifth-grade proficiency fell well below half. Science testing, which only fifth graders take, showed a stronger outcome, with about two-thirds of students reaching proficiency. When combined across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to the other school districts in Washington County. This is a meaningful comparison because the county has only three districts, and the other two post noticeably higher composite scores. A family considering this school will want to understand what academic supports are in place, particularly in the upper elementary years where test results show a notable drop-off.
The school’s enrollment is sized at roughly the typical level for an elementary serving these grades. The multi-year trend data shows that proficiency rates in both math and English language arts have moved in a range over recent years, with the most recent year’s all-grades combined rates somewhat lower than the earliest year in the series. Because of assessment changes, the data does not support a direct year-to-year comparison, so the trend line should be treated as an indication of general performance levels rather than a precise trajectory.
Blair is a small city that serves as the county seat of Washington County, located north of Omaha on the Missouri River. It functions as a mix of residential community and commercial and industrial hub, with local businesses alongside larger corporations. The community has made recent investments in its parks, library, and infrastructure. The district itself recently adopted a new strategic plan that runs through 2029, built around academic excellence, operational excellence, and student well-being. This framework will guide district priorities and resource decisions in the coming years and is a relevant document for families to review.
Housing values in the area are somewhat above the state typical level and close to the national median, with modest year-over-year appreciation. Rents are somewhat below the estimated monthly mortgage cost for a median-priced home, which is a pattern families may want to weigh when deciding between renting and buying. The local economy shows an unemployment rate in line with national figures, and median household income in the broader metropolitan area sits near the national median.
For elementary-aged children, this school offers the standard public school setting within a district that is publicly committed to a new strategic direction. The academic results are mixed, with some grade levels showing solid proficiency in certain subjects while others fall short. A family moving to the area would be wise to speak with school staff about academic interventions, especially in the upper elementary grades, and to visit the school to see how the strategic plan is being implemented at the building level.
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