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Very Good

#176 of 966 schools in NE

Top 18% in state

Willa Cather Elementary School

Elementary School · MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

3030 S 139TH PLAZA, Omaha, NE 68144

Enrollment

295

Student-Teacher

12.8:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Omaha

#14 of 146

public schools

Nebraska elementary schools

#120 of 530

In district

#6 of 34

MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Academic performance

9.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Willa Cather Elementary School

Willa Cather Elementary School stands out as one of Nebraska's top-performing elementary schools, serving 295 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Omaha's 68144 neighborhood. With an impressive MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10, the school ranks 57th among Nebraska's 974 elementary schools, placing it in the 94th percentile statewide. The school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.8 to 1 with 23 full-time equivalent teachers, supporting strong academic outcomes.

Students demonstrate solid performance across core subjects, with 77% achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading, while 67% meet or exceed proficiency standards in mathematics. Willa Cather Elementary serves families in an established residential area where the median household income reaches $79,042 and home values average $231,400. The community reflects strong educational values, with 46% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a low poverty rate of 7.4%.

Located at 3030 S 139th Plaza, the school benefits from its position within Omaha's thriving metropolitan area, offering families access to both quality elementary education and the cultural and economic opportunities of Nebraska's largest city.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.6Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.91 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics9.6Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency67%
Reading/ELA Proficiency77%
Overall Proficiency72%
Expected (poverty-adj.)47%
vs. Expected+24.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile93th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment5.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,075

Willa Cather Elementary School — Students at Willa Cather Elementary School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

26.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NE EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 67.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 74.7%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from NE state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
73%
ELA
75%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
67%
ELA
77%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.6/10.

How Willa Cather Elementary School Compares

See how Willa Cather Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
82th percentile in NE
Academic
9.6/10
9.6/10
Growth
7.6/10
Above average
Environment
5.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
26%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
23 teachers

Location

3030 S 139TH PLAZA, Omaha, NE 68144

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Willa Cather Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. OAK VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is MONTCLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, CATLIN MAGNET CENTER (rated 7.3/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Omaha, see our Omaha schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
MILLARD NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL Omaha 0.1 mi 5.7
MONTCLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 0.5 mi 7.7
CODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 0.8 mi 6.7
CATLIN MAGNET CENTER Omaha 1.0 mi 7.3
OAK VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 1.2 mi 7.9
MILLARD NORTH HIGH SCHOOL Omaha 1.5 mi 7.0
HARVEY OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 1.3 mi 6.6
OMAHA BAPTIST ACADEMY Omaha 1.3 mi 7.2
BRYAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 1.7 mi 5.1
MILLARD CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Omaha 1.6 mi 5.8
VJ & ANGELA SKUTT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Omaha 1.4 mi 5.2
ST WENCESLAUS SCHOOL Omaha 1.6 mi 4.8
BOYS TOWN SCHOOLS Boys Town 2.0 mi 8.6
BEVERIDGE MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL Omaha 1.6 mi 4.2
WEGNER SCHOOL Boys Town 2.1 mi 7.9
MARY OUR QUEEN SCHOOL Omaha 1.6 mi 5.3
COLUMBIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 2.0 mi 4.7
MILLARD SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL Omaha 2.0 mi 7.0
NORRIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 2.1 mi 5.7
COTTONWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha 2.1 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 68144 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$81,887

Median Home Value

$248,900

Median Rent

$1,138/mo

Population

25,468

College Educated

46.3%

Homeownership

66.9%

Avg Commute

18.3 min

Poverty Rate

7.1%

Median Age

40

Community Profile

The community surrounding Willa Cather Elementary School has a median household income of $81,887. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $248,900, with a median rent of $1,138/month. The local poverty rate of 7.1% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BEATTIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lincoln, NE 7.8
BEL AIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Norfolk, NE 7.8
CONESTOGA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Murray, NE 7.8
EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL North Platte, NE 7.8
HITCHCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Omaha, NE 7.8
LOUISVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Louisville, NE 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Willa Cather Elementary School

What grades does Willa Cather Elementary School serve?

Willa Cather Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Willa Cather Elementary School?

Willa Cather Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 295 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Willa Cather Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Willa Cather Elementary School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Willa Cather Elementary School rank in NE?

Willa Cather Elementary School is ranked #176 out of 966 schools in NE.

What is Willa Cather Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Willa Cather Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.8 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Willa Cather Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Willa Cather Elementary School has 67.3% math proficiency and 74.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Willa Cather Elementary School a charter school?

No, Willa Cather Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Willa Cather Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Willa Cather Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Willa Cather Elementary School?

26.1% of students at Willa Cather Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
56 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
26 Some Transit
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,549/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Omaha). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
295
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
23
Free/Reduced Lunch
26.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Douglas County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
District Enrollment
23,300
Schools in District
36
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,579
District Rank
#6 of 34

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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