Great

HNS, Wynot earn impressive rankings from the state

HARTINGTON – Faculty, staff, administrators, students and parents may describe Hartington-Newcastle and Wynot Public Schools as “great.” Now the districts are officially classified with those adjectives by the Nebraska Department of Education.

For the fourth year in a row, the school districts received high marks from Nebraska’s accountability system classification, called Accountability for a Quality Education System Today (AQuESTT).

Along with the Hartington district receiving a “Great” classification, it was “Great” across the board from elementary through high school.

A.J. Johnson, Hartington-Newcastle’s superintendent, said he was overall pleased with the AQuESTT outcomes but doesn’t get too caught up in the rankings as they can vary from year to year, depending on class size.

“Our teachers work very hard and analyze student data regularly to make the best possible educational decisions for kids,” he said.

Wynot Elementary certainly made the grade, ranked as “Excellent,” the highest ranking for the second year in a row. Wynot’s district is considered “Great” and the middle school and high school are considered “Good.”

“The report reflects the hard work of our students, staff, and community, and it confirms that we are moving in the right direction as a district,” said Kim Francis, Wynot’s K-12 principal.

She agreed with Johnson that it’s not helpful to compare an overall rating from year to year as even a slight shift in data can have a noticeable impact on classifications. For example, Wynot’s year-to-year data showed a district level improvement in classification from “Good” to “Great,” while the high school classification decreased from “Great” to “Good.”

“The change does not indicate a decline in the quality of instruction or commitment at the high school,” Francis said. “Instead, it highlights the reality that year-to-year data can fluctuate with smaller student groups. We see this as an opportunity to dig deeper, reflect, and ensure we are continuing to meet the needs of all learners at the secondary level.”

AQuESTT annually classifies schools and districts as Excellent, Great, Good, and Needs Support to Improve. Only 29 percent of Nebraska schools received an “Excellent” ranking this year.

The AQuESTT system classifies schools based on state test scores, particularly the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS). NSCAS English Language Arts and Mathematics tests are given in third through eighth grades. NSCAS science tests are given in fifth and eighth grades. High school juniors take the American College Test (ACT). The data used for the ranking currently released is from the academic year 2024-25.

Other data that can add or subtract from a ranking include graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, English language proficiency, and student disciplinary actions.

According to the data, Hartington-Newcastle students scored at or better than the statewide average for NSCAS English Language Arts (Hartington-Newcastle – 59 percent, state – 59 percent); NSCAS Math (Hartington-Newcastle– 68 percent, state – 58 percent); NSCAS Science (Hartington- Newcastle – 89 percent, state – 80 percent), as well as in ACT scores.

While being at or above statewide averages is impressive, Hartington-Newcastle administrators and teachers spend time looking at individual student growth which is also something to be proud of, Johnson said.

For Wynot, the performance snapshot doesn’t have much to display as there is no data available for NSCAS English Language Arts, Mathematics or Science, and only Math and Science scores available from the ACT.

Francis said students completed the required NSCAS testing, however, because of small cohort sizes, some results are suppressed for public reporting to protect student confidentiality.

“This is common for smaller districts,” she said. “While the data may not appear on the public snapshot, we still receive and analyze the results internally and use them to guide instructional decisions.”

The data highlights several areas of strength at Wynot Public Schools, she said, but collaboration is one strength indicated at all grade levels.

“Everyone takes ownership of student success,” Francis said. “The data confirms what we see every day - a staff that works together, holds students to high expectations, and is committed to helping every student succeed.”

While both schools have much to be encouraged by, school improvement is a continuous cycle.

“We view AQuESTT as a tool for reflection, not just a rating,” Francis said. “It helps us celebrate progress while also identifying areas where we can continue to grow.”

She said Wynot Public Schools is continuing to strengthen its Multi-Tiered System of Supports, as well as raising and clarifying academic expectations so students are consistently challenged and supported at every grade level.

Johnson said every five years, the district sets improvement goals. Currently, those goals include benchmarks in reading comprehension and math, depending on grade level.

“Our focus is always on meeting students where they are and working hard to help them individually improve,” he said. “Our principals and teachers have put in systems in both the elementary and the high school which help us target individual students for increased success. I am very proud of those systems and the people who have worked to put them in place.”

All Cedar County schools received high marks on the AQuESTT classification. When comparing school district rankings, Randolph was ranked as “Excellent,” while Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools and Wynot Public Schools all received “Great” marks.

Statewide data indicates 327 (29.8 percent) of schools were classified as “Excellent,” 393 (35.9 percent) were “Great,” 293 (26.7 percent) were “Good,” and 83 (7.6 percent) were designated as “Needs Support to Improve.” This is an increase of 38 (3.5 percent) schools in the highest two classification levels from 2024.

NDE officials said 2025 is the final year of using the current classification system. There will be changes in 2026 intended to improve transparency and be more meaningful for continuous improvement.