The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Science. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Morley Elementary School
Morley Elementary School serves preschool through fifth grade in the Lincoln Public Schools system, the largest district in Nebraska. The school sits in a residential area of Lincoln, a city that acts as the state’s seat of government and its economic anchor, with major employers including the state government, the university, and the public school district itself. Lincoln has seen steady population growth, and the school district recently completed its largest bond issue in history, funding two new high schools, a new elementary school, and major renovations that have reshaped attendance boundaries across the city.
The student body at Morley is predominantly white, with a smaller but notable share of students who identify as two or more races. The school enrolls a moderate number of students for an elementary building, and a substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating some economic diversity within the community. Data on students with Individualized Education Programs or English learner status was not available in the records reviewed.
Academically, Morley produces a mixed picture. In reading, the school achieves a solid proficiency rate in third grade, with a slightly lower but still strong outcome in fourth grade and a similar showing in fifth grade. In math, third-grade proficiency is respectable, but fourth-grade results drop sharply, with no students reaching the proficient level in the state assessment that year. Fifth-grade math recovers to a moderate level. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows a strong result, with a high share of students meeting the proficiency benchmark. When placed alongside other elementary schools in Lancaster County, Morley’s overall performance across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile. This is a soft spot a parent may want to explore further with the school, particularly to understand the fourth-grade math outcome and how instruction supports students as they move through the grades.
The school’s academic trends data is limited, offering only a single year of results for most subjects, so there is no clear picture of improvement or decline over time. The district shifted to a science-of-reading approach for early literacy starting in 2023, a policy change that may influence future reading scores across all its elementary schools, including Morley. The bond-funded facility investments have not directly affected this building in the way they have reshaped high school attendance zones, but the broader district growth has meant steady enrollment pressures.
For a family considering Morley, the housing context is relevant. Home prices in the surrounding zip code sit near the state average for Nebraska, and rents are similarly positioned, making this a typical market for the Lincoln area. Monthly mortgage costs are balanced against local rent levels, and the area has not experienced the extreme housing inflation seen in some other parts of the country.
Morley is a regular public school, neither a charter nor a magnet. It does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate is reported, and it has no district-level achievement data to compare across an entire K-12 span. The school environment data, including discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance figures, was not available in the provided records, so the picture of daily operations and student support remains incomplete. A parent would need to visit, speak with the principal, or check with other families to fill in those blanks. The school itself is situated within a stable, midsized city with a diversified economy, a strong civic core around the state capitol, and a university presence that contributes to the local culture and job market. For a family looking for an elementary school in a standard public system within a growing state capital, Morley offers a workable option with clear academic areas to examine closely.
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