Preschool options
Grand Island provides myriad choices for preschool. Several churches operate preschools, as well as the YWCA, the Grand Island Public Schools’ Early Learning Center and privately operated options.
Neighborhood public schools
Grand Island Public Schools has 14 elementary schools and three middle schools spread out across the community.
Senior High academies
Students at the Academies of Grand Island Senior High are enrolled in one of the career pathways among the school’s five academies for sophomores through seniors.
Area public and private options
In addition to GIPS, the area around the city is served by the rural Grand Island Northwest public school district. Grand Island also has Trinity Lutheran, Heartland Lutheran and Grand Island Central Catholic as parochial options.
Post-secondary
Both recent high school graduates and nontraditional students can pursue career education or prepare for transfer to a four-year institution at Central Community College’s Grand Island campus. Next door at College Park, students can take upper-level classes through the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
“One of the best parts of Grand Island is our schools. Not only do our neighborhood schools care about our kids, but every layer of the district is focused on doing what’s best for them. I can confidently send my kids to school every day knowing that they’re not just learning, they’re loved.”
-Natalie Lukens, Grand Island
Distance from GI to colleges / universities across the state
| 1. | Hastings College, Hastings | 25.7 miles |
| 1. | Central Community College, Hastings | 28.8 miles |
| 2. | University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney | 43.1 miles |
| 3. | Central Community College, Columbus | 67.6 miles |
| 4. | Concordia University, Seward | 79.4 miles |
| 5. | Doane, Crete | 95.5 miles |
| 6. | University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln | 95.5 miles |
| 6. | Nebraska Wesleyan, Lincoln | 97.9 miles |
| 6. | Southeast Community College, Lincoln | 99.9 miles |
| 7. | Northeast Community College, Norfolk | 109.0 miles |
| 8. | Midland University, Fremont | 111.2 miles |
| 9. | Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis | 136.6 miles |
| 10. | Wayne State, Wayne | 138.7 miles |
| 11. | College of Saint Mary, Omaha | 143.7 miles |
| 11. | University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha | 145.0 miles |
| 11. | Bellevue University, Bellevue | 145.5 miles |
| 11. | University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha | 147.1 miles |
| 11. | Clarkson College, Omaha | 147.4 miles |
| 11. | Creighton, Omaha | 149.1 miles |
| 12. | Mid-Plains Community College, North Platte | 145.8 miles |
| 13. | McCook Community College, McCook | 149.5 miles |
| 14. | Peru State, Peru | 162.7 miles |
| 15. | Chadron State, Chadron | 326.9 miles |
