[RedRidingHood]

I am moving to Omaha this summer with my two childrent (7 and 9 years old). I would love to live closer to downtown and am wondering about school options. I would love to go with the public school system, but based on GreatSchools.org and the Omaha Report (Omaha.com schools report | The pulse of public education in Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster CountiesOmaha.com Schools Report), the majority of academically strong schools are out west. I would prefer not to have a long commute.

Does anyone have any recommendations regarding private schools? I looked at Brownell but won't be able to afford it. I would consider a good Catholic school even though I am not Catholic. I appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance.

[Old General]

My wife & I having raised our kids, I can assure you of one certainty: What happens before your kids go to school, and after they come home, is FAR more important than the school they go to.

There are a lot of excellent elementary schools in the east part of Omaha. The problem is that, in each one, there will be underprivileged kids that will bring those all-important test scores down. But that doesn't mean the education offered is bad. Take Jackson School, on 31st & Leavenworth, for instance. The overwhelming majority of kids don't come from homes where English is their first language. How in sam hill do we think those kids are going to achieve the highest standardized test scores in Reading.


If you want to live in the east half of Omaha, do. You will be surrounded by plenty of excellent schools. What's most important is that YOU are invested in your kids' educations.

[RedRidingHood]

Thank you. I completely agree with you that parents play a huge role. Where did your kids go to school if you don't mind me asking?

[Old General]

Originally Posted by RedRidingHood

Thank you. I completely agree with you that parents play a huge role. Where did your kids go to school if you don't mind me asking?

We didn't live in Omaha when my kids were in school.

I would recommend looking into Dundee Elementary - over on about 51st & California. I know that Mount View Elementary, at 52nd & Fort, is good. Florence Elementary, clear up near I-680, is also a good school.

I'm sure there are more.

[RedRidingHood]

Thanks again for the recommendation. I was wondering how you judge whether a school is "good." I just looked up Mount View Elementary, for instance, and it is rated as a 1 out of 10. Its hispanic students comprise merely 7% of the student body, and yet only 50% of the students pass 5th-grade English reading tests. I am not sure the best teacher placed at a failing school like that would be able to devote the necessary attention to students that excel. My experience is that the attention, rightly so, is usually diverted to those students who need it most, at the expense of others.

While I agree that home is very important, the reality is that both I and my husband work full time and thus the majority of the children's time during the week is spent at school. Please forgive the polemic, as I really do appreciate your advice on schools--just trying to understand how you judge whether a school is "good."

[Old General]

Originally Posted by RedRidingHood

Thanks again for the recommendation. I was wondering how you judge whether a school is "good." I just looked up Mount View Elementary, for instance, and it is rated as a 1 out of 10. Its hispanic students comprise merely 7% of the student body, and yet only 50% of the students pass 5th-grade English reading tests. I am not sure the best teacher placed at a failing school like that would be able to devote the necessary attention to students that excel. My experience is that the attention, rightly so, is usually diverted to those students who need it most, at the expense of others.

While I agree that home is very important, the reality is that both I and my husband work full time and thus the majority of the children's time during the week is spent at school. Please forgive the polemic, as I really do appreciate your advice on schools--just trying to understand how you judge whether a school is "good."

Hmmm... We seem to have conflicting information. I'm seeing that almost 90% of 4th Graders (for instance) at Mount View are reading at "proficient" or better, despite it being only 9% white. What I do know is that it's a small school (less than 400 students) with Boys & Girls Clubs on site, in an almost new building, that is highly reputed among its peers. It is also historically Afro-Centric, which is why I would have my kids enrolled in that school, if they were still little (because of the fact that I'm white, not despite it).

If, however, you are looking for an elementary school that is better equipped for a dual income family to drop off their kids for the day, I would suggest looking further west.

[saltine]

I went to howard kennedy. Is it still open? General you could spend the day there.. it is very afro centric.. but I wouldnt reccomend it and the thought of my daughter going there horrifies me. I also went to saunders (closed now) > It was a perfect fit. As for my reccomendation I have none... but this: you get to far east or north and your kids will be rubbing elbows with troubled youth... you get to far west and your kids will be rubbing elbows with fat heads. Oh and it may not matter... your kids may be bussed all the way across town to mix it up anyway. Do they still bus in O?

[Old General]

Originally Posted by saltine

I went to howard kennedy. Is it still open? General you could spend the day there.. it is very afro centric.. but I wouldnt reccomend it and the thought of my daughter going there horrifies me. I also went to saunders (closed now) > It was a perfect fit. As for my reccomendation I have none... but this: you get to far east or north and your kids will be rubbing elbows with troubled youth... you get to far west and your kids will be rubbing elbows with fat heads. Oh and it may not matter... your kids may be bussed all the way across town to mix it up anyway. Do they still bus in O?

Being predominately black, and being afro-centric, are two entirely different things. In addition, since 2005, Kennedy Elementary has become a radically different school than you probably remember.


Here's the deal. Parents who are paranoid (this is NOT a remark about the OP) about where there kids go to school tend to be asshats who feel entitled, and expect schools to do everything for their kids that they're too lazy (or entitled) to do. You're going to find those parents in every single school in the country.


These elementary schools in the east half of Omaha are kind of like Omaha North High School. Both the lowest-performing students, and the highest-performing students are at the same school. Omaha North is an absolutely phenomenal school - provided do do the right thing.

[Busguy2010]

Originally Posted by saltine

you get to far east or north and your kids will be rubbing elbows with troubled youth... you get to far west and your kids will be rubbing elbows with fat heads.

I got a chuckle out of this. To me a fat head is just as unbearable as a thug.

[Summer Martin]

What is a long commute to you? If 20 minutes is not a problem you could be out west easily... Also if your looking for a new home I'm a realtor here in town and could email you listings with your criteria...