Bluffs Middle School, Scottsbluff NE

Original Research by School Decision on Bluffs Middle School

Bluffs Middle School serves students in grades six through eight and is part of the Scottsbluff Public Schools district in western Nebraska. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.

The student body at Bluffs Middle School is roughly evenly split between students who identify as white and those who identify as Hispanic, with small shares of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or who are English learners was not available.

The academic picture from state testing in the most recent school year shows that across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Scotts Bluff County. In math, the share of students scoring proficient was similar across grades six, seven, and eight, hovering roughly in the range of two-fifths of students. In English language arts, about two-fifths of eighth graders were proficient, while that share was a bit lower in grades six and seven. Science results were notably stronger: close to three-fifths of eighth graders were proficient. A parent may want to ask the school about how it supports students who are not yet at grade level in math and reading, and how it sustains the stronger science result.

Looking at multi-year trends, available state assessment data from recent years shows a decline in proficiency rates in both English language arts and math. Science proficiency also dropped over the years for which data is available. Because the assessment and cut-score changes were flagged with unknown comparability, it is not possible to say with certainty how much of the change reflects shifts in student performance versus changes in the tests themselves. A family moving into the area may want to ask school leadership how they interpret these trends and what academic improvement strategies are in place.

Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle and serves as a regional retail and service hub for the surrounding area. Agriculture, particularly sugar beet processing and dry edible beans, shapes the local economy. The city’s downtown along Broadway features historic buildings, and the school district operates six neighborhood elementary schools along with this single middle school. Western Nebraska Community College has its main campus in Scottsbluff, and other Nebraska institutions also maintain satellite centers there. Street life is that of a small Great Plains regional center; a car is likely needed for most errands. The population has been relatively stable over time.

There was a recent, publicly reported event that families should be aware of: voters in the district rejected a bond measure that would have funded a new elementary school, renovations at multiple buildings, and safety and security upgrades. The school board subsequently discussed pursuing a smaller bond measure or phasing improvements without a bond. This leaves facility needs unresolved and is something for current and prospective families to follow.

A family considering Bluffs Middle School will find a school with a diverse student body in terms of race and ethnicity, set in a community that is the commercial center of the Panhandle. The academic performance data suggests that the school is working to improve outcomes, particularly in math and English language arts, and the recent bond failure means facility questions remain open.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 641%

School 41% · District 65% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▲ 41 pts above state median

Grade 742%

School 42% · District 70% · ▼ 28 pts below district

▲ 42 pts above state median

Grade 837%

School 37% · District 58% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▲ 37 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 636%

School 36% · District 59% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▲ 30 pts above state median

Grade 737%

School 37% · District 53% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▲ 37 pts above state median

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 51% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▲ 42 pts above state median

Science

Grade 860%

School 60% · District 74% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▲ 60 pts above state median

This schoolSCOTTSBLUFF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income44%Higher-income84%40 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income36%Higher-income74%38 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income41%Higher-income71%30 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income50%Higher-income88%38 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income55%Higher-income89%34 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income49%Higher-income76%27 pp gap