Enrollment
Nebraska Survived COVID. Then the Real Decline Started.
Nebraska grew enrollment during COVID and recovered fully by 2025. But 2026 brought the first post-recovery decline, and more than half of districts never came back.
Nebraska Education News & Data
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Demographics
Nearly One in Four Nebraska Students Is Now Hispanic
Hispanic enrollment in Nebraska more than doubled over 22 years, adding nearly 45,000 students. In 2026, the growth reversed.
District Spotlight
Bennington: From 598 Students to Nebraska's 12th-Largest District
Bennington Public Schools has grown every single year for 21 consecutive years, adding 3,942 students and climbing from 68th to 12th in statewide rankings.
Grade Shift
Nebraska's Kindergarten Class Is Back to Its 2005 Trough
Nebraska kindergarten enrollment fell to 21,275 in 2025-26, essentially matching the 2005 trough after a four-year decline. Grade 12 hit a record 26,008.
Demographics
Omaha Public Schools: From Half White to One in Five
OPS was 46% white in 2005. It was 20.3% in 2025-26. Hispanic students now outnumber white students two to one in Nebraska's largest district.
Enrollment
Nebraska's 20-Year Growth Era Ends
Nebraska hit an all-time enrollment high of 330,136 in 2025. Then 1,988 students disappeared, driven by losses in both white and Hispanic enrollment.
Enrollment
Nebraska Publishes 2025-26 Enrollment Data
NDE releases 2025-26 enrollment data showing Nebraska's first non-pandemic enrollment decline in 20 years.