Need lots of info on Omaha please!!!!

jenwiseman · Post by **jenwiseman** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:38 am

HELP! We are possibly moving to Omaha from Tulsa in a few months....I have read most of the posts on the general discussion board, and have done lots of research. However, I am unable to get a feel for the best schools. Just from researching the internet, I understand the schools are all pretty good. Are the public as good as the private? We have a son who will be going to kindergarten in the Fall... am interested in a highly academic school, as well as sports-oriented. (mostly football and baseball) The three I'm looking at are Westside, Elkhorn, and Millard. YET-- it would be nice to live in the older established neighbohroods....
but I get the feel Omaha public is at the bottom of my list. ALSO- does anyone have recommendations on a pediatrician, general practitioner, and dentist!
As far as neighborhoods-- we're looking in the $300-$400 range. Any suggestions there would be helpful too. If you live out of the school district, do you have to pay for your child to go to that school? Thanks for all your input!!

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 10:00 am

Briefly, the Millard and Elkhorn school districts are embroiled in a possible annexation situation at the hands of Omaha Public Schools. This is one of the top headlines is Omaha news right now. District 66 (Westside) is in a coalition with these districts to stop the annexation as well, however, it would appear that they are exempt from the action due to legislation passed back in the 70's. I am predicting that an annexation will not occur, but instead a proposed 'super school board' will be created which will oversee distribution of additional funds to underperforming schools across all of these districts (predominantly OPS). At any rate, the public school situation could subsequently be perceived as somewhat volatile in Omaha. On the other hand, as has been said... all Omaha public schools are far ahead of the rest of the nation. When it comes right down to it, the cream of the crop are generally those which have the most outside support from the families of the students/surrounding business/etc. So, surrounding demographics are quite frankly (as is probably the case anywhere)... an important consideration. All that said, $300-$400k buys quite a bit of home in Omaha. If I were you, I'd probably consider Westside schools... which are first rate. I should mention, I am Westside graduate, although my kids attend Millard schools which are very good as well. I bought in Millard simply because, at the time I was buying my first home, I found the best home for the money I could find was here. Obviously there are many other considerations to take into account... I'm just assuming you're looking for a suburban setting. Omaha has many excellent 'more urban' neighborhoods as well... some people are looking for more diversity too, which to the surprise of many outsiders, can be found in Omaha.

Oh, as far as your last question... you can send your children to any public district you want. The school portion of your taxes will simply go to that district. I have a friend who used to live in Papillion and send his daughter to Westside schools (although he has since moved to the Sunset Hills neighborhood in District 66).

joeglow · Post by **joeglow** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 10:42 am

Regarding the pediatrician, I would HIGHLY recommend the Children's Physicians at 51st and Dodge (449-5959). My wife worked in the newborn nursery at Bergan Mercy and got to know a lot of the Pediatricians. The one that we picked (who unfortunately is not taking new patients) is in this group (we liked them so much we drive the 11 miles to them). The other thing my wife loved about them is that she REALLY liked EVERY Doctor in their group (their are four of them). Thus, if our Doctor is unavailable or not on call, we will ALWAYS have a Doctor we know and she really trusts (I do as well, but I do not have the exposure to them).

An additional benefit is if you decide to live in Westside, it will be a bit closer to you than if you choose to live out West.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:14 pm

Having gone to OPS I wouldn't say there's anything lacking. I'm glad to here you have chosen to move to Omaha, be it the suburbs or the city. I'm one of the more urban-minded people here so I would recommend living in the city. I'm sure if you could find many private schools for your kid to attend if you want to live in the city but not the deal with OPS.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:19 pm

DTO Luv wrote:I'm sure if you could find many private schools for your kid to attend if you want to live in the city but not the deal with OPS.

DTO, perhaps you should edit this sentence as I'm not sure it's clear what you mean.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:27 pm

Thanks. That's what happens when you get up and come back to type in the middle of a sentance.

What I meant was you can live in an urban neighborhood and send your kids to a private school if you don't want them to go to OPS.

jenwiseman · Post by **jenwiseman** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 6:39 pm

thanks for all your input!!!
I know that Brownell-Talbot is a very expensive private.... Any suggestions on the other private schools? Also, which public and/or private school has a good football team?
Where are some of the cool neighborhoods to live in close to midtown?

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 6:49 pm

Dundee. Can't go wrong with that.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:07 pm

Some other Midtown hoods are Underwood, the Gold Coast, by UNO, the Cathedral neighborhood, Joslyn Castle neighborhood. There are lots of other nameless places to chose from but that depends on your taste. I can't think of any specific private schools but there are some Catholic ones like Duschene (sp).

mchine73 · Post by **mchine73** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:24 pm

Neighborhood: Dundee/Fairacres Gradeschool: St. Margret Mary High School: Creighton Prep or Duschesne. I think these would meet the preferences. Prep is always competing for state in four sports(tennis, swimming, baseball, and football) and makes regular appearances in wrestling and basketball.

Dundee/Fairacres are well established neighborhoods with rich history and some the finest property in the state. Homes range from the $200 to $2million.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:59 am

since your son is just entering kindergarten ---- not sure i would be looking to much at which school has good sports as a lot of things can change by the time he reaches high school.

mchine73 · Post by **mchine73** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:20 pm

I don't know, Prep's been good for quite some time now. They've had at least one state championship in every decade since the 1930s.

jenwiseman · Post by **jenwiseman** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:31 pm

Prep is an all boys school, right?? I don't know if I'd do that to him

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:56 pm

jenwiseman wrote:Prep is an all boys school, right?? I don't know if I'd do that to him

As a current prep student, trust me, he'd get over it. Its really not as bad as people think it is, its actually kind of nice, I can actually study rather than checking out that hot skirt that one girl is wearing...

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:04 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote:
jenwiseman wrote:Prep is an all boys school, right?? I don't know if I'd do that to him
As a current prep student, trust me, he'd get over it. Its really not as bad as people think it is, its actually kind of nice, I can actually study rather than checking out that hot skirt that one girl is wearing...

Wow, being there must have tainted your mind…..

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:59 pm

pkiphd wrote:
OmahaJaysCU wrote:
jenwiseman wrote:Prep is an all boys school, right?? I don't know if I'd do that to him
As a current prep student, trust me, he'd get over it. Its really not as bad as people think it is, its actually kind of nice, I can actually study rather than checking out that hot skirt that one girl is wearing...
Wow, being there must have tainted your mind…..

Only during school...

guy4omaha · Post by **guy4omaha** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:34 pm

three at least....

Duchesne
Mercy
Marian

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 11:59 pm

Some other great urban neighborhoods include Field Club and Hanscom Park, and I at least know of Our Lady of Lourdes private school in the neighborhood, right on the park no less.

SPICE GIRL · Post by **SPICE GIRL** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:38 am

Westside before Elkhorn and Millard. You are closer to downtown and older neighborhoods. Westside also has an older area called Loveland with great old homes that have character. West Omaha is more strip malls and chains!

However, OPS Central which is downtown is regarded as a good school and has diversity along with strong academics. I would send my kids there. Kids are isolated way out west! You could then live in our great old neighborhoods like Dundee, Country Club and Field Club.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:45 am

Another private school that does very well in academics and athletics, serving western Iowa and eastern Nebraska: St. Albert Catholic Schools

jenwiseman · Post by **jenwiseman** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:18 am

That leads me to another question: Do a lot of people live over on the Iowa side and commute? How far is it? Is Council Bluffs (or is it Oaks?) a cool place to live on the lake?

joeglow · Post by **joeglow** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:37 am

jenwiseman wrote:That leads me to another question: Do a lot of people live over on the Iowa side and commute? How far is it? Is Council Bluffs (or is it Oaks?) a cool place to live on the lake?

MOST people (not all) consider Council Bluffs the crappy part of town.

Regarding high school, I went to Ralston public schools through 8th grade and Creighton Prep for high school. Having been through BOTH, I would highly recommend Prep. The relationships I have with both the school and ALL graduates of Prep are much greater than those of everybody I met who went to other schools (and this is THEIR words, NOT mine).

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:47 am

Council Bluffs, like any place, has less desirable parts. If I lived over there I would live on the east side of town near the bluffs.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:05 am

So as to not misrepresent..

Council Bluffs is its own city of nearly 60,000..It has some very nice housing subdivisions all around the area of Mall of the Bluffs..CB is part of the Omaha metropolitan area and indeed is an intregal and important part of it..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

jenwiseman · Post by **jenwiseman** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:09 am

Very good to know!!!
So as students of Creighton Prep, do you have opportunities or activities where you are interacting with girls from other schools?

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:13 am

jenwiseman wrote:Very good to know!!!
So as students of Creighton Prep, do you have opportunities or activities where you are interacting with girls from other schools?

I believe Prep students still have a relationship with Marian HS (all girls)..They used to cheer at Prep sporting events..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:22 am

Thanks for that glowing recommendation, joe.

But also props to DTO and Cowboy for the more positive input.

Council Bluffs really does have a lot of nice areas (contrary to some opinions) and it does put you a lot closer to a lot of the main "things-to-do" type of activities than some other parts of the metro. It just all depends on what you're looking for. I've pm'd you jenwiseman with a little more info if you're interested.

joeglow · Post by **joeglow** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:26 pm

jenwiseman wrote:Very good to know!!!
So as students of Creighton Prep, do you have opportunities or activities where you are interacting with girls from other schools?

-There are many extra cirricular activities that are done with the three all girl schools (Marian, Mercy and Duschenne). From a classroom setting, the ONLY class that involves females is a Seniors only class (where we interacted with Marian and Mercy).

Additionally, I ran into many people from other high schools at many sporting events for our schools. They went because the number of females who went to Prep games FAR exceeded the number that went to their games.

Finally, what I usually say to those who go "WHAT!??? No girls? I could never do that." is that it is nowhere near as bad as you would think. It is simply something different. AND, I think it is a great thing from a learning standpoint because the distractions are gone during the school day, but there is still female interaction AFTER school.

icejammer wrote:Thanks for that glowing recommendation, joe.

Note I said most people would. I agree that there are some nice neighborhoods. However, the fact remains that the VAST maority of shopping, eating and attractions are outside of Council Bluffs.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:57 pm

joeglow wrote:Note I said most people would. I agree that there are some nice neighborhoods. However, the fact remains that the VAST maority of shopping, eating and attractions are outside of Council Bluffs.

Comment noted, just don't feel it was necessary to begin with, especially with the caps on (and for the record, of all the people I know who live in Omaha, none would say CB is THE crappy part of town). And of course, in a metro of 800,000+, a town of 60,000 isn't going to have the "vast" majority of shopping, eating or attractions (although more and more is coming this way). It is, however, closer to a lot of those attractions than other parts of the metro. It just depends on what all you're looking for.

Calibraskan · Post by **Calibraskan** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:00 pm

joeglow wrote:
jenwiseman wrote:That leads me to another question: Do a lot of people live over on the Iowa side and commute? How far is it? Is Council Bluffs (or is it Oaks?) a cool place to live on the lake?
MOST people (not all) consider Council Bluffs the crappy part of town..

I've been looking mostly for rural property, to build on, so I really can't give you as up-to-date information on urban neighborhoods or specific schools as other experts on this forum.

I do know that Council Bluffs has some very scenic areas - lots of timber, some with incredible views, and nice neighborhoods, new and old. If urban prices reflect the same pattern as rural property, I would expect to get more for your money. (Comparable rural prices seem to be 25-30% less) I have no idea how the CB schools compare with Omaha - Others can comment on this, and name some specific "don't miss" neighborhoods.

"The crappy part of town" reputation comes mostly from the "crappy" strip of town (west Broadway) almost everyone goes through to get to any other part of town. In reality, I would question if the percentage of "crappy" areas is higher in Omaha or Council Bluffs.

If your work life has you in East Omaha, and the school situation is satisfactory I wouldn't rule out Council Bluffs for comparison shopping.

Back west of the river, even if only for neighborhood sightseeing, I would check out:
-'Ponca Hills' and adjacent areas (roughly north and farther east of 72nd & I680)
-Neighborhoods west of the Mormon Temple - Wooded, steep hills, established homes.
-Fontenelle Hills in Bellevue.
-Areas around 90th and Pacific or Dodge have some really nice new-er but well established neighborhoods.
Way farther out:
Skyline Ranches....at Dodge south of Elkhorn, Ironhorse....near Ashland golfironhorse.com/living.htm , Beaver Lake....south of Plattesmouth, Raven's Nest http://www.countryacreages.com ....west of Plattesmouth, Indian Hills.....west of Louisville. Numerous lake developments along both sides of the Platte River - too numerous to mention.

'Just throwing these out to flag areas to check out.....Others on the forum can better provide you with specifics on neigborhoods and schools. HAVE FUN!

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:32 pm

As far as high schools go, no matter where you live in omaha there is most likely a good highschool nearby. I would think that you should visit several high schools in the area and let your child decide. Most of the kids I know whose parents made them go to Prep ended up leaving for different schools, a lot of them coming to the high school I went to (another private school, guys and girls though). And when it comes to what district you are looking at, don't rule out OPS just from what you have heard. Everyone I know who went to Central loved it, which could be a possibility for you since you are looking for an older neighborhood, and central is near downtown/midtown. Westside (district 66) is a good choice also.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:55 pm

Yeah, I'm a product of OPS and I'm smarter and better looking than anyone I've ever met from Millard, Westside or any of the other non-OPS areas. ;)

-Big E

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:29 pm

jenwiseman wrote:Very good to know!!!
So as students of Creighton Prep, do you have opportunities or activities where you are interacting with girls from other schools?

There are plenty of opportunities for prep guys to interact with girls from other schools. One of the biggest ways for prep guys to meet girls from Marian, Mercy or Duschense (no idea how to spell it) is at dances. One of these schools is gauranteed to have a dance just about every friday for the first couple months of school. These are mostly after Prep football games, where plenty girls from other high schools go to. Trust me, freshmen year these dances are huge, it seems like going to the Prep football game then going to a dance was just about all I did for the first few months of school. At them I was lucky enough make some great friends from other schools, a lot of which are girls.

Another big way prep guys meet girls is through Operation Others (O.O.). Operation others is an organization started by prep students about 30 some years ago where each christmas, the students organize fundraisers and accept donations to give thousands of needy Omaha metro area families a Christmas dinner. This organization over the years has spread to all the Catholic High Schools in the area (Marian, Mercy, Skutt, Gross, Roncali and Duschense). This is another great way for Prep kids to meet not only females, but kids from other schools around the area, as well as help out in the community.

Hope some of this helps.

Asten · Post by **Asten** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:38 pm

Creighton Prep is of course a Catholic Private school if that matters at all. (would to me).

I'm a Millard North Alum. They've always had a strong Football team, and finally started winning state championships recently =).

mchine73 · Post by **mchine73** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:17 pm

Jesuit, very liberal minded. Plus lets be honest, Prep grads run the world!

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:48 am

Jesuits are some of the coolest people I've ever met. What with the cursing and the liberal-mindedness.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:46 am

Calibraskan wrote: "The crappy part of town" reputation comes mostly from the "crappy" strip of town (west Broadway) almost everyone goes through to get to any other part of town. In reality, I would question if the percentage of "crappy" areas is higher in Omaha or Council Bluffs.

As it realtes to CB, this absolutely nails it..And Omaha's most blighted urban areas make the 'crappy' parts of CB look like Emerald City (an exaggoration..But you get my drift)..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:43 am

Omaha has plenty of good schools. As a Prep grad, I could never understand the mentality of worrying about it being an all-male school except from those attempting to mock us. I will say that Prep is the most respected high school in the state and was very beneficial in allowing me an array of college options (education and reputation). Some have alluded to the fact that it is nice to not have some of the worries that a coed institution might have and that students are able to commingle with females outside of the classroom. I will also say that Prep is more than textbook education to many of its alum. The programs (Operation Others), activities, retreats, etc. make it a great institution and one that many alum associate more with than their college Alma Mater.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:40 pm

I suppose I should champion my alma mater, Skutt Catholic. It's sort of like a newer prep, only with girls. It's in West Omaha, so take that for what you will. I graduated from there in '03.

They're a class B school (smaller, so they never play sports against Prep or Westside or any of them). Sports wise, they're known for their wrestling (state champs for like the last 7 or 8 years), they're also really good at baseball and last year they won the class B state football title.

I think there a four Skutt alumns on this board (StreetsofOmaha, OmahaStylee, Locke, and myself).

Hawkeye · Post by **Hawkeye** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:54 pm

In CB, the best (though surely someone will disagree) public school district is Lewis Central in the east part of town. The best neighborhoods in your $300-400k range are almost all in the eastern part of the city as well, and generally in the Lewis Central school district.

There are some very nice developments inside Longview Loop, just east of Mall of the Bluffs. But the best homes in the price range you're looking at would be either in Woodhill, which is slightly northeast of Longview Loop, or still further north and east in the Bent Tree Golf Club area, which is just east of Iowa Western College and Interstate 80 on Hwy 6.

Now, to be fair, if you don't mind living in the CB Public School District (you could open enroll to LC if you wanted to or send 'em to private school) and want a relatively spectacular view of Omaha, then your $300-400 should get you a house on Oakland Avenue (if one is for sale) or the Parkwild development off of North 8th Street.