Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 72 schools in district

DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL

5130 COLFAX STREET, LINCOLN, NE 68504LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
405
Students
Total enrolled
$14,943
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
11.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 28% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 405 students in grades 06–08 in LINCOLN, Nebraska.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,943 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL is a mid-sized middle in LINCOLN, Nebraska, serving grades 06–08 with 405 students. The district invests $14,943 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 48% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL

405
Total Students
11.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
48%
Free Lunch
36
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution211 male · 194 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility48%
National avg 52% · 196 students
Student Composition
54%
17%
11%
14%
Asian3%
White54%
Hispanic / Latino17%
Black11%
Multiracial14%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 317284001145

Academic Outcomes at DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 63th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 68504

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,943Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,943
State avg
$21,710
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,575
Student Support$2,839
Administration$1,793
Operations$2,241
Other$1,494
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,943 spent per student, an estimated $6,620 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
30%
57%
State government
30.0%
Local (property tax)
57.5%
Federal programs
12.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
KOOSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLROPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLBELMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
+9 more
↓
Middle
SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOLSCHOO MIDDLE SCHOOLIRVING MIDDLE SCHOOLGOODRICH MIDDLE SCHOOL
+7 more
↓
High School
LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOLLINCOLN HIGH SCHOOLSOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOLNORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyLancaster County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictLINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS →
Phone: (402)436-1211
NCES ID: 317284001145
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in LINCOLN 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.

More in LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
High
LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL
2,268 students · 09–12
● 46 opp21% FRL
High
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL
2,196 students · 09–12
● 46 opp59% FRL
High
SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL
2,171 students · 09–12
● 52 opp26% FRL
High
NORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL
2,072 students · 09–12
● 46 opp55% FRL
High
LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL
1,929 students · 09–12
● 46 opp17% FRL
High
LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL
1,812 students · 09–12
62% FRL
Mid
SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL
1,136 students · 06–08
22% FRL
Mid
SCHOO MIDDLE SCHOOL
917 students · 06–08
● 48 opp
District School Rankings
Location
5130 COLFAX STREET, LINCOLN, NE 68504
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.