The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in Science. The lowest is 0% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Alcott Elementary School
Alcott Elementary School in Hastings, Nebraska is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school is part of Hastings Public Schools, a district that covers the city of Hastings, the county seat of Adams County. Hastings is a mid-sized micropolitan city with a mix of historic residential neighborhoods, a walkable downtown core, and institutional anchors including Hastings College and Central Community College. The city was built around its heritage as a railroad junction and later saw massive growth during World War II with the construction of a Naval Ammunition Depot, which has since been redeveloped for educational and industrial use. Today, the city's population has stabilized, and its economy blends higher education, agriculture-related services, and light industry. Alcott sits within one of the city’s residential neighborhoods, part of a distributed network of elementary schools across Hastings.
The school’s enrollment is small for an elementary serving kindergarten through fifth grade. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller numbers of students identifying with two or more races, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander backgrounds. Data on the share of students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was not available from the provided information, so a family interested in those supports would need to ask the school directly.
On the 2024-25 Nebraska state assessment, Alcott’s test results show a mixed picture. In science, which is tested at fifth grade, the school saw a proficiency rate that was higher than many local peers. In math and English language arts across the tested grades of three, four, and five, proficiency rates were reported at levels that position the school in the bottom quartile among districts in Adams County. The overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades fell into that same bottom quartile when compared to the other districts in Adams County. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports are in place, particularly in reading and math.
The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate, chronic absenteeism rate, or course access data was applicable. State testing data for lower elementary grades was not available because those grades are not tested under Nebraska’s assessment system. No information about the school’s Title I status, disciplinary rates, staffing ratios, or program offerings was provided in the data. These gaps mean a family should seek out those details directly from the school or district.
The housing market in the zip code covering this area shows home values and rents that are moderate relative to national benchmarks, offering an affordability advantage for families looking to live in a mid-sized Midwestern city. The district itself did not have any recent major changes or strategic priorities publicly reported in the materials reviewed, so it appears to be operating in a stable, incremental mode rather than under a major reform.
This is a neighborhood elementary school in a stable, historic small city. It serves a population with a high share of economic need and has a student body that reflects the broader community’s demographics. Its academic performance in science stands out as a relative strength, while its math and reading results on state tests are areas where families will want to understand the school’s approach and support systems. Given the data gaps, a parent considering Alcott would be well served by a school visit and conversation with the principal about academic interventions, enrichment programs, and family engagement.
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