Omaha Area Schools
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Omaha Area Schools
My family and I are considering relocating to Omaha and are looking for a top-notch public school system. Â We have four kids, the oldest is currently in first grade. Â From our research, appears Elkhorn and Millard are good districts, but we've heard stories that the Omaha District is looking to take those over. Â First, does anyone have suggestions beyond Elkhorn and Millard for excellent public schools, and second, does anyone have any idea what possible impact a takeover by Omaha Schools would have on those districts? Â Ideally we would prefer a neighborhood within walking/short distance to playgrounds, shops, etc. but that appears to be limited to District 66 and/or Dundee--the latter being in a school zone we know little about (did hear to avoid Central High) and the former has limited housing inventory. Â Many thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice.
Re: Omaha Area Schools
Omaha won't take them over. It has been settled.cutiger89 wrote:My family and I are considering relocating to Omaha and are looking for a top-notch public school system. We have four kids, the oldest is currently in first grade. From our research, appears Elkhorn and Millard are good districts, but we've heard stories that the Omaha District is looking to take those over. First, does anyone have suggestions beyond Elkhorn and Millard for excellent public schools, and second, does anyone have any idea what possible impact a takeover by Omaha Schools would have on those districts? Ideally we would prefer a neighborhood within walking/short distance to playgrounds, shops, etc. but that appears to be limited to District 66 and/or Dundee--the latter being in a school zone we know little about (did hear to avoid Central High) and the former has limited housing inventory. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice.
For public schools, there aren't really any districts that are across the board better. You are better off looking at the schools individually. For instance, we picked a neighborhood we liked in District 66 (Westside) and compared all the schools there and I was shocked to see the Millard schools we would use now (Rockwell, Anderson and Millard South) were close to or better performing than all the Westside schools.
Here is a great spot to check the performances:
http://reportcard.nde.state.ne.us/Main/Home.aspx
You can do comparisons of up to 5 schools at once:
http://reportcard.nde.state.ne.us/Analy ... 8-0017-020
http://tinyurl.com/2vffhb
Last edited by joeglow on Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I went to District 66 also known as Westside High school. Â Its a GREAT school district small neighborhood elementary schools and a State of the Art High school and Middle school. Â Centrally located in the heart of Omaha
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As far as neighborhoods within walking distance of playgrounds, shops, etc, the Mockingbird neighborhood is a good choice. Â Within about 6 blocks of my house is an elementary school (Ralston District), playground, community center, grocery store, pharmacy, gas station, bowling alley, two veterinarians, restaurants/fast food, various other shops and stores along 108th, or I can go to Applewood at 96th & Q and have an Alegent Health Clinic, blockbuster, other stores. Â I think JSheets even used to live just a few blocks from me.
What part do you live in? Â I grew up on 106th Ave and Mockingbird.almighty_tuna wrote:As far as neighborhoods within walking distance of playgrounds, shops, etc, the Mockingbird neighborhood is a good choice. Within about 6 blocks of my house is an elementary school (Ralston District), playground, community center, grocery store, pharmacy, gas station, bowling alley, two veterinarians, restaurants/fast food, various other shops and stores along 108th, or I can go to Applewood at 96th & Q and have an Alegent Health Clinic, blockbuster, other stores. I think JSheets even used to live just a few blocks from me.
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That's just a couple blocks down the street!joeglow wrote:What part do you live in? Â I grew up on 106th Ave and Mockingbird.almighty_tuna wrote:As far as neighborhoods within walking distance of playgrounds, shops, etc, the Mockingbird neighborhood is a good choice. Â Within about 6 blocks of my house is an elementary school (Ralston District), playground, community center, grocery store, pharmacy, gas station, bowling alley, two veterinarians, restaurants/fast food, various other shops and stores along 108th, or I can go to Applewood at 96th & Q and have an Alegent Health Clinic, blockbuster, other stores. Â I think JSheets even used to live just a few blocks from me.
Heh, 93rd & Mockingbird here, my parents bought the place new in 1968 and my mother still lives there to this day. It's still a very nice neighborhood, I would've liked to have bought a house in that area myself but there was just nothing available when I was looking.joeglow wrote:What part do you live in? Â I grew up on 106th Ave and Mockingbird.almighty_tuna wrote:As far as neighborhoods within walking distance of playgrounds, shops, etc, the Mockingbird neighborhood is a good choice. Â Within about 6 blocks of my house is an elementary school (Ralston District), playground, community center, grocery store, pharmacy, gas station, bowling alley, two veterinarians, restaurants/fast food, various other shops and stores along 108th, or I can go to Applewood at 96th & Q and have an Alegent Health Clinic, blockbuster, other stores. Â I think JSheets even used to live just a few blocks from me.
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Dto do not feel left out. I was born in Illinois and schooled half my life there. When I moved here with my folks I attended Valley View. The kids going to Valley were real quick. I also lived at 32 and t area and went to Indian hills and graduated from Bryan High. In my own opinion Westside has better education. On the other hand I believe kids can excell in ops schools but I think the parents need to be involved. Anyway that is my opinion and I do not have kids of my own so take it with a grain of salt. peace out matt
And a 40% drop out rate! Â2Adam29 wrote:I'm currently a Senior at Central, so I can say without a doubt that it's a great school. It has a beautiful history, and the mix of cultures is one of the most important lessons you can learn in life. I strongly recommend Central if you're looking for a quality public high school.
You better be able to show an immediate economic payback on that art and theater or ND and joe will be throwing out statistics showing how creativity is adversely impacting their home values.Swift wrote:They're one of the best schools in the state when it comes to art and theater.
-Big E
Stable genius.
No need. Â I have already accepted the fact that government schools are a sinkhole that run on waste and inefficiency. Â Unfortunately, we, as a nation, are more interested in playing partisan politics over them instead of the taking radical steps needed to improve them (even though the majority of the other 1st world countries show us what actually works).Big E wrote:You better be able to show an immediate economic payback on that art and theater or ND and joe will be throwing out statistics showing how creativity is adversely impacting their home values.Swift wrote:They're one of the best schools in the state when it comes to art and theater.
-Big E
I think it has less to do with the schools and more to do with the worthless parents. Â The problem with the schools is that they waste money on kids that don't belong in high school. Â I went to Creighton Prep and I will assure you there were plenty of idiots that graduated. Â I know people that couldn't reason their way out of a paper bag that graduated from Central though...
If a highschool degree is worth as much as the dumbest person to have graduated - a degree from Central is toilet paper. Â
with that said - a degree from Prep is 2 ply toilet paper... Â But at least Creighton Prep idiot graduates have either lots of money or excellent athletic talent.
If a highschool degree is worth as much as the dumbest person to have graduated - a degree from Central is toilet paper. Â
with that said - a degree from Prep is 2 ply toilet paper... Â But at least Creighton Prep idiot graduates have either lots of money or excellent athletic talent.
I think they are a luxury. Â I have seen the studies that show people involved with liberal arts get better grades. Â That said, the people I knew who took those programs did so more because they had involved parents who encouraged it. Â Thus, I think the better grades have more to do with involved parents than the programs themselves.Big E wrote:I'd actually be kind of curious to hear your stance on the creative arts (visual, instrumental, choral, etc) in public schools. There has to be more behind your thoughts than "sinkhole".
-Big E
I have no problem with schools offering courses in them AFTER they get their **** together on the subjects that will determine if they live in a house or outside DTO Luv's place.
And out of further curiosity, exactly what classes determine whether one has their |expletive| together or not?joeglow wrote:I have no problem with schools offering courses in them AFTER they get their **** together on the subjects that will determine if they live in a house or outside DTO Luv's place.
And to which of DTO's places are you referring? North Omaha or Downtown Omaha?
-Big E
Stable genius.
I wasn't responding to youWhich has exactly what to do with what I asked?
But if you need to hear the truth...The vast majority of high school graduates will need:
Algebra
Science
Economics
Finance
Typing/basic computer
1000X more than art or music.
In my perfect world - there would be one smaller high school that would be a magnet school for children that showed extreme interest or aptitude for music and art - they would learn math and science of course but the main focus would be on art.
-Classes that allow them to function as a productive member of society:Big E wrote: And out of further curiosity, exactly what classes determine whether one has their |expletive| together or not?
Math
Science
Social Studies
History
etc.
I was attempting to be facetious.Big E wrote:And to which of DTO's places are you referring? North Omaha or Downtown Omaha?
-Big E
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More school info, please
Hi everyone! Â I am moving to the Omaha area with 3 boys. Two are in High School. Â I really like the curriculum and course offerings at North, but I'm worried about safety because there were mentions of gang activity. Does anyone have 1st hand knowledge of North who can speak to the safety issue?
Also, is it true they offer an international baccalaureate program there?
Also, is it true they offer an international baccalaureate program there?
Thanks for all of the additional opinions. Â For now we are putting aside the question of whether Central High is sufficient (not going to get in the middle of that discussion) and focus on whether Harrison or Dundee elementary would work for us. Â We are very interested in the Dundee/Memorial Park area so for the moment we are focusing our efforts on learning more about that part of town.
If you can afford it, the Dundee, Happy Hollow, Memorial, Fairacres area has to be the absolute nicest of the older parts of the city! I know people in those areas, and it's everything from nice classic foursquares, to brick and stone castles, some brick and stucco Tudors in there, some postwar contemporaries, and -- -- I love the street lamps!cutiger89 wrote:Harrison or Dundee elementary would work for us. Â We are very interested in the Dundee/Memorial Park area so for the moment we are focusing our efforts on learning more about that part of town.
Bemis Park and Gold Coast are nice too, but ...
Swift - heres the thing - I found out that Millard West (and I guess many other highschools) have added economics and business law to their electives. Â In an age where we have idiots signing ARMs and contracts that they don't understand - I think its time we focused on teaching the next generation to be a little wiser than the one ahead of them.
As for your study - most of these types of studies are basically worthless. Â Before I tell you why - let me tell you about the Cheerios study linking eating Cheerios to healthy bones and teeth... Â You probably already guessed it was the milk causing the healthy bones and teeth - not the cheerios.
Same thing in your study - you have parents that are generally concerned and take an interest in their children's development with music - did the control group take an EQUAL interest in their children with something comparable like spelling or language? Â These studies are worthless because the control group is almost never really a true control.
As for your study - most of these types of studies are basically worthless. Â Before I tell you why - let me tell you about the Cheerios study linking eating Cheerios to healthy bones and teeth... Â You probably already guessed it was the milk causing the healthy bones and teeth - not the cheerios.
Same thing in your study - you have parents that are generally concerned and take an interest in their children's development with music - did the control group take an EQUAL interest in their children with something comparable like spelling or language? Â These studies are worthless because the control group is almost never really a true control.
I had a big long response typed up and decided to "not go there", but since Swift went there first, I might as well tag along. In the grand scheme of being productive citizens, almost nothing you learn prior to graduating high school is relevant to your life beyond high school. (I'm obviously not talking about the advanced placement people... this is the Average Joe we're talking about here.)
Finance: If you can teach an 18 yr old the power of compound interest (and how to balance a checkbook), that's 99% of everything 99% of people will ever need to know about finances.
History: I have had to unlearn everything I ever learned in a history class prior to college because of the sheer lunacy of the presentation. Where did the Indians go after the first dinner with the pilgrims? Straight to the casinos?
Math: After 7th grade algebra (yea, I took algebra in 7th grade, though guy), I learned absolutely nothing that is in practical use in my life today. I learned absolutely no practical use of algebra while being taught algebra, for that matter.
Science: The single most important thing you an ever take from a science class is a thorough understanding of the scientific method.
Social Studies/Govt: If you can spell Unicameral, you pretty much have this one down. I do think more emphasis should be put on how the govt works vs reciting dates and names.
Typing: Agreed, although I think we're about 5-7 years away from traditional keyboards being mostly obsolete.
I currently use more of the lessons and skills I learned in my "creative" classes than the rest of my education combined. You can always add knowledge, but it is very difficult to teach people how to think. Not a single one of the classes listed above ever dew a connection from one to the other, or taught any sort of deductive reasoning, and for the love of all that is holy do NOT think outside the box.
-Big E
Finance: If you can teach an 18 yr old the power of compound interest (and how to balance a checkbook), that's 99% of everything 99% of people will ever need to know about finances.
History: I have had to unlearn everything I ever learned in a history class prior to college because of the sheer lunacy of the presentation. Where did the Indians go after the first dinner with the pilgrims? Straight to the casinos?
Math: After 7th grade algebra (yea, I took algebra in 7th grade, though guy), I learned absolutely nothing that is in practical use in my life today. I learned absolutely no practical use of algebra while being taught algebra, for that matter.
Science: The single most important thing you an ever take from a science class is a thorough understanding of the scientific method.
Social Studies/Govt: If you can spell Unicameral, you pretty much have this one down. I do think more emphasis should be put on how the govt works vs reciting dates and names.
Typing: Agreed, although I think we're about 5-7 years away from traditional keyboards being mostly obsolete.
I currently use more of the lessons and skills I learned in my "creative" classes than the rest of my education combined. You can always add knowledge, but it is very difficult to teach people how to think. Not a single one of the classes listed above ever dew a connection from one to the other, or taught any sort of deductive reasoning, and for the love of all that is holy do NOT think outside the box.
-Big E
Stable genius.