KEARNEY — Seven Kearney Schools have been ranked among the 2024 Best Elementary and Middle School rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
The ranking focuses on state assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in mathematics and reading/language arts while accounting for student backgrounds, achievement in core subjects, and how well schools are educating their students. The rankings include more than 79,000 public elementary and middle schools across the country.
Five KPS elementary schools were ranked among the top 10% of the 2024 Best in Nebraska: Park, Meadowlark, Windy Hills, and Buffalo Hills. Central Elementary was in the top 20%. There are 490 Nebraska elementary schools.
Sunrise and Horizon Middle Schools were in the top 21% of all 175 Nebraska Middle Schools.
“Being recognized by U.S. News & World Report as some of the 2024 Best Elementary and Middle Schools in Nebraska is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students, teachers, staff, and the entire Kearney community,” states Jason Mundorf, KPS Superintendent. “These rankings reflect our commitment to providing high-quality education and fostering a supportive learning environment. We are proud of the achievements of our schools and will continue striving for excellence in education for all our students.”
The 2024 Best Elementary and Best Middle Schools rankings are based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Each of the seven schools received a plaque and banner to display their designation.
“The 2024 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer a way for parents to get a snapshot of their child’s school and how well it is doing compared with other schools in their community,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “In addition, U.S. News provides easily accessible data on student-teacher ratios, district spending, and the number of counselors a school makes available to its students.”
Jenn True, Buffalo Hills Principal
“To be recognized in this way is such an honor. At Buffalo Hills, we are committed to excellence. We have implemented strong core curriculums with fidelity and make data-based decisions to individualize instruction and support for each of our students.”
Teresa Schnoor, Central Elementary Principal
At Central, we take pride in catering to a multitude of cultures and backgrounds, striving to ensure that our students depart with the essential skills and character needed to excel in their future pursuits, regardless of where their paths may lead.”
Mark Stute, Meadowlark Elementary Principal
“The students at Meadowlark Elementary are truly outstanding, showcasing a strong commitment to learning and making each day enjoyable and gratifying.”
Chance Waggoner, Park Elementary Principal
“Our continued success at Park can be attributed to our dedicated staff, engaged families, a
supportive Kearney community, and, of course, our hardworking students.”
Jason Calahan, Windy Hills Elementary Principal
“This recognition fuels our commitment to continuous improvement, and we look forward to reaching even greater heights on our educational journey together.”
Amber Lewis, Horizon Middle School Principal
“This recognition illustrates how our staff at Horizon Middle School places students at the center of their work every day. Our mission is to ensure that all students receive a quality education to prepare them for a bright future. We are so proud of our students and their commitment to becoming well-rounded individuals.”
Mark Johnson, Sunrise Middle School Principal
“At Sunrise, we strive to do our best – in our academics, our athletics, our activities, and in our character. We welcome all students and believe each one of them can succeed..”