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Education

Nebraska students consistently achieve among the best average scores in the nation for both the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT). Additionally, graduation rates are usually at or above 95 percent, with 90 percent choosing the path to higher educational opportunities.

Superior education is a strong facet of community life in Kearney, with area schools successfully producing well-educated, motivated and productive students. The Kearney Public Schools (KPS) system has dedicated itself to providing excellence in education for residents of the area, recently earning the Blue Ribbon Award from Expansion Management magazine and the What Parents Want Award from SchoolMatch. The district serves a total of nearly 5,000 students within its three preschools, 12 elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.

The system’s elementary schools serve approximately 2,300 students, with a teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1:21. The KPS middle schools have approximately 1,050 students with a teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1:14. The high school has approximately 1,400 students enrolled with a teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1:18.

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 Public Schools 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 and construction technology. The school district provides for the physically and mentally handicapped from pre-K through age 21.

Bright Start Preschool
Northeast Elementary
910 East 34th Street, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8233

Bright Start Preschool
Head Start Building
1023 Avenue F, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 865-5695

Progress School
1930 West 40th Street, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290

Bryant Elementary
1611 Avenue C, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190

Central Elementary
300 West 24th Street, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040

Emerson Elementary
2705 Avenue E, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270

Glenwood Elementary
8105 9th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240

Kenwood Elementary
1511 5th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200

Meadowlark Elementary
1010 East 53rd Street, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210

Northeast Elementary
910 East 34th Street, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8230

Park Elementary
3000 7th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280

Pleasant Hill Elementary
29050 145th Road, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-1618

Riverdale Elementary
123 1st Street, Riverdale, NE 68870
(308) 893-2481

Stone Elementary
2430 Cherry Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-9486

Windy Hills Elementary
4211 20th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220

Horizon Middle School
915 West 35th Street, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8120

Sunrise Middle School
4611 Avenue N, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8150

Kearney High School
3610 6th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8060

Educational Opportunity Center
1930 West 40th Street, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8292

The public school route is not a choice everyone makes. Further significant parts of Kearney’s educational offerings include Faith Christian School (K-8); Zion Evangelical Lutheran School (Pre K-8); and Kearney Catholic High School, which stands as the region’s most established private, college preparatory high school for both 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 functions under the guidance of the diocese of Grand Island. The institution serves students enrolled in grades six through 12 and offers smaller classrooms for a more personalized learning experience (the teacher-to-student ratio is 1:13).

Special needs schools are also offered in the area through such organizations as Mid-Nebraska Individual Services (MNIS), Vocational Rehabilitation, and the State Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center.

MNIS Kearney affords an adult center for mentally challenged adults ages 18 and older. The center provides students with social services, transportation, basic skills, competitive employment and home management training.

Offered through the Nebraska Department of Education, Vocational Rehabilitation provides career counseling, job retraining and employment services to those with a physical, learning or psychiatric disability.

The State Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Kearney was established in 1879 with the development of a two-story brick building and school to house juvenile offenders in the city. The administration strives toward rehabilitation of boys and young men through a program of education, work and recreation. The goal is to return a well-rounded young man to his community where he can serve as a useful citizen. Currently, the center serves a population of nearly 200.

Faith Christian School
4010 7th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 236-8744

Kearney Catholic High School
110 East 35th Street/
P.O. Box 1866 Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-2616
www.kchs.esu10.k12.ne.us

Zion Evangelical Lutheran School
2421 Avenue C, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-3410
www.zelcs.org

Mid-Nebraska Individual Services, Inc.
1400 East 27th Street, Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-2558
www.mnis.kearney.net

State Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Kearney
2802 30th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 865-5313
www.hhs.state.ne.us/jus/yrtc/yrtckindex.htm

Vocational Rehabilitation-Kearney
2916 West 24th Street, Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 865-5343/(800) 262-3382 (TTY)
www.vocrehab.state.ne.us

Opportunities for higher learning are obtainable in Kearney as well. Central Community College (CCC) serves 25 counties in central Nebraska and offers a center within the Kearney community. CCC offers 33 career and technical education programs leading to a two-year degree, certificate and/or diploma. Online learning, adult education, English as a second language, and business and professional training are also available through CCC.

For four-year endeavors, the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is readily available. One of four campuses in the University of Nebraska network, this four-year, accredited university serves more than 6,500 undergraduate students and 1,000-plus graduate students every year. Students can take advantage of 170 undergraduate majors, 25 pre-professional programs and 34 graduate programs.

Central Community College-Kearney Center
3519 2nd Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847
(888) 419-8179
www.cccneb.edu

University of Nebraska Kearney
905 West 25th Street, Kearney, NE 68849
(308) 865-8441
www.unk.edu