The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Skinner Magnet Center
Skinner Magnet Center serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Omaha, part of the Omaha Public Schools district. The school operates as a regular public school, and while its name includes “Magnet Center,” available data does not specify a current magnet program or theme.
The student body is diverse. The largest demographic group is Black or African American students, followed by Hispanic or Latino students, students who identify as two or more races, and White students. Smaller shares of students are Asian or American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor was data on the share of students with disabilities or those learning English as a second language. A family considering this school would want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Academically, state testing data presents a clear challenge. Nebraska administers the NSCAS assessments in math and English language arts for grades three through five, and in science for grade five. At Skinner Magnet Center, the reported proficiency rate in every subject and every tested grade was zero percent. Compared to other districts in Douglas County, the school’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. There is no multi-year trend data available because the reporting system shows only a single year of zero-percent proficiency, so it is not possible to see whether this is a new or persistent pattern. A parent should discuss this directly with the school and the district to understand the instructional context and any recent changes. The district itself has launched the “Moonshot” initiative, a commitment to having all students reading on grade level by 2030 through the Science of Reading and structured literacy, which represents a district-wide shift in how reading is taught across elementary grades.
The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Classes run from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, with a typical distribution across grade levels.
Community and economic context are important for understanding the school’s setting. The school is located in north Omaha. Omaha, as Nebraska’s largest city, is home to four Fortune 500 headquarters and a broad mix of corporate, financial, and logistics employers. The city’s walkable core is downtown and the Old Market, but the school’s neighborhood is outside that core, in a part of the city characterized by residential development. Housing in the school’s zip code is priced well below the statewide benchmark for Nebraska, and below the national benchmark as well; rents also run below state and national figures. This suggests the area is relatively affordable compared to other parts of the city and state.
The school’s governance falls under Omaha Public Schools. Charter status does not apply, and Title I status was not reported.
Because Skinner Magnet Center serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate data, and no chronic absenteeism comparison is available. The school’s offering is academically focused on the elementary core subjects, with no data available about specialized programs, course access, or staffing ratios. A family looking into this school should visit, talk with the principal and teachers about the literacy initiative, and get a firsthand sense of the school’s academic approach and climate.
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