The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 65% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kahoa Elementary School
Kahoa Elementary School serves students in preschool through fifth grade and is part of the Lincoln Public Schools district in Lincoln, Nebraska. Located in the northern part of the city, the school draws from a residential area of a city that is simultaneously the state capital, a university town, and a growing metropolitan center. The school’s enrollment is on the larger side for an elementary school serving these grades, and its student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic population and smaller shares of students who are Asian, Black, or identify as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a moderate level of economic diversity.
Academically, Kahoa Elementary posts results that sit below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Lancaster County, a comparison set that includes a range of suburban and urban schools. In both math and English language arts, the school’s proficiency rates across tested grades show a mixed picture. Third-grade math proficiency is at a level that many families would find concerning, while fourth and fifth graders show stronger results, with fourth-grade math standing out as a relative bright spot. In English language arts, all three tested grades fall within a similar range, with a slight dip at third grade. Science proficiency among fifth graders, the only grade tested in that subject, is notably high, suggesting a program that may be particularly effective in that area when students reach the upper elementary grades. A parent considering this school should note that overall proficiency across all tested subjects places the school in the bottom quartile among the county’s districts, which is a soft spot worth investigating further with the school to understand the specific supports in place.
The available data on academic trends is limited to a single year of reporting for each subject, making it impossible to assess whether these scores represent an improvement or a decline. The school, because it does not serve high school grades, has no graduation rate to report. Enrollment figures indicate a steady build from kindergarten through fourth grade, with a smaller fifth-grade cohort, which is a typical pattern for many elementary schools and not unusual.
The district context matters for families evaluating Kahoa. Lincoln Public Schools recently completed the largest bond issue in its history, which funded the construction of two new high schools that opened in 2022 and 2023, as well as a new elementary school. These additions have reshaped attendance boundaries and relieved overcrowding at some schools, so a family moving into the Kahoa attendance area should confirm that their address still maps to this school. The district has also adopted a science-of-reading approach to early literacy instruction across all elementary schools since 2023, a shift in pedagogy that parents of younger children may want to discuss with staff to understand how it is being implemented at Kahoa specifically.
The housing market in the area around Kahoa shows home values that are slightly below the statewide benchmark for Nebraska but well below the national average, making this part of Lincoln more affordable than many comparable Midwestern communities. Rents are also below national levels, and the ratio of rent to income suggests that renting is more financially manageable here than buying, given current interest rates. The city itself has a stable, government-and-education-anchored economy, with steady population growth and ongoing development initiatives, including efforts to increase affordable housing.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing ratios, which are gaps a parent may want to fill by talking directly to the school. Similarly, information on special education and English learner enrollment was not reported, so the level of those services at Kahoa is not clear from the data provided. For a family seeking a small-town feel within a larger city, Kahoa sits in a part of Lincoln that is largely residential and less dense than the downtown core, with the city’s major employers and amenities a short drive away. The school’s academic profile is one of uneven performance with a bright spot in science, and the district-wide literacy reform may be a factor to watch in coming years.
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