For the 2025 school year, there are 17 public preschools serving 4,563 students in Buffalo County, NE.
The top ranked public preschools in Buffalo County, NE are Meadowlark Elementary School, Windy Hills Elementary School and Park Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Buffalo County, NE public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the Nebraska public pre school average of 49%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 50% statewide average). Pre schools in Buffalo County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Nebraska public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public preschool average of 38% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Buffalo County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Meadowlark Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1010 E 53rd St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8210
Grades: PK-5
| 399 students
Rank: #22.
Windy Hills Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4211 20th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8220
Grades: PK-5
| 255 students
Rank: #33.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3000 7th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8280
Grades: PK-5
| 275 students
Rank: #44.
Buffalo Hills Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6110 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8290
Grades: PK-5
| 298 students
Rank: #55.
Amherst Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
100 N Sycamore
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Amherst, NE 68812
(308) 826-3131
Grades: PK-6
| 213 students
Rank: #66.
Glenwood Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8105 9th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8240
Grades: PK-5
| 126 students
Rank: #77.
Ravenna Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
41750 Carthage Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3202
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 452-3202
Grades: PK-6
| 233 students
Rank: #88.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
300 W 24th St
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8040
Grades: PK-5
| 271 students
Rank: #99.
Kenwood Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
915 16th Ave
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8200
Grades: PK-5
| 385 students
Rank: #1010.
Elm Creek Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
230 East Calkins Avenue
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 856-4300
Grades: PK-6
| 202 students
Rank: #1111.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
910 E 34th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8230
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8230
Grades: PK-5
| 418 students
Rank: #1212.
Bryant Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1611 Ave C
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8190
Grades: PK-5
| 243 students
Rank: #1313.
Emerson Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2705 Ave E
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8270
Grades: PK-5
| 211 students
Rank: #1414.
Gibbon Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1030 Court Street
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-6546
Gibbon, NE 68840
(308) 468-6546
Grades: PK-6
| 320 students
Rank: #1515.
Pleasanton Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
303 Church St
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Pleasanton, NE 68866
(308) 388-2041
Grades: PK-6
| 188 students
Rank: #1616.
Shelton Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
210 9th St
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-6558
Shelton, NE 68876
(308) 647-6558
Grades: PK-6
| 171 students
Rank: n/an/a
1511 5th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 698-8033
Grades: PK
| 355 students
Buffalo County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
1404 East 39th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-6977
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-6977
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
7700 E 78th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 237-5664
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 237-5664
Grades: PK-8
| 9 students
26520 Pawnee Rd
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 467-2339
Ravenna, NE 68869
(308) 467-2339
Grades: PK-8
| 2 students
74204 L Road
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 995-4771
Elm Creek, NE 68836
(308) 995-4771
Grades: PK-6
| 19 students
2041 East 56th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 236-7145
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 236-7145
Grades: PK-8
| n/a students
Kearney Student Services (Closed 2011)
Special Education School
910 East 34th St
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8233
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 698-8233
Grades: PK
| n/a students
561 Webb St
Odessa, NE 68861
(308) 237-5415
Odessa, NE 68861
(308) 237-5415
Grades: PK-8
| 29 students
29050 145th Road
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-1618
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-1618
Grades: PK-6
| 16 students
123 1st Street Box 9
Riverdale, NE 68870
(308) 893-2481
Riverdale, NE 68870
(308) 893-2481
Grades: PK-8
| 46 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Buffalo County, NE?
The top ranked public preschools in Buffalo County, NE include Meadowlark Elementary School, Windy Hills Elementary School and Park Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Buffalo County?
17 public preschools are located in Buffalo County.
What is the racial composition of students in Buffalo County?
Buffalo County public preschools minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Nebraska public preschools average of 38% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Buffalo County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Buffalo County include: Windy Hills Elementary School vs. Park Elementary School, Park Elementary School vs. Windy Hills Elementary School, Park Elementary School vs. Central Elementary School
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