The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Science. The lowest is 19% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Holmes Elementary School
Holmes Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in the Lincoln Public Schools district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, located in a residential area of Lincoln. For families considering this school, the core picture is a school with a distinct academic pattern and a student body that reflects a wide range of economic backgrounds.
Academically, the state assessment results present an uneven picture that a parent will want to examine closely. In reading and English language arts, performance is comparatively strong: about three in five third graders met the state’s proficiency bar, and that share rose to roughly two in three for fourth graders. Fifth graders came in just behind the fourth-grade mark. Science performance in fifth grade was also at a similar level. In math, however, the results are much weaker. About half of third graders were proficient, but for fourth and fifth graders the proficiency rate was very low. This sharp drop-off in math between grade levels is a pattern a parent would want to ask the school about directly—whether it reflects a curriculum shift, a cohort effect, or a challenge the school is actively working on. The school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among elementary schools in Lancaster County, a fact driven almost entirely by the low math scores. The district as a whole has recently shifted to a science-of-reading approach for early literacy instruction across all elementary schools, a change that may eventually affect reading results, but the effect is not yet visible in this single year of data.
The student body is majority white, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races, and smaller groups of Hispanic, Black, and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic diversity. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records, so a parent seeking that information should ask the school directly.
The school is part of Lincoln Public Schools, a large district that has recently gone through major facility changes. In recent years, the district opened two new high schools, a new elementary school, and undertook widespread renovations funded by the largest bond measure in its history. These projects have shifted attendance boundaries and relieved overcrowding, which means some families may find their assigned school has changed, but Holmes Elementary itself does not appear to have been directly affected by the new construction.
Lincoln itself is the state capital and the economic anchor of the region. Major employers include state government, the university, the school district itself, and healthcare. The city is growing, with a rising population and development activity. Housing values in the area around the school sit close to the statewide average for Nebraska, and rents follow a similar pattern. The local economy has a mix of government, education, and a growing technology sector.
For a family, Holmes Elementary offers a neighborhood school in a growing city with a clear district-wide commitment to early literacy. The academic picture is split: reading performance is solid, but math performance in the upper elementary grades is a significant concern that warrants direct conversation with the school’s leadership. The school community is economically diverse, and the broader district provides stability and recent investment in facilities. A parent weighing this school will likely want to understand what interventions or supports are in place for math before making a decision.
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