[star_gazer]

Please don’t get me wrong, I like Millard area I go there all the time for shopping but I’d never live there. To me, it lacks personality and character.

You know... as in 'Breaking news, some personality shot 3 characters in east Omaha today, details at 10.'.

Seriously though... if you're looking for a good compromise between the 'character' of east Omaha and the amenities of west Omaha... take a look at the Sunset Hills neighborhood in District 66 (96th and Pacific area). A great neighborhood!... and still affordable/quality housing to be found! Outstanding school district!

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by Calvinist

The Millard School District is nationally recognized as very good. We also have several very good private schools, if you so choose.

Try to stay to the Western edge of Omaha for the best neighborhoods, nicest areas of town. Yes, there are some very good areas further east--but as a general rule, West is best.

If you want cookie-cutter middle-class white vanilla, that is true.

Also, the Millard School District is primarily a legend in the minds of those in the district. People outside the Millard School District are a little more objective about it.

[star_gazer]

The facts don't lie... consistently the highest ACT/SAT composites in the metro... most national merit semi-finalists... scholarships awarded... the only IB programs in the metro... the only public school Montessori program.

White vanilla? You know diversity is great... and Millard has plenty, thanks to option enrollment. But quite frankly, in some parts of the metro, there comes a time when too much diversity seems to have become a liability in schools. No offense.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by InTheO!

Hi there! I’m new to this forum but not to Omaha so hopefully I can help. I too have been lurking and reading here for awhile before I decided to jump in and post.

Omaha actually isn’t all that flat. Sure we don’t have mountains but it’s really a hilly place, I think it’s one of the hilliest in the country. The hills aren’t huge but when your driving up and down hills all the time you’ll see what I mean.

While I agree that Omaha is hilly, especially on the east side, there are quite a few other contenders for hilliest in the country: Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and many others.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by star_gazer

The facts don't lie... consistently the highest ACT/SAT composites in the metro... most national merit semi-finalists... scholarships awarded... the only IB programs in the metro... the only public school Montessori program.

White vanilla? You know diversity is great... and Millard has plenty, thanks to option enrollment. But quite frankly, in some parts of the metro, there comes a time when too much diversity seems to have become a liability in schools. No offense.

Actually, the only place you'll get that information is from the Millard School District.

[nelaw08]

In regard to the west is best comment, west Omaha is the same as any suburban atmosphere in America. Strip malls full of national chains and subdivisions full of identical houses. If you have asthetic taste, you will want to tear out your eyes and you and your wife will become depressed alcoholics in a matter of weeks.

[psulions2007]

You will probably find a lot of similarities between Omaha and Grand Rapids. Both are the metropolitan centers of their respective areas, both have similar sized population, and both are mostly booming with a few declining areas.

[mattpoulsen]

You know, why is it we constantly have to debate about what freaking part of Omaha is superior??

I go out of my way to not offend east Omaha. Yet, any time ANYONE mentions anything positive about west Omaha I instantly see about 4 messages with snide comments about the "cookie cutter" aspects of it or the artificial "legend" of its school systems. That or you're attacking the kids for being "spoiled" and/or on drugs.

Well, I love all of Omaha. And I'm sorry, but west Omaha does have excellent schools. As stargazer pointed out, numbers don't lie. That does not imply that OPS has poor schools, but why do some feel it necessary to tear down Millard, Elkhorn, Westside, Papio and etc. in order to feel secure with your district?

And why exactly are people outside of Millard more objective about Millard??? Its pretty clear you have an anti-west Omaha bias, which is completely fine, but don't suggest for a second that your opinion is any more objective than mine or stargazers.

Its as though we are suppose to be apologetic for liking our neighborhoods and our children's education. It just gets old.

[laserdisque]

It also gets old having some of the west Omaha contingent always painting the picture of east omaha as being full of crack-whores, degenerates, lousy schools, and gangs. I understand where you are coming from Matt, but the coin does have two sides. I think that many of the comments were made in response to certain posters blanket statements about east Omaha in this thread and in others.

[mattpoulsen]

I actually think a lot of people seem to think a positive statement about west Omaha implies a negative opinion of east Omaha. There are a few on here that as soon as someone says Millard has a good school instantly get defensive and try to tear Millard down. And the statement will be completely devoid of any reference to east Omaha.

The truth is North Omaha does have a gang/crime problem. No one would deny that. Sure that gets discussed. But some seem to then take that discussion as an insult to all of east Omaha. To me, its not even an indictment of Omaha North High School, which is a good school. Its simply a statement that parts of North Omaha have major issues with gang's.

I also won't deny Millard has a lot of cookie cutter houses. But people live there because they choose too! Good schools, newer neighborhoods, open space, less congestion, less serious crime, and access to the things they want. Now, someone else may be happier in east Omaha. Why would I be offended by that?

I just wish everybody (on both sides) would quit with the childish crap and realize this does no one any good. Its like arguing which is better: an apple or a skateboard?

I just don't get it.