The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Science. The lowest is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Elementary School
Centennial Elementary School is a regular public school in Columbus, Nebraska, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade as part of Columbus Public Schools. The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary building in this grade span. The student body is nearly evenly divided between Hispanic and White students, with small numbers of Black, multiracial, and Native American students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community with many families navigating economic challenges.
State assessment results provide a mixed picture. In mathematics, proficiency rates were very low for both tested grades, with only a small fraction of students meeting the state standard. Parents may want to ask the school about current math curriculum and intervention strategies. In English language arts, roughly half of students were proficient in third grade and a slightly larger share in fourth grade. Science results from an older assessment, from several years ago, showed high proficiency, but that test and the standards have since changed, so the figure is not directly comparable to current performance. Overall, when considering all tested subjects and grades together, Centennial’s proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Platte County. That position suggests the school faces achievement challenges compared to nearby peers.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism and special education or English learner populations were not available in the sources provided. Those are areas a family might wish to explore directly with the school.
The school is located in Columbus, a mid-sized city that functions as the county seat and a regional industrial hub. Manufacturing anchors the local economy, with major employers in medical products, steel fabrication, food processing, and electronics. The city also hosts the headquarters of several public power districts. Columbus has seen modest steady population growth in recent years. The district itself has not had any major parent-relevant changes—such as referendums, curriculum shifts, or property tax adjustments—reported in recent years, indicating a period of stability.
Centennial Elementary offers a regular public school program focused on early elementary grades in a community with a strong industrial base and a sizable population of families with economic need. The academic data points to areas where the school is working to improve, particularly in math, while ELA performance is around the midpoint. For a family considering this school, a conversation with the principal about academic support and enrichment opportunities would be a reasonable next step.
See more original research from School Decision →