High School Assignment Plan
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High School Application Process
Choosing a high school that meets a student's individual needs is an important opportunity in Omaha Public Schools. We know that students and families make their high school choice based on a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, programming and transportation. Students are guaranteed enrollment at their neighborhood school. Families may apply to any school. However, the Student Assignment Plan will determine their transportation eligibility and priority in the high school choice process.High School Application Timeline
- January 6 Parent/Guardians of every Omaha Public Schools eighth grader will receive an email with a link to complete their school selection for the following year
- January 31 Final date to complete school selection
- February 20 High School placement letters will be mailed to homes
Neighborhood vs Non-Neighborhood Transportation
Our district currently has guidelines for transportation eligibility to both neighborhood and non-neighborhood schools.
Neighborhood transportation is for eligible students who attend their neighborhood (home) school.- The plan increases transportation eligibility at all high schools.
- Instead of using distance, the plan uses streets to identify transportation areas in each high school boundary.
- Each transportation area identified is an area that is generally located farthest away from the school.
- The neighborhood transportation plan is below.
Non-neighborhood transportation is for students who attend a school other than their home (neighborhood) high school.
- The plan creates three partner zones each including three high schools.
- One additional school has been identified as a partner school.
- Students would have priority and be eligible for transportation at other schools in their partner zone and their home school's additional partner schools, also known as their "plus one school" (pictured below).
- For example, students living in the North attendance area would be in the same zone as Burke and South. North High School's plus one school is Westview. Students in the North attendance area would have priority and be eligible for transportation to Burke, South or Westview.
- The three partner zones and the plus one schools are listed below.
- All three partner zones offer students access to diverse programming at high schools across the district.
- The non-neighborhood transportation plan is below.
Partner Schools
Zone | Neighborhood School | Partner School 1 | Partner School 2 | Plus One School |
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Zone 1 | Burke | North | South | Northwest |
Zone 1 | North | Burke | South | Westview |
Zone 1 | South | Burke | North | Bryan |
Zone 2 | Central | Benson | Westview | Buena Vista |
Zone 2 | Benson | Central | Westview | Burke |
Zone 2 | Westview | Central | Benson | North |
Zone 3 | Northwest | Bryan | Buena Vista | Benson |
Zone 3 | Bryan | Northwest | Buena Vista | South |
Zone 3 | Buena Vista | Northwest | Bryan | Central |
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Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways
The Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways comes after an evaluation and refocus of current programming. It builds on what has been working well and where we can grow for the students we serve.
The proposed Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways align with high skill, high wage, in-demand future jobs. They give students the opportunity to explore a potential career field while gaining skills that will be beneficial in the next chapter of their story. In Omaha Public Schools, some high schools will offer academies, while others offer pathways.
Below, we have outlined the proposed Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways in each partner zone. No matter which school a student attends they will gain real-world career experience while maintaining the foundation of core classes and access to advanced academics, fine arts and electives. The zones are designed to offer students an opportunity to select from a variety of career clusters.
See the Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways page to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are the high school student assignment plan changes final?
This plan was approved by the board on March 16, 2021.
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How do I know which school is my neighborhood school?
Click here to find your school. Enter your address and a student's grade level to determine your current neighborhood school and your future “approved boundary”.
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In the new High School Student Assignment Plan, how do I know which schools my student is eligible for transportation to?
A student’s transportation eligibility depends on their home address and what school they will attend. Once you know your neighborhood school based on your residential address, you can determine your child’s eligibility. Students can receive either neighborhood or non-neighborhood transportation.
Neighborhood transportation is for eligible students who attend their neighborhood school and live in the transportation area. The plan increases transportation eligibility at all high schools by creating transportation areas. Instead of using distance, the plan uses streets to identify transportation areas in each high school boundary that are generally located farthest away from the school. Students attending their neighborhood school living outside of the transportation area will not be eligible for transportation.
Non-neighborhood transportation is for eligible students who attend one of their non-neighborhood partner schools. The plan creates three partner zones, each including three schools. In addition, the plan identifies an additional partner school for each student based on their neighborhood school. Altogether, each student has priority to attend and is eligible for transportation to the two zone schools and the additional partner school. Students attending a school that is not one of their partner schools will not be eligible for transportation.
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How does this Plan impact my Special Education student?
Students who receive transportation as part of their Individual Education Plan (IEP) will continue to receive district-provided transportation. Students will continue to be placed in schools and programs designed to meet their special education needs, and our district will serve students as close to their home as possible.
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How does the Partner Plan impact my student’s ESL services?
ESL services will not be impacted by this change. ESL services will continue to be available at all high schools.
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Can my child still go to our neighborhood school?
Yes. Placement in your neighborhood school is guaranteed at initial enrollment and during the annual school choice process.
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Can I still choose to have my student go to a school other than my neighborhood school?
Yes. Families may apply to any school in Omaha Public Schools. However, placement in a non-neighborhood school is based on space availability. If more students request a school than there is space available, then student placement will be prioritized in the following order:
- Neighborhood students
- Siblings of students already attending the school
- Students applying to a partner school where they are eligible for transportation
- All other students
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What if my child currently receives transportation to a school that is not a partner school?
Students will continue to receive transportation through the 2021-22 school year under the current Student Assignment Plan guidelines. Changes to the High School Student Assignment Plan will go into effect in the 2022-23 school year, as the new high schools open. At that time, students will only receive transportation to their home high school or a partner school based on the new plan’s guidelines. We will begin communication directly to families regarding impacts beginning in April 2021.
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Under the Partner Plan, what happens if I move during the school year? Will my child receive transportation back to their current school?
Our district recognizes that families move throughout the school year. Families may request to have their child remain in the same school following a move. However, in order to continue to receive transportation, the new address will have to be in the neighborhood transportation area of their current high school or be a partner school attendance area.