The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Elba Secondary School
Elba Secondary School sits in a village so small that the school and the community are essentially one. Elba is a rural crossroads in Howard County, part of the Grand Island micropolitan area, founded as a Union Pacific Railroad stop and still strung along Nebraska Highway 11. The village has been losing population slowly over the past several years, and a notable share of its housing units sit vacant. There is no separate commercial downtown; the few civic and residential blocks are compact. For a family considering this school, the setting is everything: this is a place where every student is known, but also a place where the academic program and peer environment reflect the size and economics of a shrinking rural village.
The student body is tiny, with fewer than fifty students across grades seven through twelve. That means a single classroom in each grade holds only a handful of students. Nearly all students are white, with one student identified as American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on how many qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners is simply not available in the records we examined, so a parent would need to get those numbers directly from the school.
State testing results paint a sharply mixed picture. In English language arts, eighth graders posted a solid showing, with a clear majority meeting the state proficiency bar. But in seventh-grade ELA, no students reached that mark. In mathematics, no students in seventh or eighth grade scored proficient. In eighth-grade science, the same result: no students proficient. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Howard County. That said, in a school this small, a single student’s performance can swing the percentage dramatically, so the raw numbers may not tell the full story about instruction or student effort. A parent may want to ask the school directly how it supports students who are not meeting state benchmarks, especially in math and science.
Because the school serves grades seven through twelve but does not produce a reported four-year graduation rate in the available data, it is not possible to assess completion outcomes from this account. The data gap may reflect a reporting threshold for very small schools. Similarly, we found no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline incidents, course access (such as dual credit, Advanced Placement, or career and technical programs), or staffing ratios. The district itself, Elba Public Schools, does not appear to have undergone any major recent changes that are publicly documented, so there is no known shift in leadership, boundaries, or programming to weigh.
For housing, the local market is moderate. Homes in the village’s zip code are priced below the state and national medians, though values have risen modestly over the past year. The cost of living in Elba is below the national average, and with limited rental stock, buying a home is likely the more realistic option for a family moving in.
Elba Secondary School is a good fit for a family that wants a tightly knit rural environment where their child will be part of a very small group of peers across middle and high school. The academics show an uneven record, especially in math and science, so a parent who wants a strong college-preparatory curriculum or a wide array of elective options may need to look into what the school actually offers beyond the tested subjects. The village itself offers little in the way of amenities or growth; most working adults likely commute to Grand Island or other nearby towns. For a student who thrives in a small, stable, and quiet setting, this school could be a solid match. For a student who needs more academic challenge or a larger peer cohort, it may feel limiting.
See more original research from School Decision →