The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Homer Elementary School
Homer Elementary School is a regular public school in the very small village of Homer, Nebraska, serving students from prekindergarten through sixth grade. It is the sole elementary school in the Homer Community Schools district, a rural district that recently completed a major capital construction project, an investment that indicates a commitment to updating facilities for a small student population.
The village of Homer sits in Dakota County, part of the Sioux City metropolitan area. It is a compact, primarily residential community with a modest base of local businesses, most housing owner-occupied and a slight population decline in recent years. Families moving here can expect a quiet rural setting, with residents likely commuting to nearby towns or to Sioux City for employment. The school’s student body is predominantly White, with a noticeable share of American Indian or Alaska Native students and small numbers of other racial and ethnic groups. Slightly under half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a proxy for the economic circumstances of the community.
Academically, the picture is mixed with clear soft spots. On the most recent state assessments in the 2024-25 school year, third graders showed a strong math proficiency rate, but results in the upper elementary grades are sharply lower. Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders all posted a result of zero percent proficient in math, and a similar pattern appeared in several English language arts and science grade levels. Only in the fourth grade did a majority of students meet ELA proficiency; fifth grade was lower, and third and sixth grades also recorded zero percent proficient in ELA. Science results for grade five were at zero percent as well. The district’s comparison to other districts in Dakota County—a set of only two districts—places the school in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. With such thin cohort sizes in a small school, one or two students can swing a percentage dramatically, but the number of zero-percent results across multiple grades and subjects is notable, and a parent would want to ask the school directly about curriculum and instructional support in those grade levels.
Multi-year trend data is limited to a single year of reporting, so no pattern of improvement or decline can be discerned from the available records. No chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing data were reported, and civil rights data were not available, leaving some important dimensions of school climate invisible.
The district brief notes a significant capital outlay for construction in fiscal year 2022-23, with per-student spending that is high for a rural district of this size. What that project entailed—new classrooms, a gymnasium, or other improvements—is not specified, but it signals an infusion into the physical plant that could benefit students now.
For a family, Homer Elementary offers a small, rural elementary experience with a dedicated if small teaching staff. The academic performance data, however, raise questions about how the school is supporting students in grades four through six, especially in math and science. A parent considering this school would be wise to visit, observe classrooms, and ask the principal about intervention strategies and recent instructional changes. The surrounding community is modest and family-oriented, with the amenities of Sioux City within reach. The school itself is part of a district that has recently made a financial commitment to its buildings, a positive sign for long-term stability.
See more original research from School Decision →