The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in Math. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bloomfield Elementary School
Bloomfield Elementary School is the sole elementary school in the Bloomfield Community Schools district, serving children from preschool through sixth grade. It is a regular public school in a small, agricultural trade town in northeast Nebraska’s Knox County. The town of Bloomfield has a compact downtown core and a population that has been gradually declining over the past several decades; it remains a regional center for agriculture and related services. Housing values in the area are well below national and state medians, and the local economy is anchored by employers such as a nursing and rehabilitation facility and municipal services. The district has had no major recent policy changes or referendums that publicly affect families, based on available reporting.
With around 135 students, Bloomfield Elementary is a very small school. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, American Indian, and multiracial students. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a substantial portion of families experience economic stress.
The school’s academic picture, based on state testing results, raises questions that parents will want to explore directly with the school. Across the tested grades, proficiency rates are very low in nearly every subject and grade level. Only third-grade math showed a majority of students meeting state standards. In all other tested grades for math, and in every grade tested for English language arts and science, no students reached the proficiency benchmark. This pattern is unusual and may reflect a variety of factors, including very small class sizes where a handful of students can dramatically shift percentages. However, the consistency of the low numbers across multiple grades and subjects is a soft spot. A parent considering this school should ask the administration about instructional support, intervention programs, and what strategies are in place to raise achievement.
Because Bloomfield Elementary serves only through sixth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report here; students move on to Bloomfield High School, which is part of the same district. The school’s overall proficiency index, when compared with other districts in Knox County that have data, places it in the bottom quartile among four reporting districts. This comparison is limited by the small number of districts and the school’s small size, but it underscores that academic performance is notably lower than peers in the county.
The student environment is shaped by the small size: children attend school in a setting where they are likely to be known individually by staff. Class sizes are small across all grades. The school is located on the south side of Bloomfield, and the community’s civic life centers on the downtown and seasonal events such as the county fair. The nearest commercial airport is a half-hour drive away in South Dakota, reflecting the rural and somewhat isolated character of the area.
For a family, the appeal of Bloomfield Elementary is tied to the small-town, low-cost setting and the close-knit school community. Home prices are modest relative to the state and nation, and the pace of life is quiet. The trade-off is that academic outcomes, as measured by state assessments, are very low. This is not a school where typical academic benchmarks are being met across the board, and the reasons for that are not spelled out in available data. Parents should expect to have a candid conversation with the principal about curriculum, teacher experience, and how the school supports students who are not yet on grade level. For families whose highest priority is a small, personal school environment and who are willing to supplement learning at home or pursue other resources, this school may still work. For those looking for stronger academic performance indicators, the picture here will likely give them pause.
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