In Omaha, educational opportunities abound with a strong public school district, private and parochial schools, and nationally noted colleges and universities.

Learn more about Elementary & Secondary Schools , Education Initiatives , Business & Education Partnerships , Colleges & Universities and Training Resources .

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Greater Omaha is served by a multitude of public and private education options. For k-12, the area’s families and children benefit greatly from a dedicated system of award-winning schools and educators. This is proven time and again by Nebraska consistently ranking among the leading states in the nation for percentage of high school graduates. Approximately 128,000 children (88 percent of all students) are enrolled in a public or community school system of Greater Omaha, the largest being Omaha Public Schools.

Greater Omaha is also served by private schools operated by a variety of faith-based religious groups and nondenominational schools. Current enrollment figures for selected Greater Omaha public and private school districts are highlighted in the following table.

Enrollment of Select School Districts in Greater Omaha
Enrollment of Select School Districts in Greater Omaha
*Public*
Arlington Public Schools	602
Bellevue Public Schools	9,682
Bennington Public Schools	1,047
Blair Community Schools	2,360
Conestoga Public Schools	626
Council Bluffs Community School District	8,807
Douglas County West Public Schools	657
Elkhorn Public Schools	4,978
Elmwood-Murdock Public Schools	419
Fort Calhoun Community Schools	591
Gretna Public Schools	2,747
Lewis Central Community Schools	3,039
Louisville Public Schools	527
Millard Public Schools	22,146
Omaha Public Schools	48,075
Papillion-La Vista Public Schools	9,543
Plattsmouth Public Schools	1,811
Ralston Public Schools	3,094
South Sarpy District 46	1,065
Weeping Water Public Schools	391
Westside Community Schools	6,106
*Private*
Archdiocese of Omaha	15,111
Bellevue Christian Academy	102
Boys Town Schools	396
Brownell Talbot Schools	449
Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha	430
Omaha Christian Academy	239
Total	145,040
Sources: Nebraska Dept. of Education, 2008-2009; Iowa Dept. of Education, 2009; Concordia Omaha

Education Initiatives

There are many factors that can impact a child’s ability to benefit from the educational opportunities available. Several education initiatives exist in the Greater Omaha area to address these very issues.

Learning Community
The Learning Community is a political subdivision comprised of 11 school districts within Douglas and Sarpy counties. Based on socioeconomic status (not race or ethnicity) the Learning Community focuses on themed schools, similar to magnet schools, throughout the community. The state has committed more than $25 million to this initiative concentrated on improving student accomplishments and achieving socioeconomic integration across all participating districts. In addition, the Learning Community will benefit from collaboration with private sector and nonprofit partners that will bring additional resources and expertise to addressing educational needs.

The Educare Center of Omaha
This state-of-the-art early childhood center offers day-long, year-round care and education for economically disadvantaged children up to five years of age. The program is funded by state and local public entities, private donors and through sliding-scale fees paid by families not receiving Title XX assistance.

Building Bright Futures
Developed to address the myriad issues that prohibit or hinder students’ success, this initiative targets disadvantaged youth from pre-school through college. The goals of Building Bright Futures include:

Improve academic achievement
Increase the number of students who graduate from high school prepared for work or post-secondary education
Provide post-secondary educational opportunities to every economically disadvantaged high school graduate in the two-county area
Increase civic participation and community responsibility

Building Bright Futures is backed by prominent Omahans who have pledged to act as donors and help raise additional federal, state and private funds.

Bright Futures Foundation
The vision of this foundation is to identify Greater Omaha students of talent and need and offer them comprehensive support from high school through community college or university graduation. The foundation’s objectives are to increase the access to, and completion of, post-secondary programs by economically disadvantaged students. The high school component of Bright Futures Foundation helps with academic support, college application support, mentoring, counseling and work-study support. The post-secondary component of Bright Futures Foundation will provide post-secondary guidance and counseling services, financial aid and scholarship support, academic support, mentoring, counseling and work-study support.

Omaha 21st Century Education Council
Omaha 21st Century Education Council is an initiative of the education and workforce development division of the Greater Omaha Chamber. Its mission is to ensure a quality educational system that results in high academic achievement for all students in Greater Omaha. The goals include ensuring Omaha area schools continue to improve by monitoring their progress and quality, identifying any gaps in achievement and creating solutions to close those gaps. In addition, Omaha 21st Century Education Council works to ensure the Omaha community has a ready and able workforce to support existing businesses as well as targeted industries for economic development.

Junior Achievement of the Midlands, Inc.
Provided at no cost, Junior Achievement provides in-school programs to help educate young people in grades k-12 about business, economics and free enterprise. Junior Achievement also impresses the importance of staying in school and the relevance of school to work. Classes are taught by volunteers who are often the first business role models young people meet.

Business, Education and Workforce Partnerships

The Greater Omaha community benefits greatly from numerous public-private partnerships and education is no
exception. Businesses understand that to have access to a quality workforce, they must be active and willing
participants in creating relevant learning opportunities – especially in the area of technology.

Omaha Workforce Funding Collaborative
In response to Omaha’s workforce needs, the Omaha Workforce Funding Collaborative was formed. This initiative uses a dual-customer approach to move low-income, low-skilled workers into gainful employment while also helping employers fill critical workforce needs. This is achieved through strategic partnerships that efficiently sustain a qualified, capable, workforce for employers willing to meet an acceptable threshold for wages and benefits. These partnerships include community-based organizations, educational institutions, employers and foundations.

Peter Kiewit Institute
A combination of two colleges in Nebraska’s university system in partnership with business and industry, this higher education institute taps nearly 180 partners in the fields of information science, technology, telecommunications and engineering to meet the needs of the rapidly changing information technology field. The program offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in such areas as computer science; management information systems; architectural, civil, computer and electronics engineering; and construction-systems technology.

Applied Information Management (AIM) Institute
A nonprofit corporation created through a consortium of business, education and government, AIM Institute serves as a catalyst for facilitating changes and improvements to meet the IT needs of Nebraska businesses. The result has been the development of online employment recruiting services and the nation’s largest Cisco Networking Academy program, with 55 participating high schools.

Colleges and Universities

Greater Omaha and the surrounding communities offer some of the top colleges and universities in the region including:

Sixteen colleges and universities with a combined enrollment of more than 59,000 students
Two internationally recognized medical schools – the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University Medical Center

Current enrollmnet statistics are provided below followed by brief descriptions of area colleges and universities.

Greater Omaha Higher Education Enrollment
Institution	Enrollment*	Location
Bellevue University	8,278	Bellevue
Clarkson College	820	Omaha
College of Saint Mary	953	Omaha
Creighton University	7,051	Omaha
Grace University	433	Omaha
Iowa Western Community College	5,642	Co Bluffs
ITT Technical Institute	532	Omaha
Kaplan University - Omaha/Bluffs Campus	660	Omaha
Metropolitan Community College	15,055	Omaha
Midland Lutheran College	803	Fremont
Nebraska Christian College	164	Papillion
NE Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health	589	Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha	14,213	Omaha
University of Nebraska Medical Center	3,194	Omaha
University of Phoenix	1,200	Omaha
Vatterott College	276	Omaha
Total	59,863
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2008-2009 *Enrollment includes students seeking a certificate/degree as reported by NCES
Metropolitan Community College states that 2008-09 enrollment was 47,267 students: 31,267 credit students and 15,809 noncredit students. Source: http://www.mccneb.edu/businessandcommunity/metrofacts.asp

Bellevue University
Bellevue University offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate degree programs either on campus, online or through a variety of satellite centers throughout Nebraska and western Iowa. Some of the many program features include accelerated degree programs, an online library and cooperative credit-transfer agreements. Associate degrees credits are also accepted and credit is given for corporate and military training.

Clarkson College
A private co-educational institution, Clarkson College offers a broad range of health-science degree programs, including associate degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy, patient information management and radiologic technology. Bachelor’s degree programs are also offered in health-related business, medical imaging and nursing. Students may also earn a master’s degree in nursing and a post-master's certificate as a family nurse practitioner.

College of Saint Mary
College of Saint Mary, a private women's Catholic university, provides an education that combines professional preparation with a liberal arts core and an emphasis on life-long learning. Students choose from more than 25 areas of study and various class formats — traditional day classes, evening and weekend programs and an accelerated degree completion program. At the College of Saint Mary Lincoln campus, a weekend college program is also offered.

Creighton University
In the 2009 U.S. News and World Report, Creighton University ranked first among Midwest universities for its strength and array of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. This private university, founded in 1878, is within walking distance of many downtown Omaha attractions and consists of nine schools ranging from arts and sciences to business, law, pharmacy and health professions, nursing, dentistry and medicine. As a result, more than 7,000 students have access to a wide variety of career and advanced education options.

Grace University
An independent, fully accredited, faith-based university, Grace University is committed to a Christian philosophy of education and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as a degree completion program and an online-learning certificate program. Its students represent more than 25 denominational affiliations. Founded in 1943, Grace University is located on a 22-acre campus near downtown Omaha.

Iowa Western Community College
Located just 10 minutes from downtown Omaha , Iowa Western Community College offers more than 80 career, college-transfer and technical programs through its day, evening and weekend classes. Iowa Western also provides such amenities as an extensive Career Center , a licensed childcare facility, intercollegiate and intramural sports and a variety of extracurricular student activities. Students are able to take advantage of adult and continuing education courses on campuses in Council Bluffs and Clarinda or at educational centers in Harlan, Shenandoah and Atlantic .

ITT Technical Institute
ITT Technical Institute is a private college system offering technology-oriented programs in Greater Omaha. The
programs offered include information technology, electronics technology, drafting and design and criminal justice.

Kaplan University
Kaplan University offers 18-month associate degree programs in accounting, business administration, computer information systems, criminal justice, medical assistant, paralegal and interdisciplinary studies. Twelve-month diploma programs in practical nursing, dental assistant and massage therapy are also available.

Metropolitan Community College
Metropolitan Community College is a public, tax-supported community college for the four-county area surrounding Omaha . With more than 15,000 students enrolled annually at its three main campuses, Metropolitan Community College offers associate degrees and certificates in more than 100 programs including academic transfer, business, computers, culinary arts and management, horticulture, human services, industrial technologies, nursing and allied health and visual and electronic technologies. The college also offers continuing education courses and workforce development training. Credit and non-credit programs, job analysis, skill assessment, consulting and customized training classes are also offered to meet local and regional business demands.

Midland Lutheran College
Midland Lutheran College, located in nearby Fremont, Neb., is an undergraduate liberal arts college offering nearly 50 higher-education programs. Majors include everything from nursing and youth and family ministry to business administration and biology. In addition, numerous pre-professional programs at Midland help prepare students for graduate studies.

Nebraska Christian College
Nebraska Christian College is a faith-based college offering a broad-based education in the arts, humanities, psychology and history. There are three degree programs, a five-year Bachelor of Theology degree, a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree and a two-year Associate of Arts degree.

Nebraska Methodist College
Affiliated with Methodist Health System, Nebraska Methodist College is a private health-professions institution. In each of its degree programs, the college draws upon the broad range of clinical experiences available through affiliates of Methodist Health System and a variety of other community agencies.

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)
Established in 1908, the University of Nebraska at Omaha offers 127 baccalaureate degree programs, 66 advanced-degree programs and five doctoral programs. Approximately 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend UNO, which is distinguished as the only campus in the Nebraska University system to post consistent enrollment gains over the past five years.

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
Students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center earn degrees through the colleges of medicine, pharmacy, nursing and dentistry, the School of Allied Health Professions , the Office of Graduate Studies and Research and the $77-million Durham Research Center . The College of Dentistry is in Lincoln, while the College of Nursing has sites at UNMC’s main campus in Omaha as well as other campuses in Lincoln , Kearney and Scottsbluff. UNMC is one of the country's leading centers in cancer research, transplantation biology, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology, arthritis and bioterrorism preparedness.

University of Phoenix - Omaha
The University of Phoenix has approximately 1,200 students in Greater Omaha who attend classes at its Omaha campus, Sarpy County campus or online. University of Phoenix offers on-campus undergraduate and graduate programs in business management and business administration along with online programs in business, social and behavioral science, healthcare and technology. Unlike a number of other University of Phoenix campuses, the Omaha area campuses offer an extensive list of business management courses exclusively online. The university offers more than 120 degree programs.

Vatterott College
Vatterott College provides students with the skills to succeed in such rapidly growing industries as information technology, business operations, medical technology and trades such as welding, electrical repair and HVAC. Vatterott emphasizes practical, hands-on training for technical careers with flexible scheduling, financial aid and career placement services.

Training Resources

From initial employee recruitment, to pre-employment testing and existing employee re-training, numerous programs have been developed to ensure Greater Omaha’s workforce has the skills that businesses need.

Customized Job Training Program
Aimed at providing new and expanding industry with a skilled labor force, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development assists businesses in the development of customized training programs . Offered at little or no cost, qualifying businesses include those in manufacturing; service sectors with the majority of sales from interstate commerce; research and development; warehousing and distribution; tourism attractions for profit or nonprofit, public or private; administrative management headquarters; and transportation. Working with industrial and educational experts, services include the development of a customized curriculum, identifying qualified instructors, locating training materials, acquisition of specialized equipment, creation of on-site training facilities as well as screening, assessment and interviewing to ensure only individuals having the appropriate aptitudes and abilities are recruited.

Nebraska Worker Training Program (LB 1337)
The Nebraska Worker Training Program (LB 1337) , administered by the Nebraska Department of Labor, provides grants to assist firms in retraining and upgrading the skills of existing employees. The goal of the Nebraska Worker Training Program is to enhance the skill level and productivity of employees. Use of program funds is extremely flexible with the type and length of training programs, training vendors and training materials mostly being at the discretion of the company. Examples of eligible projects include:              Training required by the installation of new equipment and technology in the workplace

             Worker skill assessments
             Apprenticeship programs
             English as a second language training
             ISO-9000 training
             Assisting staff to access new markets
             Safety training
             Labor/management cooperation activities
             Benchmarking

An employer match of at least one dollar for each dollar of state funds is required. Wages paid to employees while in training; equipment, space or other facilities used in training; and supervisory personnel and materials provided by the company may applied against the company match.

Area Institutions
In addition to state-sponsored programs, businesses are able to draw on the experience and resources of two primary institutions within Greater Omaha – Metropolitan Community College and Iowa Western Community College. Both colleges offer a variety of existing training programs and classes. Customized training and development programs may also be initiated.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) provides employment and training services to help displaced workers, or workers who have been laid off, develop marketable job skills. Services include classroom, on-the-job and customized training, assessment, counseling and support services. In addition, WIA of Greater Omaha works with area businesses to develop training opportunities to help individuals enter the labor market. Employers who use WIA participants are eligible to use WIA training dollars.

Nebraska Department of Labor Workforce Development
The Nebraska Department of Labor’s Workforce Development division provides a wide range of employment services to small and large businesses alike. These services include statewide labor pool, job placement and labor market information along with offering business owners the opportunity to work on local employer committees to improve employment services to the community.