The top reported proficiency rate is 11% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Crawford Elementary School
Crawford Elementary School is a regular public school serving preschool through sixth grade in the small rural town of Crawford, Nebraska, located in the Pine Ridge escarpment of the northwestern part of the state. The school is part of Crawford Public Schools, a small district in Dawes County. The town itself is a quiet, aging ranching community with a compact downtown and a history tied to the railroad and agriculture. Crawford has seen steady population decline over many decades, and its economic anchors include county government, a uranium operation, a nursing home, the school district itself, BNSF Railway, a livestock market, and nearby Fort Robinson State Park. The area’s growth context is one of limited new development and continued loss of residents, consistent with broader rural Great Plains trends.
The school enrolls a small number of students across grades PK through six, with slightly larger cohorts in preschool, first, second, fifth, and sixth grades, and smaller groups in kindergarten, third, and fourth. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the community. The student body is predominantly white, with a very small representation of American Indian or Alaska Native students and an even smaller number of Hispanic students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile.
State assessment results for the 2024–25 school year, drawn from Nebraska’s NSCAS tests, show that across tested grades (three through six for math and English language arts, and grade five for science), the proportion of students meeting proficiency benchmarks was very low. In math, no students tested in grades three through six reached the proficient level. In English language arts, only a modest share of sixth graders scored proficient, while third through fifth graders had no students reaching that bar. In fifth-grade science, no students were proficient. The multi-year trend data available for the school shows that in earlier years, a larger share of students were proficient in English language arts and math, but the most recent year reflects a sharp drop. Given the very small number of students per grade, these results can swing considerably from year to year, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the context for such variation.
No information was available on the school’s programs, staffing, discipline, attendance, chronic absenteeism, or course access. Because Crawford Elementary only serves through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report.
Housing values in the area are below both state and national averages, and home prices have recently declined year over year. Rents, as measured by the consumer price index, have been rising steadily in recent months. The broader economic context includes a modest national unemployment rate and a 30-year fixed mortgage rate that has fluctuated in the mid-six percent range.
For a family considering this school, the core picture is a very small elementary in a shrinking rural town, with a student body that is mostly white and economically disadvantaged. Academic results on state assessments are low across the board, though the small class sizes make year-to-year comparisons volatile. The district itself reported no recent major changes in curriculum, facilities, or property tax policy that would alter the experience. Families looking for a close-knit, small-school environment in a quiet ranching setting may find it a fit, though the academic performance data is a clear area to investigate further.
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