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Willa Cather Elementary School

Public | PK-5 | 458 students

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Community Rating

5 stars


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5 reviews of this school


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Posted September 18, 2008

Cather Core Academy curriculum is wonderful. My child is not only learning but is retaining the information taught. The children are exposed to different artists and composers as well as geography and social studies. I would like to see more computer skills and foreign language taught at Cather for all the students. The Core teachers are great and communicate with us on a regular basis.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 30, 2007

Cather Core Academy is the best kept secret in the Millard School District (well, it was until now!). This program offers very structured learning. All students are expected to sit at a desk for their learning (as opposed to moving from one station to the next for learning). The phonogram program is simply amazing and it helped my kindergartner to start reading this month. Even if he doesn t know a particular word, he can use the phonograms and sound it out. The kindergarten program also includes spelling tests on 15 new words each week. The program even has the kindergartners starting to do basic diagramming of sentences. You can expect homework 3 nights a week, even in kindergarten. In addition to the basic Core areas, my kindergartner has also had special units on Strategies, Music, PE, Art, and Technology. The Core program does require/expect great amounts parental involvement. It s awesome!
—Submitted by Rachel, a parent


Posted October 20, 2005

The Core Academy at Willa Cather provides children with a strong foundation of the basics in which children have mastery of the material rather than just being introduced to the material. The Core Units studies in Social Studies and Science are phenominal. The learning environment is outstanding. I encourage every parent to go in and observe the teaching in action. The best part is my children come home excited and telling me the things they learned. Expectations are set high and children meet them - it is so awesome!
—Submitted by Rhonda Couch, a parent


Posted March 19, 2005

Cather is the home of the Core Academy program which uses the Spaulding Method and the Hirsch Foundation curriculum. We highly recommend this teacher directed program.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 20, 2004

We believe the Core Program at Willa Cather is a fantastic foundation for elementary age children! It is like sending your child to private school! We can't say enough good things about the principal, or our child's kindergarten teacher. If you have the opportunity to send your child here, check it out! The Core parents are involved. The staff makes you feel very appreciated and welcome.
—Submitted by Jody Wikoff, a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 72% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
88%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 77% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
88%

2010

 
 
95%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Nebraska used the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) assessments to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in reading and math; in grades 4, 8 and 11 in writing; and in grades 5, 8 and 11 in science. The NeSA assessments are standards-based tests, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nebraska. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Nebraska's state standards

Source: Nebraska Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 72% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
91%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 77% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
88%

2010

 
 
81%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Nebraska used the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) assessments to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in reading and math; in grades 4, 8 and 11 in writing; and in grades 5, 8 and 11 in science. The NeSA assessments are standards-based tests, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nebraska. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Nebraska's state standards

Source: Nebraska Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 75% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
80%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 76% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
84%

2010

 
 
89%
Science

The state average for Science was 67% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Nebraska used the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) assessments to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in reading and math; in grades 4, 8 and 11 in writing; and in grades 5, 8 and 11 in science. The NeSA assessments are standards-based tests, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nebraska. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Nebraska's state standards

Source: Nebraska Department of Education

Math

All Studentsn/a
Femalen/a
Malen/a
Hispanicn/a
White, not Hispanicn/a
Students eligible for free and reduced lunchn/a
English language learnersn/a

Reading

All Studentsn/a
Femalen/a
Malen/a
Hispanicn/a
White, not Hispanicn/a
Students eligible for free and reduced lunchn/a
English language learnersn/a
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Nebraska used the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) assessments to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in reading and math; in grades 4, 8 and 11 in writing; and in grades 5, 8 and 11 in science. The NeSA assessments are standards-based tests, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nebraska. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups were identified by the Nebraska Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Nebraska's state standards

Source: Nebraska Department of Education

Math

All Studentsn/a
Femalen/a
Malen/a
Hispanicn/a
White, not Hispanicn/a
Students eligible for free and reduced lunchn/a
English language learnersn/a

Reading

All Studentsn/a
Femalen/a
Malen/a
Hispanicn/a
White, not Hispanicn/a
Students eligible for free and reduced lunchn/a
English language learnersn/a
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Nebraska used the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) assessments to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in reading and math; in grades 4, 8 and 11 in writing; and in grades 5, 8 and 11 in science. The NeSA assessments are standards-based tests, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nebraska. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups were identified by the Nebraska Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Nebraska's state standards

Source: Nebraska Department of Education

Math

All Studentsn/a
Femalen/a
Malen/a
Hispanicn/a
White, not Hispanicn/a
Students eligible for free and reduced lunchn/a
Special education studentsn/a
English language learnersn/a

Reading

All Studentsn/a
Femalen/a
Malen/a
Black, not Hispanic)n/a
Hispanicn/a
White, not Hispanicn/a
Students eligible for free and reduced lunchn/a
Special education studentsn/a
English language learnersn/a

Science

All Studentsn/a
Femalen/a
Malen/a
White, not Hispanicn/a
Students eligible for free and reduced lunchn/a
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Nebraska used the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) assessments to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in reading and math; in grades 4, 8 and 11 in writing; and in grades 5, 8 and 11 in science. The NeSA assessments are standards-based tests, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nebraska. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups were identified by the Nebraska Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Nebraska's state standards

Source: Nebraska Department of Education

Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 83% 75%
Asian/Pacific Islander 9% 2%
Hispanic 5% 14%
Black 3% 8%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0% 2%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 16%N/A38%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 16N/A14
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

3030 South 139th Plaza
Omaha, NE 68144
Phone: (402) 715-1315

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