The history of the Catholic elementary schools in Omaha, Nebraska, 1858–1999

The purpose of this study was to present the history of the Catholic elementary school system in the city of Omaha, Nebraska from 1858 to 1999. The following questions guided this study: (1) How did the Catholic elementary schools come into being, evolve and maintain themselves? (2) What changes occurred in the student and teacher populations during these years? (3) What changes in the Catholic elementary schools were initiated by the Omaha Archdiocesan superintendent of schools? In reviewing the history of the Catholic elementary schools in Omaha, Nebraska from 1858 to 1999, the following conclusions emerged: the Catholic elementary schools developed because of the commitment of each individual parish; the Catholic elementary schools began because of the dedication of the religious orders who taught in the schools; the diocesan superintendents performed a variety of tasks but they were not responsible for the formation and operation of the individual Catholic elementary schools; population shifts caused schools to open and close; a shift in teachers from religious to laity took place and student enrollments changed over time