Is South High School a good school?

South High School ranks in the bottom 1.2% of Nebraska high schools.

How many students attend South High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 2,495 students attended South High School.

What is the racial makeup of South High School?

Students at South High School are 87% Hispanic, 7% White, 4% African American, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into South High School?

South High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Ashland Park/Robbins Elementary School Elementary : Bancroft Elementary School Elementary : Beals Elementary School Elementary : Castelar Elementary School Elementary : Gomez Heritage Elementary School Elementary : Jefferson Elementary School Elementary : Spring Lake Magnet Center Middle : R M Marrs Magnet Middle School

South High School

Summary:

South High School is a public high school in Omaha, Nebraska, serving 2,686 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Omaha Public Schools district, which is ranked 177 out of 182 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South High School has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing high schools in Nebraska, with only 13.04% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts and 11.26% proficient or better in ACT Mathematics, compared to 20.03% and 14.41% for the Omaha Public Schools district, respectively. The school's four-year graduation rate has been low, ranging from 71.6% to 88.1%, and it has extremely high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 21.1% to 62.7%. These challenges are particularly pronounced for certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students and students with low socioeconomic status.

In comparison, nearby Bryan High School and Central High School, which are also part of the Omaha Public Schools district, have significantly higher academic performance. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 35.27% of 11th-grade students at Central High School were proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts, compared to only 13.04% at South High School. Addressing the systemic issues at South High School will require a comprehensive approach, including targeted interventions and a focus on improving the overall educational experience for all students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4519 S 24th St
Omaha, NE 68107-1894

(531) 299-2780

District: Omaha Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
166^th of 168 Nebraska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,339

Feeder schools for South High School:

Elementary:	Ashland Park/Robbins Elementary School
	Bancroft Elementary School
	Beals Elementary School
	Castelar Elementary School
	More...
	Gomez Heritage Elementary School
	Jefferson Elementary School
	Spring Lake Magnet Center
Middle:	R M Marrs Magnet Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.9

Number of students: 2,495

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

86.7%

White:

7.3%

African American:

3.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 76.1%

See top rated Nebraska high schools

Compare South High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details South High School ranks worse than 98.8% of high schools in Nebraska. It also ranks 5^th among 7 ranked high schools in the Omaha Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 0.86. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at South High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (86.7%), White (7.3%), African American (3.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South High School is 17.9, which is the 8^th best among 7 high schools in the Omaha Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare South High School employs 138.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South High School is $17,339, which is the 3^rd highest among 7 high schools in the Omaha Public Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South High School:

SchoolDigger ranks South High School 166^th of 168 Nebraska public high schools. (See South High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Omaha Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Omaha Public Schools 177^th of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for South High School.

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Rank History for South High School

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Rank History for all students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	24.34	228^th	249	8.4%
2007	8.37	243^rd	247	1.6%
2008	12.54	247^th	252	2.0%
2009	10.37	249^th	251	0.8%
2010	5.11	248^th	249	0.4%
2011	0.72	246^th	252	2.4%
2012	2.09	237^th	245	3.3%
2013	1.76	241^st	247	2.4%
2014	0.14	245^th	247	0.8%
2015	2.07	235^th	242	2.9%
2016	2.84	238^th	246	3.3%
2017	4.63	214^th	219	2.3%
2018	1.49	217^th	219	0.9%
2019	2.56	215^th	217	0.9%
2021	1.64	209^th	209	0.0%
2022	1.87	202^nd	202	0.0%
2023	13.23	197^th	215	8.4%
2024	0.86	166^th	168	1.2%

See the entire list of Nebraska High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	27.45	21^st	26	19.2%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	11.57	75^th	79	5.1%
2019	14.46	78^th	82	4.9%
2021	10.13	82^nd	83	1.2%
2022	11.17	73^rd	74	1.4%
2023	12.56	84^th	89	5.6%
2024	10.10	58^th	62	6.5%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	2.42	141^st	144	2.1%
2019	3.17	140^th	142	1.4%
2021	2.12	138^th	138	0.0%
2022	2.92	131^st	132	0.8%
2023	4.40	132^nd	136	2.9%
2024	1.74	91^st	93	2.2%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	2.55	137^th	138	0.7%
2019	3.65	137^th	140	2.1%
2021	2.75	129^th	130	0.8%
2022	2.92	135^th	135	0.0%
2023	2.66	133^rd	135	1.5%
2024	2.62	90^th	93	3.2%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	31.34	7^th	13	46.2%
2019	47.18	7^th	14	50.0%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	16.52	38^th	41	7.3%
2019	21.09	35^th	43	18.6%
2021	13.35	38^th	38	0.0%
2022	11.18	40^th	41	2.4%
2023	16.76	38^th	41	7.3%
2024	12.48	32^nd	33	3.0%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	0.76	204^th	205	0.5%
2019	2.91	204^th	207	1.4%
2021	3.07	198^th	200	1.0%
2022	1.86	196^th	196	0.0%
2023	6.39	200^th	206	2.9%
2024	4.09	122^nd	125	2.4%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Nebraska Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Thursday, May 16, 2019

It’s the best Close Quote

by a citizen
Tuesday, March 25, 2014

I love Omaha South! Best school in Omaha! There is so much diversity all around you and it really helps with your learning! The school has some of the best teachers who are always there for you when you need them. Close Quote

by a student
Wednesday, January 5, 2011

i love this school...all the teachers are great.i love it Close Quote

Enrollment information for South High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	995	164	23	134	19	n/a	n/a	0	1335
1989	926	210	15	158	13	n/a	n/a	0	1322
1990	859	208	14	157	12	n/a	n/a	0	1250
1991	804	286	14	174	12	n/a	n/a	0	1290
1992	803	290	16	175	6	n/a	n/a	0	1290
1993	768	316	16	168	11	n/a	n/a	0	1279
1994	799	333	15	174	20	n/a	n/a	0	1341
1995	791	306	15	206	18	n/a	n/a	0	1336
1996	791	306	15	206	18	n/a	n/a	0	1336
1997	785	285	14	273	17	n/a	n/a	0	1374
1998	763	283	14	288	19	n/a	n/a	0	1367
1999	748	288	14	151	24	n/a	n/a	165	1390
2000	748	340	12	355	22	n/a	n/a	0	1477
2001	680	347	10	471	26	n/a	n/a	0	1534
2002	599	296	7	654	31	n/a	n/a	0	1587
2003	599	296	7	654	31	n/a	n/a	0	1587
2004	629	283	4	720	40	n/a	n/a	0	1676
2005	655	343	4	793	38	n/a	n/a	0	1833
2006	635	362	6	835	36	n/a	n/a	0	1874
2007	550	391	11	898	38	n/a	n/a	0	1888
2008	468	328	17	885	35	n/a	n/a	0	1733
2009	399	325	43	945	28	n/a	n/a	0	1740
2010	348	332	74	1027	34	n/a	n/a	0	1815
2011	293	292	94	1215	26	2	79	0	2001
2012	308	266	106	1420	31	1	80	0	2212
2013	287	271	108	1624	36	1	88	0	2415
2014	269	260	99	1662	46	0	81	0	2417
2015	263	261	78	1858	40	1	59	0	2560
2016	272	248	53	1893	43	1	48	0	2558
2017	245	213	38	2037	33	0	51	0	2617
2018	250	182	28	2161	33	0	44	0	2698
2019	255	150	22	2274	37	0	50	0	2788
2020	278	144	20	2466	36	0	40	0	2984
2021	278	140	15	2466	37	0	39	0	2975
2022	244	136	14	2533	30	0	30	0	2987
2023	219	101	12	2306	19	1	28	0	2686
2024	183	93	12	2162	11	1	33	0	2495

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1335	83.1	16.0	38.3
1989	1322	86.9	15.2	33.3
1990	1250	86.7	14.4	32.8
1991	1290	88.1	14.6	34
1992	1290	84.2	15.3	34.9
1993	1279	87.9	14.6	36
1994	1341	86.6	15.5	33.9
1995	1336	95.4	14.0	40.6
1996	1336	95.4	14.0	40.6
1997	1374	95.6	14.4	44.2
1998	1367	90.9	15.0	40.8
1999	1390	92.0	15.1	60.8
2000	1477	91.3	16.2	53.4
2001	1534	93.2	16.5	50.9
2002	1587	98.2	16.2	60.9
2003	1587	98.2	16.2	60.9
2004	1676	101.4	16.5	60.9
2005	1833	107.9	17.0	63.3
2006	1874	115.6	16.2	57.7
2007	1888	120.8	15.6	71
2008	1733	125.9	13.8	75.2
2009	1740	116.4	14.9	76.9
2010	1815	120.8	15.0	82.9
2011	2001	124.9	16.0	83.8
2012	2212	127.6	17.3	84.8
2013	2415	125.7	19.2	87.2
2014	2417	132.4	18.2	86.6
2015	2560	139.0	18.4	85.9
2016	2558	140.0	18.2	87
2017	2617	140.2	18.6	82.4
2018	2698	144.2	18.6	88.8
2019	2788	140.2	19.8	82.1
2020	2984	139.0	21.4	84.7
2021	2975	135.0	22.0	87.7
2022	2987	141.1	21.1	76.1
2023	2686	144.0	18.6	n/a
2024	2495	138.9	17.9	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1335	83.1	16.0	38.3
1989	1322	86.9	15.2	33.3
1990	1250	86.7	14.4	32.8
1991	1290	88.1	14.6	34
1992	1290	84.2	15.3	34.9
1993	1279	87.9	14.6	36
1994	1341	86.6	15.5	33.9
1995	1336	95.4	14.0	40.6
1996	1336	95.4	14.0	40.6
1997	1374	95.6	14.4	44.2
1998	1367	90.9	15.0	40.8
1999	1390	92.0	15.1	60.8
2000	1477	91.3	16.2	53.4
2001	1534	93.2	16.5	50.9
2002	1587	98.2	16.2	60.9
2003	1587	98.2	16.2	60.9
2004	1676	101.4	16.5	60.9
2005	1833	107.9	17.0	63.3
2006	1874	115.6	16.2	57.7
2007	1888	120.8	15.6	71
2008	1733	125.9	13.8	75.2
2009	1740	116.4	14.9	76.9
2010	1815	120.8	15.0	82.9
2011	2001	124.9	16.0	83.8
2012	2212	127.6	17.3	84.8
2013	2415	125.7	19.2	87.2
2014	2417	132.4	18.2	86.6
2015	2560	139.0	18.4	85.9
2016	2558	140.0	18.2	87
2017	2617	140.2	18.6	82.4
2018	2698	144.2	18.6	88.8
2019	2788	140.2	19.8	82.1
2020	2984	139.0	21.4	84.7
2021	2975	135.0	22.0	87.7
2022	2987	141.1	21.1	76.1
2023	2686	144.0	18.6	n/a
2024	2495	138.9	17.9	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,078 (9.7%)	$9,883 (88.6%)	$11,154
2020	$1,159 (10.5%)	$9,749 (88.2%)	$11,057
2021	$1,240 (10.0%)	$10,977 (88.8%)	$12,362
2022	$1,320 (9.9%)	$10,669 (79.7%)	$13,393
2023	$2,730 (15.7%)	$13,066 (75.4%)	$17,339

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 215^th of 217 High schools	Ranks 197^th of 215 High schools	7.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (South High School)	12.9	7.4	5.5%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Omaha Public Schools)	19	13.8	5.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	37.4	33.4	4.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (South High School)	6.6	4.1	2.5%
11th Grade Mathematics (Omaha Public Schools)	12	7	5%
11th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	30.9	26.2	4.6%
11th Grade Science (South High School)	6.6	4.4	2.2%
11th Grade Science (Omaha Public Schools)	10.8	8.5	2.3%
11th Grade Science (Nebraska)	26.4	25.3	1.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	2788	2686	3.7%
African American	150	101	32.7%
American Indian	37	19	48.6%
Asian	22	12	45.5%
Hispanic	2274	2306	1.4%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	255	219	14.1%
Two or More Races	50	28	44%

Schools Near South High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South High School	Public	9-12	4519 S 24th St	Omaha	68107	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(531) 299-2780	2,495	139	17.9		183 (7.3%)	93 (3.7%)	2,162 (86.7%)	12 (0.5%)	11 (0.4%)	1 (0.0%)	33 (1.3%)	0.9	166^th of 168 public high schools	1.2%		13.2	197^th of 215 public high schools	8.4%	31	$17,339	$2,730	$13,066
Transition Program South	Public	12	4875 F Street	Omaha	68117	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-2970	0	5	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Douglas County Youth Center	Public	7-12	1301 S 41st Street	Omaha	68105	Douglas County	Douglas County Youth Center	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 444-4767	0	8	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Bryan High School	Public	9-12	4700 Giles Rd	Omaha	68157	Sarpy County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(531) 299-2540	1,600	86	18.7		210 (13.1%)	145 (9.1%)	1,163 (72.7%)	20 (1.3%)	12 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (3.1%)	0.6	167^th of 168 public high schools	0.6%		2	215^th of 215 public high schools	0.0%	48	$17,658	$2,376	$13,909
Central High School	Public	9-12	124 N 20th St	Omaha	68102	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-2660	2,674	120	22.3		734 (27.4%)	741 (27.7%)	945 (35.3%)	91 (3.4%)	15 (0.6%)	4 (0.1%)	144 (5.4%)	8.8	158^th of 168 public high schools	6.0%		18.4	184^th of 215 public high schools	14.4%	26	$16,146	$2,208	$12,318
Bellevue West Senior High School	Public	9-12	1501 Thurston Ave	Bellevue	68123	Sarpy County	Bellevue Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 293-4040	1,558	95	16.4	30.1%	945 (60.7%)	128 (8.2%)	326 (20.9%)	30 (1.9%)	9 (0.6%)	10 (0.6%)	110 (7.1%)	35.4	115^th of 168 public high schools	31.5%		38.5	129^th of 215 public high schools	40.0%	14	$15,542	$756	$12,472
Esl Teen Literacy Program	Public	9-12	3230 Burt St	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-2620	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Independent Study Program	Public	9-12	3230 Burt St	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-9395	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Ops Virtual High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	3230 Burt St - Rm 474b	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	No	(531) 299-0269	0	4	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Career Center	Public	9-12	3230 Burt St	Omaha	68131	Douglas County	Omaha Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(531) 299-0330	0	23	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

South High School

South High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Omaha Public Schools:

Average Rating:

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Rank History for South High School

Rank History for all students at South High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South High School

Rank History for Female students at South High School

Rank History for Male students at South High School

Rank History for African American students at South High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at South High School

Rank History for White students at South High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for South High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South High School

Student/Teacher Ratio South High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for South High School

Impact of COVID-19 on South High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near South High School

Frequently Asked Questions about South High School

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