The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Newman Grove Elementary School
Newman Grove Elementary School serves students from preschool through sixth grade in the small, rural farming community of Newman Grove in Madison County. The school is part of the Newman Grove Public Schools district, which operates as a single K-12 system. The town itself is compact, with a traditional Main Street along Hale Avenue, five churches, and a creek on the northern edge. The local economy is anchored by manufacturing, health care, and retail, and the area has seen population decline in recent years. The housing market is affordable relative to state benchmarks, with home values well below the Nebraska median. Newman Grove’s population has a notably higher share of Hispanic and foreign-born residents than many Nebraska towns its size, and that diversity carries into the elementary school, where a meaningful portion of the student body identifies as Hispanic. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a sense of the economic context many families are working within.
The school’s enrollment is small, with each grade from kindergarten through sixth grade made up of roughly a dozen to two dozen students, while the preschool program draws a somewhat larger group. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller but notable Hispanic population and very few students from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so the level of special education or language support in place is not clear from available records.
State testing results for the most recent school year paint a concerning picture. In math, across all tested grades, the reported proficiency rate was extremely low. In English language arts, only one tested grade showed a measurable share of students meeting the state standard, while the rest were at similar very low levels. Science test results were similarly minimal. When compared with other districts in Madison County, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile. However, multi-year trend data available for the school tells a somewhat different story. In prior years, the school saw a much higher share of students meeting standards in both reading and math, suggesting that the most recent results may reflect a sharp drop rather than a sustained pattern. A parent or guardian will want to talk directly with the school to understand what has changed and what is being done in response.
The school is a regular public school and does not have charter or magnet status. No Title I status was reported, though given the share of students from low-income households, it is possible the school receives federal support. No information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or staffing was available. Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to consider.
For a family considering this school, the main factors are the very small, rural setting, the affordable housing, and the academic picture that is mixed: strong historical performance followed by a recent and pronounced downturn in tested proficiency. The town’s demographic diversity relative to other small Nebraska communities may be a draw for some families. The school’s size means that each child is likely to be well known to staff, and the close integration of school and town life is typical of a place this compact. A family moving here should expect to ask about the recent test results and the school’s plans for improvement.
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