Learning to Succeed

Kearney schools produce well-educated, well-motivated and productive graduates who perform, on average, above state and national testing standards.

Nebraska high school students consistently achieve among the best average scores in the nation for both the SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test) and the ACT (American College Testing). However, the education and technical training of Nebraska workers does not end with high school. Graduation rates are consistently at or above 95 percent, with 90 percent choosing to enter post-secondary education. The community population is well-educated with 23 percent having graduated from a four-year institution.

The Kearney Public School is a system of nine elementary schools, two middle schools and Kearney High School. Providing the solid foundation young children need are nine excellent elementary schools: Bryant Elementary, Central Elementary, Emerson Elementary, Glenwood Elementary, Kenwood Elementary, Meadowlark Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Park Elementary and Windy Hills Elementary.

These elementary schools serve 2,159 students with a teacher to pupil ratio of 1 to 21. The KPS middle schools have 1,040 students with a teacher to pupil ratio of 1 to 14. The high school has 1,371 students and a teacher to pupil ratio of 1 to 18.

Kearney High School, built in 1959, has experienced significant expansion to accommodate the growing student population and necessary technology and equipment. Administrators, staff and parents associated with Kearney High School are working to create an environment that fosters mutual respect, inspires the love of learning and “expects excellence from all.”

Vocational courses offered at the high school include consumer science, business education, computer science, marketing, industrial technology, power mechanics, welding, woodworking, machining, auto mechanics, drafting, construction technology and a CISCO network management class. Adult educational programs and evening classes are available. The school district provides for physically and mentally handicapped children from preschool through age 21.

Integral parts of the Kearney education picture include Faith Christian School established in 1995 and Zion Lutheran School established in 1930, Kearney Catholic High School, Central Community College and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Kearney Catholic High School is the region’s most established private, college preparatory high school for young men and women. Fully accredited by the State of Nebraska and the North Central Association of Schools, Kearney Catholic is a member of the National Catholic Education Association and operates under the auspices of the diocese of Grand Island. The school serves over 310 young men and women in grades six through twelve. Classes are small, so teachers can give full attention to each student with a teacher-student ration of 1 to 16. Kearney Catholic’s campus is located at 35th and Avenue A.

Kearney is served by Educational Service Unit 10, which is headquartered in Kearney and serves 11 counties. Special needs schools are also offered in the Kearney area. Mid-Nebraska Mental Retardation Services includes an adult center for mentally retarded adults from age 18 on up providing social services, transportation, basic skills, competitive employment and home management training.

Vocational Rehabilitation is a state agency and branch of Department of Education that provides career counseling, job retraining and employment services to anyone with a physical, learning or psychiatric disability. If the disability causes the person to have difficulty finding employment or maintaining employment, they generally qualify for this program.

The State Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center was started in 1879 when 320 acres were donated by the city of Kearney to construct a two-story brick building and school to house juvenile offenders. The administration strives toward rehabilitation of boys and young men through a program of education, work and recreation. Their goal is to return a well-rounded young man to his community where he can serve as a useful citizen. The program has a capacity for 150 students from age 12 to 19.

Central Community College encompasses 25 counties, including Kearney. The college is governed by an 11-member Board of Governors, elected by the citizens of the area served. The college maintains administrative offices in Grand Island and operates campuses at Hastings, Columbus and Grand Island and regional centers at Holdrege, Kearney, and Lexington. Central Community college works with area industries, retail establishments and other agencies and organizations in planning in-service and/or in-plant training programs.

Excellence in classroom teaching is the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s (UNK) core mission. The four-year, accredited university serves more than 6,500 students, providing a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. More than 300 faculty members are dedicated to providing intellectual challenges in a nurturing environment. The personalized approach, academic support and affordability combine to make UNK’s programs accessible and very attractive to students from a wide variety of backgrounds.

In addition to traditional classroom instruction by some of the best teachers, the university also makes the campus, the state and the world available through cutting edge technology. This network includes the resources of three other University of Nebraska campuses.

UNK offers practical programs with an emphasis on high quality undergraduate teaching and selected graduate programs in liberal arts, business, technology and education.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney was established more than a century ago as a teachers college serving central and western Nebraska. Today the institution is a comprehensive university and residential campus which enrolls students from all 93 Nebraska counties and more than 30 states and 50 foreign countries. From the beginning, a strong commitment to students has been the hallmark of UNK.

UNK varsity men’s and women’s athletic teams compete as members of the NCAA Division II in 16 sports within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Each summer the university is the site of numerous special camps for elementary and high school students within the region.

The Honors Program attracts a record number of gifted and talented students with graduates entering medical, dental and other professional schools at a high rate. University musicians have performed at Carnegie Hall to rave reviews and student research projects have won professional acclaim.