Westside Community Schools History

The Early Years

In 1946, residents living on the western edge of Omaha, Nebraska sought a way to maintain quality education in their rural schools. The Boards of Education of Districts 19, 31, 46, and 65 met to decide whether combining resources would better address individual differences in children. After careful study, a committee of  experts proposed a merger of the four districts into one. The study suggested that the districts utilize the existing school facilities for students in grades kindergarten through sixth. The study concluded that a new junior-senior high school should be designed and built with the specific developmental and academic needs of students in mind.

A series of joint meetings during the winter of 1946-1947 culminated in the merger of Districts 31, 46, and 65 to form Nebraska School District 66 in March 1947 (District 19 opted out of the merger). The first three schools in the new District were Oakdale, Underwood Hills, and Loveland, representing the three communities involved in the merger.

The junior-senior high school opened its doors in 1952. The school was built on farmland near 87th and Pacific Street. The current high school still sits on that site today. The new name reflected what was then the western edge of Omaha when District 66 became known as the Westside Community Schools.

Thanks to the generosity and support of Westside Community Schools voters in 2015, the district was able to invest in the construction and renovation of several schools. Oakdale Elementary, Sunset Hills Elementary, and Swanson Elementary were all open to students by the 2019-2020 school year; Westside Middle School and Westside High School were improved and expanded; security upgrades and facility improvements were made throughout the district; and Prairie Lane Elementary opened to students in 2021.