School Selection Guide
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This January, Omaha Public Schools students have an opportunity to apply for a new 2024-25 placement and visit the middle and high school Open Houses. School choice applications will be available the week of Jan. 8 at all schools and the Student Placement Office at TAC. Students at the transition grades will automatically receive an application at their school. Applications must be returned to the student's current school by Jan. 29 or TAC by Jan. 31. Families can also participate in Kindergarten Roundup activities at neighborhood schools.
All Omaha Public School students are guaranteed attendance at their neighborhood school. Every residential address within the district has an identified home elementary school, middle school and high school (neighborhood school) defined by school boundaries.
The School Choice process allows families the opportunity to apply to attend another school within the district. Families may apply to any school in Omaha Public Schools. However, the Student Assignment Plan determines a student's transportation eligibility and placement priority during the school choice process. Students are 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
High School Selection
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In the 2021-22 school year, Omaha Public Schools launched the College & Career Academies and Pathways with the Freshman Academy program. Academies and Pathways rolled out in the 2022-23 school year. This innovative high school programming allows students to explore career fields and gain skills that will be helpful in college, career and life. In the program:
- All students will experience a Freshman Academy and will engage in conversations with teachers and school counselors in selecting a program of study or pathway of interest without qualification criteria.
- World Languages, as well as Performing and Fine Arts opportunities will be accessible to all students, no matter what high school they choose.
- During their high school career, all students will engage in at least one virtual course.
- All students will have opportunities in Advanced Academics that could include: Cambridge, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment and Seal of Biliteracy.
- All students will experience a rigorous college and career continuum (courses and experiences become more focused as a student progresses through their education).
- All students will experience STEM education.
- All students receive a liberal arts education through required coursework.
- All students will experience deeper learning by maximizing their time and content exploration/mastery with consistent implementation of block scheduling across the district.
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.
Partner SchoolsFind your neighborhood school and see your partner schools below to learn more about the Academies and Pathways available to your student.
- Benson: Central, Westview, Burke
- Burke: North, South, Northwest
- Bryan: Northwest, Buena Vista, South
- Buena Vista: Northwest, Bryan, Central
- Central: Benson, Westview, Buena Vista
- North: Burke, South, Westview
- Northwest: Bryan, Buena Vista, Benson
- South: Burke, North, Bryan
- Westview: Central, Benson, North
School Selection and Transportation Timeline
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The following timeline applies to all students who are at the final grade in their building and will go through the school selection process. The timeline also outlines the timeline for students who are eligible for district-provided transportation under the Student Assignment Plan.
January – School Selection Applications
The school selection process begins in January. Any student at the final grade in his/her building (transition grade) will receive a school selection form for the following school year and may apply to attend non-neighborhood schools. Students in non-transition grades can also use the school selection process to apply to another school for the following year.February – School Selection Processing
All school selection applications received by the deadline, are processed in a lottery using the placement criteria.Placement Criteria
- Neighborhood school – placement is guaranteed.
- Students who have a sibling currently enrolled at the requested school and will continue to be enrolled for the next school year.
- Students residing in the partner zone (eligible for transportation if living greater than 1.5 miles from an elementary and 2.0 miles from a middle school for the 2023-24 school year)
- Students residing outside the partner zone (not eligible for transportation)
March – School Selection Notification
A student in a transition grade and those who submitted a school selection application are notified of his/her school selection results through U.S. mail.April 15 – Student Transfer Requests
For students who did not go through school selection or whose circumstances have changed, the student transfer request process opens for school enrollment changes for the following year. These requests are processed as they are submitted and approval is subject to available space at each building and grade level. Students whose requests are granted before June 15 and are eligible for transportation under the student assignment plan framework will be included in the transportation routing process.May – Student Transfer Requests Continue
Student transfer requests continue to be processed.June 15 – Student Transfer Requests and Transportation Routing Deadline
All enrollment and address changes for the following school year made prior to June 15 will be included in the transportation routing process.July – Student Transfer Requests Limited Transportation Eligibility
Student transfer requests continue to be processed but transportation eligibility is limited to already established stops and space on the bus.August – December – Student Transfer Requests and Enrollment Fair
The annual Omaha Public Schools Enrollment Fair occurs prior to the start of the school year. The fair is designed to assist students who are new to the school district and have not enrolled at a school and assist current students who have experienced a change in residence. The enrollment fair takes place at Teacher Administrative Center.Omaha Public Schools strives to protect the academic integrity of coursework once a semester has begun. Research shows that students who change schools while a term is in session run the risk of substantial academic problems. Once a term is in session, student movement between schools will be restricted. The approval of a student transfer request is subject to:
- space availability at the requested school
- the student’s academic achievement
- the student’s conduct, and
- the time of the year when the request is submitted
School Selection Events
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High School Open Houses
- Benson: Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6 - 8 p.m.
- Bryan High: Thursday, Jan. 11, 6 - 8 p.m.
- Buena Vista: Saturday, Jan. 6, 2 - 4 p.m.
- Burke: Thursday, Jan. 25, 6 - 8 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
- Career Center: Tuesday, Jan. 30, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
- Central: Saturday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- North: Wednesday, Jan. 17, 6 - 8 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
- Northwest: Monday, Jan. 22, 5:30 -7:30 p.m.
- South: Thursday, Jan. 18, 6 - 8 p.m.
- Westview: Sunday, Jan. 21, 2 - 4 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
Middle School Open Houses- Beveridge: Thursday, Jan. 25, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
- Bluestem: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 5:30 - 7 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
- Bryan Middle: Thursday, Jan. 25, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Buffett: Thursday, Jan. 18, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Davis: Thursday, Jan. 18, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Hale: Thursday, Jan. 11, 6 - 7:30 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
- King Science: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 5:30 - 7 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
- Lewis & Clark: Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Marrs: Thursday, Jan. 11, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- McMillan: Thursday, Jan. 11, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Monroe: Tuesday, Jan. 23, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
- Morton: Thursday, Jan. 25, 5:30 - 7 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
- Norris: Thursday, Jan. 18, 6 - 7:30 p.m. *Updated due to inclement weather
Omaha Virtual School Open House
(Middle & High)- Tuesday, Jan. 30, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
High School Family Engagement Events
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Benson High
- Burgers with Bunnies, Dec. 11, 4 - 8 p.m.
Bryan High- Academy and Post-Secondary Night: Feb. 16, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Burke High- Academy Showcase Lunch: Dec. 7
- Academy Pinning: Jan. 29
Central High- IBDP Information Meeting for incoming eighth grade families: Jan. 20, 9 a.m.
South High- Pathway Expo: Dec. 8, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
- English Classes for Parents: Thursdays at 6 p.m.
- Parent Engagement Meetings: Monthly on Thursdays
- Senior Success Saturdays: Twice monthly on Saturdays 9 - 11 a.m., counseling office
- South Omaha Show Choir Classic: Feb. 16 - 17
- Fashion Show: April 24, 6:30 p.m., Omaha Design Center
Westview High- Choose Your Pathway Career Fair: Dec. 7, 1:35 - 3:05 p.m.
- Introduce a Girl to Engineering Camp: March 26 - 27
- Arbor Day 5k/10k Walk and Run: April 28, 10 a.m.
- Freshman Pathway Induction Ceremony and Ice Cream Social: May 8, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.