OPS ponders the future

The future of four Omaha Public Schools was up for discussion Monday afternoon.

Omaha Northwest High School could become a magnet school that allows students to earn both their high school diploma and an associate's degree in four years. Nathan Hale Middle School could become the middle school magnet center to get students ready for the rigors of that program.

And Omaha Central High School and Lewis and Clark Middle School may become the next Nebraska schools to join the network of rigorous International Baccalaureate schools. Students graduating with an IB diploma often have the opportunity to start college with sophomore standing.

No decisions were made Monday. The board reviewed the recommendations of its Student Assignment Plan writing team.

The Student Assignment Plan was developed just prior to the end of desegregation busing and is the way the Omaha district determines school choice.

If adopted, the district would use already committed private funding for the Central and Lewis and Clark program changes and would seek federal grant funding for the changes at Northwest and Nathan Hale.

Contact the writer:

444-1037, michaela.saunders@owh.com