For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public schools serving 5,513 students in Dawson County, NE (there are , serving 9 private students). 100% of all K-12 students in Dawson County, NE are educated in public schools (compared to the NE state average of 89%).
The top ranked public schools in Dawson County, NE are Bryan Elementary School, Overton Elementary School and Gothenburg Secondary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Dawson County, NE public schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Nebraska public school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Dawson County have an average ranking of 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Nebraska public schools.
Minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Nebraska public school average of 38% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Dawson County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bryan Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1003 N Harrison
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3762
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3762
Gr: PK-5 | 386 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #22.
Overton Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
401 7th St
Overton, NE 68863
(308) 987-2424
Overton, NE 68863
(308) 987-2424
Gr: PK-6 | 165 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #33.
Gothenburg Secondary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1322 Avenue I
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3651
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3651
Gr: 7-12 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #44.
Elementary School At Sumner
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
205 E 5th Ave
Sumner, NE 68878
(308) 752-2925
Sumner, NE 68878
(308) 752-2925
Gr: PK-6 | 108 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #55.
Cozad Middle School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1810 Meridian Ave
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2746
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2746
Gr: 6-8 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #66.
Overton High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
401 7th St
Overton, NE 68863
(308) 987-2424
Overton, NE 68863
(308) 987-2424
Gr: 7-12 | 115 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #77.
Cozad Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
420 East 14th Street
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-3462
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-3462
Gr: PK-5 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #88.
Dudley Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1311 Avenue G
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3651
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3651
Gr: PK-6 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #99.
Junior-senior High At Sumner
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
205 E 5th Ave
Sumner, NE 68878
(308) 752-2925
Sumner, NE 68878
(308) 752-2925
Gr: 7-12 | 100 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1010.
Morton Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74% )
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
505 S Lincoln
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3764
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3764
Gr: PK-1 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1111.
Lexington Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1100 N Washington
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-2349
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-2349
Gr: 6-8 | 678 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1212.
Cozad High School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1710 Meridian Ave
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2744
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2744
Gr: 9-12 | 245 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1313.
Sandoz Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1711 N Erie
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-5540
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-5540
Gr: 2-3 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1414.
Pershing Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1104 N Tyler
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3765
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3765
Gr: 4-5 | 305 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1515.
Lexington High School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1400 Minuteman Drive
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-4691
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-4691
Gr: 9-12 | 919 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: n/an/a
420 West 14th Street
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-3381
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-3381
Gr: PK | 76 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Intervention/homebound
Special Education School
1501 Plum Creek Parkway
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-1841
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-1841
Gr: PK
Rank: n/an/a
1503 Plum Creek Parkway
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-1841
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-1841
Gr: PK | 257 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: n/an/a
1311 Avenue G
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3651
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3651
Gr: PK | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Dawson County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
77050 Hwy 47
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3155
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3155
Gr: PK-8 | 7 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
808 Ave D
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2154
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2154
Gr: K-6 | 143 students Minority enrollment: 22%
Cozad Alternative Ed Center (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
1910 Meridian Ave
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2745
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2745
76398 Road 421
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-3573
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-3573
Gr: PK-8 | 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
75885 Road 428
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 324-2829
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 324-2829
Gr: PK-8 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
75598 Rd 439 Po Box 755
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-2745
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-2745
Gr: PK-8 | 26 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
75905 Road 431
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3615
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3615
Gr: PK-8 | 26 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
700 N Washington Rm 201
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 784-3573
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 784-3573
Gr: K-8 | 5 students
75795 Hwy 21
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2741
Cozad, NE 69130
(308) 784-2741
Gr: PK-8 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
77131 Road 431
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3604
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3604
Gr: PK-8 | 6 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
76955 Road 417
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3161
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-3161
Gr: PK-8 | 10 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
123 Caribou St Box 128
Farnam, NE 69029
(308) 569-2331
Farnam, NE 69029
(308) 569-2331
Gr: 6-8 | 75 students
75710 Road 436
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3626
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-3626
Gr: PK-8 | 19 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Lexington Child Develop Center (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
1609 N Erie
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-8811
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-8811
Gr: PK | 9 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Hc 79 Box 75
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-2717
Gothenburg, NE 69138
(308) 537-2717
Gr: PK-8 | 6 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
103 East 10th St
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-7360
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-7360
Gr: 9-12
75598 Rd 439
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-2745
Lexington, NE 68850
(308) 324-2745
Gr: PK-8 | 30 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Dawson County, NE?
The top ranked public schools in Dawson County, NE include Bryan Elementary School, Overton Elementary School and Gothenburg Secondary School.
How many public schools are located in Dawson County?
19 public schools are located in Dawson County.
What percentage of students in Dawson County go to public school?
100% of all K-12 students in Dawson County are educated in public schools (compared to the NE state average of 89%).
What is the racial composition of students in Dawson County?
Dawson County public schools minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Nebraska public schools average of 38% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Dawson County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Dawson County include: Gothenburg Secondary School vs. Cozad High School, Dudley Elementary School vs. Cozad Elementary School, Lexington High School vs. Cozad High School
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