Enrollment at schools in the Omaha Public School district is changing, especially between white and Hispanic students. Almost a decade ago, white students made up the majority of OPS student enrollment. Now, Hispanic students have eclipsed other demographic groups as the majority of students enrolled at OPS schools.
Between 2018 and 2021, the number of white students enrolled in OPS high schools dropped from 3,667 to 3,255, an 11% decrease. At the same time, Hispanic enrollment in high schools went from 5,202 to 5,634, an 8% increase. The total decrease in white enrollment in OPS high schools (412) is almost the same as the Hispanic increase (436). Between 2018 and 2021, Central High School went from 956 white students to 841, North Magnet dropped by 14%, from 594 white students to 433.
At the same time, South Magnet High School went from 231 white students to 224 white students, according to Omaha Public Schools district enrollment data. Hispanic or Latino student enrollment tells another story. Central High increased Hispanic enrollment by 18% between 2018 and 2021, from 720 students to 849.
At the same time, North Magnet went up 14%, from 258 to 293 students, and South High Magnet School increased by 12%, from 2,161 to 2,410 students, according to the data.
The changes haven’t gone unnoticed for Yesenia Flores, a South High Magnet School student. “It’s really noticeable, especially in South,” Flores said. “There are past pictures of South where you can see many white people and as time goes by, you slowly start seeing more and more Hispanics.”
Flores said second generation immigrants now have better access to education and value the opportunity more than previous generations did. “Many first generation immigrants didn’t care about school or weren’t able to attend it,” Flores said. “Now, as the second-generation of immigrants grow in number, first generation parents know their children’s education is important.”
Sonia Ramirez, a Central High School student, thinks the changing demographics could be directly associated with Nebraska’s changing population. “A big section of the white population usually won’t stay in Omaha and will leave for better opportunities, opposite of most of the Hispanic population living in Omaha that tend to stick around more,” Ramirez said.
More students with parents of different races or ethnicities may choose how they identify for themselves, Ramirez said. She understands this first hand — her mom is white and her dad is Hispanic.
“Mixed children like me, can identify more as Hispanic, and that adds up,” Ramirez said. “When people ask me what I am I usually say Hispanic; I think I’m kind of used to it,” Ramirez said.
Ramírez explains that if she were asked in more depth she would answer “mixed Hispanic/white.” But normally when people ask about race they want a simple answer and therefore she says Hispanic but she does mean her answer. “Hispanic is usually what I consider myself even though I am half-half,” Ramirez said.
“It’s different for each person but I tend to lean more on the Hispanic side when talking about myself.” Despite the enrollment changes being clearly noticeable, Ramirez and Flores don’t necessarily care much about it although Flores does find a positive aspect.
“I think it’s not relevant enough for me to pay mind to, however, I think many people don’t want to get involved in any potential racial issue therefore it is not commonly discussed,” Ramirez said. “To me, it’s not good nor bad,” Flores said. “If anything, I think it’s cool because more Hispanic people are staying in school.”