The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Science. The lowest is 15% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Richland Elementary School
Richland Elementary School is a small regular public school in Colfax County, Nebraska, serving grades three through five. It is part of the Schuyler Community Schools district. The school is located in the village of Richland, an extremely small incorporated community with a population that has fluctuated around the low dozens in recent years. Once a shipping point on the Union Pacific Railroad, Richland today has a rural agricultural character, with the majority of its few dozen employed residents working in manufacturing, retail trade, and wholesale trade. The large majority of households own multiple cars, reflecting a commuting population that likely leaves the village for work and services. The village has its own hall for primary government functions but appears to lack commercial amenities, parks, or libraries, meaning families are likely to rely on nearby towns like Schuyler or Fremont for most needs.
The academic data available for Richland Elementary comes from the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System for the 2024-25 school year. For fifth grade, the only grade where math and English language arts results were reported, a substantial share of students met state proficiency standards in math, while a smaller share were proficient in English language arts. Fifth-grade science results showed a higher share of students meeting proficiency. For third and fourth grade, math and English language arts proficiency rates were reported as zero, though without additional context from the data or the school about whether this reflects a genuinely low number of students scoring proficient or a data reporting artifact, a parent may want to look into this further with the school. The overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades landed in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Colfax County. The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate is available.
The student body is small. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The demographic composition is predominantly Hispanic, with a small number of white students and a smaller number identifying as two or more races. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the record.
The village of Richland has experienced modest population growth from a very low base in recent years, and the homeownership rate is high. Housing values in the area are roughly in line with the statewide median, while rental costs are somewhat lower than the national average, meaning the area may present a relatively affordable option compared to many other places in the country.
Because the school serves only a narrow grade band of upper elementary, the overall picture is of a very small school in a rural village that feeds into a larger district. For a family considering the area, the key factors would likely be the school's size, the large proportion of students from Hispanic and low-income backgrounds, the commute-oriented lifestyle of the village, and the academic performance data available, which shows a mixed picture with stronger science results relative to math and reading in the one tested grade.
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