Omaha Public Schools

School district in the State of Nebraska

Omaha Public Schools

Location

Omaha, Nebraska

United States
District information
Motto| Every student. Every day. Prepared for success.
Grades| K-12
Established| 1854
Superintendent| Matthew Ray (Interim)
Students and staff
Students| about 52,000
Staff| about 7,000
Athletic conference| Metropolitan High School Activities Association
Other information
Website| www.district.ops.org

Omaha Public Schools (OPS) is the largest school district in the state of Nebraska, United States. This public school district serves a diverse community of about 52,000 students at over 80 elementary and secondary schools in Omaha. Its district offices are located in the former Tech High at 30th and Cuming Streets.

Within Douglas County the district includes much of Omaha.[1] The district extends into parts of Sarpy County, where it includes portions of Bellevue.[2]

## Key personnel

[edit]

* Superintendent: Matthew Ray
* OPS Board Member President: Spencer Head
* OPS Board Member Vice President: Ricky Smith
* Subdistrict Board Member #1: Ricky Smith
* Subdistrict Board Member #2: Bri Full
* Subdistrict Board Member #3: Nick Thielen
* Subdistrict Board Member #4: Shavonna Holman
* Subdistrict Board Member #5: Spencer Head
* Subdistrict Board Member #6: Nancy Kratky
* Subdistrict Board Member #7: Jane Erdenberger
* Subdistrict Board Member #8: Margo Juarez
* Subdistrict Board Member #9: Tracy Casady

## Recent controversy

[edit]

### One City, One School District

[edit]

Omaha Public Schools has a long tradition of segregation extending the entire history of the city from its first public school in the 1860s. In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Omaha end school segregation and the district implemented a plan to bus students citywide in order to integrate schools. After that order was rescinded by SCOTUS in 1999, the district re-segregated.[3]

On June 13, 2005, the Omaha Public Schools Board and Superintendent John Mackiel announced their intention to annex 25 schools within Omaha city limits to OPS.[4] They are currently part of the Elkhorn Public Schools, Millard Public Schools and Ralston Public Schools districts. This announcement, based on three Nebraska statutes[5][6][7] enacted in 1891 and 1947, is known as the "One City, One School District" plan.

This issue is highly controversial in Omaha.[8][9] Supporters of the plan claim that a single school district is necessary to promote a cohesive Omaha community, ensure academic equity in all Omaha schools and prevent OPS from becoming locked into a declining property tax base. Opponents contend that Omaha-area residents should be able to choose from a number of school districts, and that the schools would become less efficient in one large school district. Discussions among the school districts have been unproductive; the issue figured prominently in the 2006 session of the Nebraska state legislature.[10]

### Split the District

[edit]

The Nebraska legislature passed a bill (LB 1024)[11] on April 13, 2006, that addresses the "One City, One School District" issues. The governor of Nebraska signed it later that day.[12] It requires each metropolitan class city to have a "learning community" that consists of all of the school districts in the county where the city is located and any county that shares a border with the city.[13] The learning community will be composed of voting representatives from each school district and will also include the superintendents of the districts as non-voting members. A learning community will be charged with helping to distribute property tax revenue more evenly throughout the school districts in its area.

In general, a learning community leaves the boundaries of school districts untouched. However, LB 1024 also calls for OPS to be broken into three separate school districts. The exact boundaries for three new Omaha school districts are to be chosen by the Omaha learning community. Their choices are limited by requirements of LB 1024 that each new district consist of contiguous high school attendance areas and include either two or three of the seven existing high schools. That allows about 20 ways to group the seven schools, depending on which adjacent high school attendance areas are grouped with the geographically most central area.

The three-district plan for OPS was proposed in amendment AM3142, introduced on the day the legislature first took up LB 1024. The suburban school districts reluctantly supported the three-district plan, seeing it as the most favorable to them of the bills proposed. The OPS leadership vehemently opposed the plan. AM3142 was approved on the day it was introduced by a counted vote of 33 to 6 with 10 senators not voting.[14] Five days later a motion to reconsider AM3142 failed in a roll-call vote of 9 to 31 with 9 senators not voting.[15] The roll call showed legislators from Omaha split six in favor of the three-district plan (Sens. Brashear, Brown, Chambers, Jensen, Pahls and Redfield) and five opposed (Sens. Bourne, Friend, Howard, Kruse and Synowiecki).

It was suspected that OPS may file a suit challenging the new law, but they did not. Instead, on May 16, 2006 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a suit against the governor and other Nebraska state officials charging that LB 1024, originally proposed by state senator Ernie Chambers, "intentionally furthers racial segregation." The NAACP lawsuit argues that because Omaha has racially segregated residential patterns, subdivided school districts will also be racially segregated,[16] contrary to United States law.

According to April 2006, information published by Associated Press, the current Omaha public school district has approximately 45,000 students classified as 46 percent white, 31 percent black, 20 percent Hispanic, and 3 percent Asian or American Indian.[17] News reports indicate that division of the city of Omaha into three new school districts, as ordered in April, 2006, by the Nebraska legislature and including current Elkhorn, Millard and Ralston public schools, is often expected to result in black students concentrated in a North Omaha district, white students in West Omaha district, and non-English speaking students in a South Omaha district.[18] However, the law does not mandate such a result.[19] Within its requirements, new districts may be drawn in several different ways.

LB 641, approved on May 7, 2007, repealed the requirement that the Omaha Public Schools district be broken up into three districts.[20] Afterward, the governor suspended and repealed the law.[21]

## Schools

[edit]

Further information: List of public schools in Omaha, Nebraska

### High schools

[edit]

School | Mascot | Location | Grades | Enrollment | Opened

|
|
|
|
|

Benson Magnet High School | Bunnies  | 5120 Maple Street  | 9-12  | 1,570 (2022–23)  | 1904
Bryan High School | Bears  | 4700 Giles Road  | 9-12  | 1,634 (2022–23)  | 1971
Buena Vista High School  | Bison  | 5616 L St  | 9-12  | 721 (2022–23)  | 2022
Burke High School | Bulldogs  | 12200 Burke Boulevard  | 9-12  | 1,915 (2022–23)  | 1965
Central High School | Eagles  | 124 North 20th Street  | 9-12  | 2,738 (2022–23)  | 1859
North Magnet High School | Vikings  | 4410 North 36th Street  | 9-12  | 1,796 (2022–23)  | 1924
Northwest High School | Huskies  | 8204 Crown Point Avenue  | 9-12  | 1,593 (2022–23)  | 1971
South Magnet High School | Packers  | 4519 South 24th Street  | 9-12  | 2,686 (2022–23)  | 1887
Westview High School | Wolverines  | 15800 Summit Plaza, Bennington | 9-12  | 743 (2022–23)  | 2022

### Middle schools

[edit]

School | Mascot | Location | Grades | Enrollment | Opened

|
|
|
|
|

Alfonza W. Davis Middle School  | Aviators  | 8050 North 129th Avenue  | 6-8  | 679 (2016–17)  | 2013
Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School  | Bobcats  | 14101 Larimore Avenue  | 5-8  | 1,148 (2016–17)  | 2004
Beveridge Magnet Middle School  | Bulldogs  | 1616 South 120th Street  | 6-8  | 616 (2016–17)  | 1963
Bryan Middle School  | Bears  | 8210 South 42nd Street  | 7-8  | 829 (2016–17)  | 1964
King Science and Technology Magnet Middle School  | Wildcats  | 3720 Florence Boulevard  | 5-8  | 614 (2016–17)  | 1973
Lewis & Clark Middle School  | Trailblazers  | 6901 Burt Street  | 6-8  | 829 (2016–17)  | 1960
McMillan Magnet Middle School  | Monarchs  | 3802 Redick Avenue  | 6-8  | 789 (2016–17)  | 1958
Monroe Middle School  | Mustangs  | 5105 Bedford Avenue  | 6-8  | 823 (2016–17)  | 1956
Morton Magnet Middle School  | Panthers  | 4606 Terrace Drive  | 6-8  | 759 (2016–17)  | 1965
Nathan Hale Magnet Middle School  | Patriots  | 6143 Whitmore Street  | 6-8  | 594 (2016–17)  | 1965
Norris Middle School  | Redbirds  | 2235 South 46th Street  | 6-8  | 1,123 (2016–17)  |
R. M. Marrs Magnet Middle Center  | Falcons  | 5619 South 19th Street  | 5-8  | 1,356 (2016–17)  | 1962
Bluestem Middle School  | Mighty Meadowlarks  | 5910 S 42nd St  | 6-8  |  | 2023

### Elementary schools

[edit]

School | Mascot | Location | Grades | Enrollment | Opened

|
|
|
|
|

Adams Elementary School  | Archers  | 3420 North 78th Street  | K-5  | 303 (2016–17)  | 1925
Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary School  | Timberwolves  | 5050 South 51st Street  | PK-6  | 801 (2016–17)  | 1994
Bancroft Elementary School  | Broncos  | 2724 Riverview Boulevard  | PK-6  | 728 (2016–17)  |
Beals Elementary School  | Bobcats  | 1720 South 48th Street  | PK-6  | 391 (2016–17)  | 1904
Belle Ryan Elementary School  | Bulldogs  | 5616 L Street  | PK-6  | 291 (2016–17)  |
Belvedere Elementary School  | Bobcats  | 3775 Curtis Avenue  | PK-5  | 471 (2016–17)  | 1924
Benson West Elementary School  | Bulldogs  | 6652 Maple Street  | K-5  | 575 (2016–17)  | 1910
Boyd Elementary School  | Beavers  | 8314 Boyd Street  | PK-5  | 456 (2016–17)  | 1961
Castelar Elementary School  | Cardinals  | 2316 South 18th Street  | PK-5  | 637 (2016–17)  | 1886
Catlin Magnet Center  |  | 12736 Marinda Street  | PK-6  | 203 (2016–17)  | 1966
Central Park Elementary School  | Cougars  | 4904 North 42nd Street  | PK-5  | 373 (2016–17)  | 1888
Chandler View Elementary School  | Cougars  | 7800 South 25th Street  | PK-6  | 696 (2016–17)  | 1969
Columbian Elementary School  | Cobras  | 330 South 127th Street  | PK-5  | 303 (2016–17)  | 1892
Conestoga Magnet Elementary School  | Pioneers  | 2115 Burdette Street  | PK-6  | 373 (2016–17)  | 1965
Crestridge Magnet Center  | Vikings  | 818 Crestridge Road  | PK-6  | 435 (2016–17)  | 1961
Dodge Elementary School  | Wildcats  | 3520 Maplewood Boulevard  | PK-5  | 388 (2016–17)  | 1964
Druid Hill Elementary School  | Dragons  | 4020 North 30th Street  | PK-5  | 292 (2016–17)  | 1917
Dundee Elementary School  | Tigers  | 310 North 51st Street  | K-6  | 551 (2016–17)  | c. 1894
Edison Elementary School  | Eagles  | 2302 North 97th Street  | PK-6  | 462 (2016–17)  | 1966
Field Club Elementary School  | Falcons  | 3512 Walnut Street  | PK-5  | 669 (2016–17)  | 1916
Florence Elementary School  | Foxes  | 4301 North 30th Street  | K-5  | 259 (2016–17)  | 1889
Fontenelle Elementary School  | Falcons  | 3905 North 52nd Street  | PK-5  | 594 (2016–17)  |
Forest Station Elementary School  | Owls  | 1010 Childs Rd W  | PK-5  |  | 2022
Franklin Elementary School  |  | 3506 Franklin Street  | PK-6  | 253 (2016–17)  |
Fullerton Magnet Center  | Falcons  | 4711 North 138th Street  | PK-4  | 526 (2016–17)  | 1998
Gateway Elementary School  | Eagles  | 5610 South 42nd Street  | PK-6  | 833 (2016–17)  | 2013
Gilder Elementary School  | Bears  | 3705 Chandler Road  | K-6  | 399 (2016–17)  | 1964
Gifford Park Elementary School  | Groundhog  | 717 N. 32nd Street  | Early childhood- 6  | 365 (2023-24  | 2019
Gomez-Heritage Elementary School | Timberwolves  | 5101 South 17th Street  | PK-4  | 849 (2016–17)  | 2004
Harrison Elementary School  | Tigers  | 5304 Hamilton Street  | K-6  | 376 (2016–17)  | 1930
Hartman Elementary School  | Hawks  | 5530 North 66th Street  | PK-5  | 483 (2016–17)  | 1964
Highland Elementary School  | Roadrunners  | 2625 Jefferson Street  | PK-6  | 479 (2016–17)  |
Indian Hill Elementary School  |  | 3121 U Street  | K-6  | 637 (2016–17)  | 1890
Jackson Elementary School  | Jaguars  | 620 South 31st Street  | PK-6  | 222 (2016–17)  |
Jefferson Elementary School  | Jaguars  | 4065 Vinton Street  | K-6  | 498 (2016–17)  | 1924
Joslyn Elementary School  | Jaguars  | 11220 Blondo Street  | PK-6  | 477 (2016–17)  | 1976
Kellom Elementary School  |  | 1311 North 24th Street  | PK-6  | 515 (2016–17)  | 1952
Kennedy Elementary School  | Tigers  | 2906 North 30th Street  | PK-5  | 230 (2016–17)  | 1916
King Elementary School  | Cubs  | 3706 Maple Street  | PK-5  | 375 (2016–17)  | 1973
Liberty Elementary School  | Superstars  | 2021 St. Mary’s Avenue  | PK-6  | 745 (2016–17)  | 2004
Lothrop Magnet Center  | Panthers  | 3300 North 22nd Street  | PK-4  | 254 (2016–17)  |
Masters Elementary School  | Monarchs  | 5505 North 99th Street  | K-5  | 271 (2016–17)  | 1970
Miller Park Elementary School  | Simbas  | 5625 North 28th Avenue  | PK-5  | 368 (2016–17)  | 1910
Minne Lusa Elementary School  | Panthers  | 2728 Ida Street  | PK-5  | 319 (2016–17)  | 1924
Mount View Elementary School  | Lions  | 5322 North 52nd Street  | PK-5  | 374 (2016–17)  | 1960
Oak Valley Elementary School  | Owls  | 3109 Pedersen Drive  | PK-6  | 302 (2016–17)  | 1963
Pawnee Elementary School  | Cubs  | 7310 South 48th Street  | PK-6  | 487 (2016–17)  | 1966
Picotte Elementary School  | Pintos  | 14506 Ohio Street  | K-4  | 324 (2016–17)  | 1992
Pine Elementary School  | The Porcupines  | 10th and Pine Streets  | PK-5  | 300 (2023-2024)  | 2022
Pinewood Elementary School  | Panthers  | 6717 North 63rd Street  | PK-5  | 222 (2016–17)  |
Ponca Elementary School  | Raccoons  | 11300 North Post Road  | K-5  | 122 (2016–17)  | 1871
Prairie Wind Elementary School  | Stallions  | 10908 Ellison Avenue  | K-5  | 750 (2016–17)  | 1994
Rose Hill Elementary School  | Rams  | 5605 Corby Street  | K-5  | 298 (2016–17)  | 1907
Saddlebrook Elementary School  | Green Wave  | 14850 Laurel Avenue  | PK-5  | 482 (2016–17)  | 2009
Sherman Elementary School  | Sharks  | 5618 North 14th Avenue  | PK-5  | 205 (2016–17)  | 1888
Skinner Magnet Center  | Sky Hawks  | 4304 North 33rd Street  | PK-5  | 355 (2016–17)  | 1996
Spring Lake Magnet Center  | Pumas  | 4215 South 20th Street  | PK-5  | 836 (2016–17)  | 1975
Springville Elementary School  | Eagles  | 7400 North 60th Street  | K-5  | 399 (2016–17)  | c. 1872
Standing Bear Elementary School  | Cubs  | 15860 Taylor Street  | PK-4  | 543 (2016–17)  | 2005
Sunny Slope Elementary School  |  | 10820 Old Maple Road  | PK-5  | 424 (2016–17)  | c. 1890
Wakonda Elementary School  | Wildcats  | 4845 Curtis Avenue  | PK-5  | 350 (2016–17)  |
Walnut Hill Elementary School  | Wildcats  | 4355 Charles Street  | PK-6  | 483 (2016–17)  | 1888
Washington Elementary School  | Wildcats  | 5519 Mayberry Street  | PK-6  | 337 (2016–17)  | 1923
Western Hills Magnet Center  | Wildcats  | 5616 L Street  | K-6  | 256 (2016–17)  | 1953
Wilson Focus School  | Lions  | 5141 F Street  | 3-6  | 232 (2016–17)  | 2008

### Alternative/specialized schools

[edit]

School | Mascot | Location | Grades | Enrollment | Opened

|
|
|
|
|

Blackburn Alternative High School  | Pride  | 2606 Hamilton Street  | 9-12  |  |
Dr. J. P. Lord School  | Pandas  | 4444 Marinda Street  | PK-12+  |  | 1938
Omaha Public Schools Career Center  |  | 3230 Burt Street  | 10-12  |  |
Parrish Alternative School  | Panthers  | 4315 Cuming Street  | 7-12  |  |

## See also

[edit]

* Historical schools in North Omaha
* Historical schools in East Omaha
* Education in Omaha, Nebraska
* Education in North Omaha

## Notes and references

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Douglas County, NE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
2. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sarpy County, NE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
3. ^ "A history of segregated schools in Omaha, Nebraska" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com. Feb 2, 2018. Retrieved Jun 10, 2024.
4. ^ The Omaha Channel (June 7, 2005). "OPS Moves Forward With Annexation Plans". KETV (Omaha, Nebraska).
5. ^ "Statutes of Nebraska, Section 79-409 - Class V school district; boundaries". State of Nebraska. 1891. Amended 1947, 1949, 1988, 1996.
6. ^ "Statutes of Nebraska, Section 79-476 - Class V school district; property subject to school tax; management of affairs of district; independent district; merger; procedure". State of Nebraska. 1891. Amended 1949, 1959, 1996.
7. ^ "Statutes of Nebraska, Section 79-535 - Schools within city of the metropolitan class; control". State of Nebraska. 1891. Amended 1901, 1949, 2000.
8. ^ Sarah Wilson (February 2, 2006). "Schoolyard Scrap". The Reader (Omaha, Nebraska).
9. ^ Ellie Ashford (November 8, 2005). "Omaha, suburban districts embroiled in conflict over annexation plan". National School Boards Association.
10. ^ Nebraska merged its former state House of Representatives into its state Senate in 1934; legislators are called "senators".
11. ^ "Legislative Bill 1024: An act relating to schools" (PDF). State of Nebraska. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-28.
12. ^ Sam Dillon (April 15, 2006). "Law to Segregate Omaha Schools Divides Nebraska". New York Times.
13. ^ Sen. Ron Raikes (Jan 30, 2005). "Introducer's Statement of Intent, Legislative Bill 1024" (PDF). State of Nebraska.
14. ^ "Legislative Journal" (PDF). State of Nebraska. April 6, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2006.
15. ^ "Legislative Journal" (PDF). State of Nebraska. April 11, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2006.
16. ^ Sam Dillon (May 17, 2006). "Schools Plan in Nebraska Is Challenged". New York Times.
17. ^ Scott Bauer, Associated Press (April 13, 2006). "Omaha schools split along race lines". WTOP, Lincoln, Nebraska.
18. ^ Michael Beckel (January 5, 2006). "The Maverick of Omaha". Mother Jones.
19. ^ See reference 8.
20. ^ AN ACT relating to schools (PDF). Nebraska State Legislature. 7 May 2007.
21. ^ "A history of segregated schools in Omaha, Nebraska" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com. Feb 6, 2018. Retrieved Jun 10, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

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