Education in Omaha, Nebraska facts for kids

Education in Omaha, Nebraska is provided by many private and public schools. The first high school graduates in the Omaha area came from Brownell-Talbot School, which started in 1863. The oldest school building still in use today is Omaha Central High School.

History of Omaha's Schools

In the mid-1800s, Omaha began setting up schools for girls. The Episcopal Church started Brownell Hall in 1863. This was a private boarding school for girls. It was first located in Saratoga, then moved to downtown Omaha in 1868. Later, it moved to central Omaha. Today, it is known as Brownell-Talbot School and is the oldest school still running in Nebraska.

Saratoga School, one of the first public schools in Nebraska, began in 1866. It was a one room schoolhouse. Later, its playing field became a college football field for Omaha University. The university used this field until 1951.

The Academy of the Sacred Heart opened in 1882. It helped young women prepare for college. It served students from neighborhoods like Near North Side and Gold Coast.

Technical High School was Omaha's third high school. It was a very large building with a big athletic field. By 1940, it had over 3,600 students! The school closed in 1984. Now, the building is used as the main office for Omaha Public Schools. It also has programs for career training and adult education. Omaha North High School opened in 1924. It has many rooms, a cafeteria, a gym, and an auditorium.

Schools and Fairness

From the 1880s until the 1970s, some schools in Omaha were separated by race. This meant that many African American students went to certain schools like Howard Kennedy School, Lake School, Kellom School, Lothrop School, and Long School. Even later, schools like Tech High, North High, and Central High School had many African American students. People felt that these schools did not always have the same resources as schools where mostly white students went. Everyone wanted fairness for all students.

The Nebraska School for the Deaf was another special school. It started in 1870 and helped thousands of students who were hearing-impaired.

A Big Idea for Schools: LB 1024

In 2006, a state senator named Ernie Chambers suggested a new idea for Omaha's schools. He proposed a law called Legislative Bill 1024, or LB 1024. This law would divide the large Omaha Public Schools district into three smaller districts. The governor of Nebraska signed this bill into law.

The idea was that each new district would have schools that were close to each other. This would group the existing high schools in different ways. Some people supported this plan, while the leaders of Omaha Public Schools did not.

Soon after, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a lawsuit. They argued that because people in Omaha lived in neighborhoods that were already separated by race, dividing the school districts might make schools even more separated. They believed this went against United States law, especially the ideas from the Brown v. Board of Education case. However, the schools were already somewhat separated by neighborhoods. Also, students would still have choices about which school to attend within their new district.

Public School Districts in Omaha

The Omaha area has many public school districts. These districts manage the primary and secondary public schools.

Parts of Omaha are served by several school districts. These include Omaha Public Schools, Westside Community Schools, Ralston Public Schools, Millard Public Schools, and Elkhorn Public Schools.

Other Public Schools

• Nebraska School for the Deaf - This school closed in 1998.

Private Schools in Omaha

There are many private schools in Omaha. These include religious schools and other types of private schools.

Catholic Schools

All Catholic schools in Omaha are run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha.

Weekend Learning Programs

The Omaha Japanese School is a special program for Japanese students. It offers classes on weekends at the St. Mark Lutheran Church in Omaha. This program is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education.