Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 23 schools in district

WALNUT MIDDLE SCHOOL

1600 N CUSTER AVE, GRAND ISLAND, NE 68803GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
853
Students
Total enrolled
$13,910
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
10% vs nat'l
57/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
13% vs nat'l
Large public school
Serves 853 students in grades 06–08 in GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,910 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Above-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 57th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

WALNUT MIDDLE SCHOOL is a large middle in GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska, serving grades 06–08 with 853 students. The district invests $13,910 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 78% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at WALNUT MIDDLE SCHOOL

853
Total Students
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
78%
Free Lunch
62
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution468 male · 385 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility78%
National avg 52% · 665 students
Student Composition
25%
67%
Asian1%
White25%
Hispanic / Latino67%
Black4%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 310001601027

Academic Outcomes at WALNUT MIDDLE SCHOOL

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
57
/ 100
Above-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 57th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 95th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 68803

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,910Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,910
State avg
$21,710
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,120
Student Support$2,643
Administration$1,669
Operations$2,087
Other$1,391
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,910 spent per student, an estimated $6,162 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
48%
35%
State government
48.4%
Local (property tax)
35.1%
Federal programs
16.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 78% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountyHall County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (308)385-5990
NCES ID: 310001601027
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in GRAND ISLAND seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
1600 N CUSTER AVE, GRAND ISLAND, NE 68803
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.