Nebraska Public School District Profiles
Our future depends on every child from every corner of Nebraska receiving a great education where they live and play. Supporting our communities and the families who live there means that we have to come together to fully fund our public schools. However, school funding in Nebraska can be complex.
School districts in Nebraska are funded through tax revenues from local, state and federal sources. The primary source of funding Nebraska’s schools has long been local property taxes, with funding from the state primarily determined through a formula known as the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunity Support Act (TEEOSA). State and local funding sources interact in TEEOSA, which is based on the premise of first establishing school district “needs” and then school distrist “resources.” with the difference being made up through state aid. “Resources” in that farmula are primarily made up by local property tax revenues.
OpenSky Policy Institute has compiled profiles of all of Nebraska’s 244 public school districts to help taxpayers to better understand the state’s education finance system. These profiles show the unique circumstances facing urban, suburban and rural districts of differing sizes, along with the shared challenges of educating children in poverty, those with disabilities, English language learners and those with parents who move frequently. These profiles also show school achievement, since greater financial investments in schools have been shown to improve student outcomes.
These profiles shed light on the local implications of changes implemented by the Legislature in 2023, empowering informed decisions on education funding going forward.
What can I find here?
- Hover over a school district to see details, including per-pupil expenditures and state/local investments
- Click on the district to see additional information, including demographics and resources available in educating students in poverty, English language learners and special education
- Use the search function within the map to narrow your focus on a city or county
- Download data to further explore available resources and district needs in helping students to reach desired outcomes
All of the data in the visualization are from the Nebraska Department of Education. For more information, see the Annual Financial Report and School District Budgeting Forms, other Statistical Information and District Profiles.
Other resources
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OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (11/1/24)
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OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (9/6/24)
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