FAQs
- What is a focus school?
A focus school is similar to a magnet or theme school because of the academic concentration on one or two specialized areas embedded within the core curriculum. It differs from a magnet school in that it is smaller in size and there is no home attendance area. Students from any school in the Douglas/Sarpy County Learning Community may apply
- How is the focus school theme determined?
A random phone survey of a sampling of parents/guardians in Elkhorn, Omaha and Westside was conducted in October. The survey results along with national/international trend data gave the committee direction as to the theme, location and other important information in planning for the school. The theme agreed upon by all three districts is: Leadership through Technology & Communication.
- Do students in focus schools study regular academic subjects?
Students in focus schools study the basic academic subjects such as English, reading, mathematics, social studies and science. Students are expected to achieve skills and knowledge mandated in state standards for these academic subjects. In addition, students in the focus school will have special opportunities to study certain topics in-depth.
- Why might my child want to attend a focus school?
The focus school provides students exposure to a diverse population and benefits students through an enriched curriculum in an area of interest.
The focus school will be staffed with highly qualified individuals with expertise in specific content areas and will provide an extended day and year calendar for additional learning opportunities (to be determined by survey results)
The focus school also provides a small school environment.
- Who is eligible to attend this focus school?
Students who will be in the third, fourth or fifth grades for the 2008-09 school year and who live in the Douglas/Sarpy County Learning Community will be eligible to attend, pending approval by their home district.
- What is the location of the Focus School?
The Leadership through Technology & Communication Focus School will be located at Underwood Hills Elementary near 90th & Western. Underwood Hills is a Westside Community school positioned in a highly accessible location. Plans are currently underway to convert the building into a dynamic structure which will support the theme to provide students excellent learning opportunities.
- Will transportation be provided?
Transportation will be provided for students who need it.
- How many students will attend the focus school?
The school will have small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of approximately 20:1.
There will be forty students in each grade for a total of 120 students.
- How will the needs of students be addressed? (i.e. Special Education, Gifted, ELL)?
The instructional program will meet the identified needs of all students. The school will provide support and enrichment services to address students’ instructional needs.
- How do students enroll in the focus school?
There will be an application process. More information will be available from your district’s central office or the focus school website: www.lcfocus.org.
If more students apply than can be placed in the focus school, students are chosen randomly through a lottery system.
- Do students who are accepted for the focus school have to apply each year to
remain in the program?
No. Once a student is assigned to the focus school he/she may continue through the entire focus school pathway. Once a student completes the elementary or middle school grades, they move into the focus program at the next level.
- Will the Focus School extend into middle and high school programs?
The elementary school will begin a program/curricular pathway that extends the focus area to upper grade levels should the students choose to continue. There is a commitment by all three districts to continue the pathway through 12th grade.
- Will there be opportunities for families to learn about the planned focus
school?
Information will be provided for families in all eleven Learning Community school districts. Materials should be arriving in all eleven school districts in December and January.
An open house will take place in the spring.
- What is the deadline for application?
The deadline for application is Friday, February 15, 2008.
For more information, please contact your neighborhood school, district central office or the focus school website at www.lcfocus.org.
