Lincoln Public Schools operates 63 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Lincoln Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 40,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 63 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $10,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ↓ 27% below avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 8/10 — Good | — | Above average |
- KOOSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 929 students
- ROPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 850 students
- BELMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 773 students
- ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 767 students
- WYSONG ELEMENTARY — Grades PK–5 · 738 students
- MAXEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 674 students
- ARNOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 673 students
- CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 669 students
- ROUSSEAU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 587 students
- CAVETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 556 students
- ECSE - HOMEBASED — Grades PK–PK · 527 students
- MEADOW LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 523 students
- KLOEFKORN ELEMENTARY — Grades PK–5 · 497 students
- HUMANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 487 students
- PRESCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 485 students
- EVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 480 students
- WEST LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 463 students
- CLINTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 457 students
- RANDOLPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 452 students
- PYRTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 449 students
- FREDSTROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 443 students
- KAHOA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 432 students
- PERSHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 421 students
- LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 418 students
- HOLMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 402 students
- + 22 more elementary schools
- SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 1,020 students
- SCHOO MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 1,006 students
- GOODRICH MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 849 students
- MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 849 students
- PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 843 students
- LUX MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 803 students
- IRVING MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 795 students
- POUND MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 731 students
- MICKLE MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 705 students
- CULLER MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 677 students
- LEFLER MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 584 students
- DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 395 students
- SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 2,110 students
- LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 2,086 students
- LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 1,982 students
- NORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 1,927 students
- LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 1,848 students
- LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 1,819 students
- NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 1,017 students
- STANDING BEAR HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 631 students
About Lincoln Public Schools
Families searching for schools in Lincoln, Nebraska (ZIP 68516) are zoned to Lincoln Public Schools in Lancaster County. A 8/10 rating places it in the upper range of Nebraska districts on NCES funding and size data. The district operates 63 schools and serves roughly 40,000 students (one of the larger districts in the state), covering Pre-K – 12th. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Lincoln Public Schools spends approximately $10,000 per student per year, placing it 23% below the Nebraska state average of approximately $13,000 and below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Below-average funding can mean larger class sizes, fewer elective offerings, and limited extracurricular programs. Families with specialized needs should verify specific program availability directly with the district. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
At 63 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Lincoln Public Schools qualifies as a very large district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 40,000 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.
Understanding the 8/10 Rating
With a rating of 8/10 (above average), Lincoln Public Schools ranks among Nebraska’s above average-rated school systems. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Lincoln Public Schools earns an above-average rating, reflecting stronger-than-typical resource levels and stable enrollment trends for Nebraska. Above-average districts generally offer solid program variety, adequate staffing, and a track record of organizational stability. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 68516
Children in zip code 68516 are assigned to Lincoln Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 68516, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Lincoln Public Schools at (402)436-1000 or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Nebraska districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Lincoln
For families considering a purchase in the Lincoln area, district assignment matters financially. Because Lincoln Public Schools serves zip code 68516, homes in and around zip code 68516 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Nebraska, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Lincoln Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 68516.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Lincoln Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 68516 data.