The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Longfellow Elementary School
Longfellow Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Hastings, Nebraska, as part of Hastings Public Schools. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school. The school sits in a residential area of a mid-sized micropolitan city that blends small-town Main Street commerce with college-town elements and agricultural-region services. Hastings has a historic downtown core, and many of the city’s elementary schools, including Longfellow, are distributed across its neighborhoods.
The student body at Longfellow is diverse in terms of economic background. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families face financial pressures. Racially and ethnically, the student population is predominantly white, with a significant Hispanic or Latino presence and small numbers of students who identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, or Asian.
State assessment results for the 2024-25 school year show a mixed picture. In math, proficiency rates varied by grade, with one grade reporting a rate that was notably lower than the others. Across the elementary grades tested in English language arts, proficiency rates clustered in the mid- to upper-forties. Science, which is only tested in fifth grade, posted the highest proficiency rate of any subject. The trend data for the school, which includes results from the same year grouped in a different way, shows that overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades was low when measured against other schools in the same county. The school’s proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Adams County. A parent may want to ask the school about how it addresses math and reading proficiency across the grades and what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
No information was available on the school's staffing, discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or course access. The data also did not include the number of students receiving special education services or English learner support, so it is unclear what level of targeted academic intervention exists. A parent interested in those dimensions of the school environment would need to reach out directly to the school for details.
The housing market in Hastings is more affordable than the national average, with home values well below the typical U.S. figure. Rents are also moderate relative to income. The broader economic context is stable, with a national unemployment rate around four percent and mortgage rates near six and a half percent at the time of reporting. For a family considering moving into the district, the combination of affordable housing and a modest cost of living is a practical consideration.
The district brief found little in the way of recent, publicly reported changes for Hastings Public Schools, and no major strategic initiatives or bond measures were surfaced. The locale brief notes that Hastings has several elementary schools spread across the city, and a new middle school opened in recent years, but no specific updates about Longfellow Elementary itself were identified.
Overall, Longfellow Elementary serves a student population with significant economic need and reports proficiency levels in math and reading that are below many peer schools in Adams County. Science performance is stronger, at least for fifth graders. The school operates within a stable, affordable community with a historic downtown and a mix of civic and collegiate anchors. A parent considering this school would want to understand how the school supports students who are not meeting grade-level expectations and what interventions or enrichment programs are available.
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