SIDNEY -- Sidney Public Schools announced Monday the district has been rated Excellent on the Nebraska Department of Education's 2024-2025 AQuESTT accountability system -- Nebraska's highest rating.

Nebraska statute requires the State Board of Education to maintain an accountability system that evaluates school performance using multiple indicators. In response, the Nebraska Department of Education, with extensive stakeholder input, developed the Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow (AQuESTT) framework. AQuESTT serves as both an accountability model and a system of support built around six key tenets. Under AQuESTT and ESSA, Nebraska provides statewide accountability results in two ways:

• AQuESTT Classifications rate schools and districts as Excellent, Great, Good or Needs Improvement based on multiple performance indicators.

• School and District Snapshots show performance on each indicator and include additional supporting data not used in the final classification.

This year, Sidney Public Schools earned the top classification of Excellent, reflecting strong performance across the system. A few district highlights contributing to this rating include: 

• Low chronic absenteeism, demonstrating a consistent commitment from students, families and staff to prioritize daily engagement and learning.

• Continued growth on state accountability assessments, showing sustained academic progress and improvement across grade levels.

Sidney Public Schools  extends its appreciation to its students, staff, families and community for the dedication and support. This recognition serves as both a celebration of the school district's achievements and a reaffirmation of the District's commitment to providing high-quality education for every student.