The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in English language arts. The lowest is 61% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bel Air Elementary School
Bel Air Elementary School serves children from prekindergarten through fourth grade in a regular public school setting within the Norfolk Public Schools district. The student population is small for its grade band, and the school sits in a residential area of Norfolk, a city that functions as the economic and retail hub for a broad region of northeast Nebraska. The community’s economy is built around manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and education, with major employers including Faith Regional Health Services, Nucor, and the school district itself. Norfolk is a highway-oriented city with an auto-centric layout, though it maintains a traditional downtown core. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks, and the local market has seen some appreciation in recent years.
The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up most of the racial and ethnic diversity. A modest share of students come from low-income households, as measured by free or reduced-price meal eligibility. Data on the share of students with disabilities or those identified as English learners was not available, which is a gap a parent may want to explore directly with the school.
On state assessments in math, the school’s performance shows a notable split between grade levels. In third grade, the share of students meeting proficiency standards falls below the midpoint among tested grades in the school’s own data, while the fourth grade math proficiency rate is higher. For English language arts, the pattern is reversed; third grade proficiency is at a moderately better level than fourth grade, which sits at a lower level. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint when compared to other districts in Madison County. Looking at a multi-year trend, the combined proficiency rates across all tested grades have trended in a direction that warrants attention. A parent may want to ask the school about how it supports literacy and math skill development across the primary grades, particularly given the dip seen in the upper elementary years.
Because Bel Air serves only through fourth grade, it does not produce a graduation rate, which is standard for a school with this grade span. The school does not report chronic absenteeism data in the available records. No data on discipline, course access, or staffing ratios was provided, so a family looking at those areas would need to follow up with the district.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It does not have a Title I status listed in the data. The Norfolk Public Schools district operates several elementary buildings across the city, and Bel Air is one of them, feeding into a junior high and then high school as students advance. The district’s recent strategic changes were not detailed in the available information, so a parent may wish to check the district website or attend a school board meeting for the latest on programming or facility plans.
This school fits a family looking for a neighborhood elementary in a midsize plains city with a diversified local economy. The academic picture is mixed; math results are stronger at fourth grade, while English language arts is stronger at third grade. The overall proficiency relative to other districts in the county sits below the middle of the pack, which is a consideration. The small enrollment means class sizes are likely manageable, and the school’s location within a steady regional employment center offers stability. A parent should confirm supports for students who may need extra help in literacy or math before the transition to middle school.
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