2024 Best Schools in Council Bluffs

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  26 reviews

Senior: I came to Brownell Talbot at the beginning of my eighth grade year after some negative experiences at my old school, and the entire community was so welcoming towards me. Going to this school has taught me a lot about character, and what it means to make a positive impact in your community. The administration is kind, the teachers are helpful, and the student body is so diverse that you're sure to find your niche somewhere. I want to give special thanks to the Brownell Talbot theatre department, where I've been given so many incredible opportunities to lead and further develop my craft. I cannot express how much love I have for this school, and how thankful I am that I attend it.... Read 26 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 488

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.46 out of 5  151 reviews

Senior: My experience at Marian has been wonderful in terms of academics and preparing me for college. I truly feel like I will know how to utilize my organization and time skills properly in college that I have learned from my four years attending Marian. The only thing that has ever made me question my choice of attending Marian was having to apply to college because it put the aspect of money into perspective when it came to going to Marian High School. As someone who did not grow up with a lot of money, I always saw myself going to an in state school because I was genuinely being realistic. But, while at Marian, girls would talk about their out of state schools they plan to attend, and if someone talks about going to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, it is seen as they are not using their full potential which can be embarrassing in more ways than one because I can not always have that privilege of choice because I will always and have always paid for my own tuition.... Read 151 reviews

• grade A

• Students 692

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• PK, 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  186 reviews

Junior: Duchesne is the best school ever! My time at Duchesne has provided me with opportunities to grow intellectually, spiritually, socially, and beyond. I have met the BEST girls, and everyone here truly cares about you and wants you to succeed not only while you’re a student but in life. The teachers are top-tier and I feel like I am in a college class. Duchesne, being a Sacred Heart school, has the BEST traditions including Ring Ceremony, Congè, Field Day, Mater, and beyond that truly build community within the school. Duchesne is unmatched, from the academics, community, and overall experience.... Read 186 reviews

• grade A

• Students 326

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Treynor Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 345

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  122 reviews

Freshman: Mercy High School is considered one of the smaller all girl private high schools in Omaha Nebraska. With the small amount of students, leaving class sizes to about 70 students, the student to teacher ratio is a very good size, there are more opportunities for sports and extracurriculars, and the community is more than welcoming. Mercy high school provides a diverse, accepting, and religious environment making it feel “just like home” for its students. Empowering women through education and the Mercy spirit is what we strive for everyday. Years of traditions and fun reside within the school, and continue to inspire each young woman who walks through the doors.... Read 122 reviews

• grade A

• Students 367

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Treynor Community School District, IA•

• 6-8

• grade A

• Students 196

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  164 reviews

Senior: Creighton Preparatory School readies you for higher education in college and beyond. The mentors and students you will find there challenge you and make you want more out of yourself. They inspire you to keep working hard and to succeed at the highest level. I would suggest taking college level courses and getting involved in clubs, retreats and activities to elevate your 4 year experience here. If you have doubts about going, know that when decision to go here you will not regret it. You will find community, and you will find brotherhood at Creighton Prep. I have personally found it in the band program, others find it with their sports teams. No matter how you find you choose to get involved, I guarantee that there is a place for you within these walls.... Read 164 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,000

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Papillion-La Vista School District, NE•

• PK, K-6

• grade A

• Students 500

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Treynor Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  115 reviews

Niche User: Fairly high income district with many parents who have positions in the Omaha area just 15 miles away. Students have good manners, are well behaved, have excellent extra-curricular activities and are motivated and are also very active participants. Thirty percent of the students are open-enrolled "in" from other nearby districts which indicates the quality of the district. This is one of the highest percentages in the whole state of Iowa. Excellent staff, outstanding facilities with the latest being a new 500+ seat theater. The public has supported recent bond issues by as much as 75+ percent each time. A large number of graduates earn several college hours credit taught by local teachers and/or by attending nearby Iowa Western Community College part time. Three teachers have been recognized in recent years for their expertise of instruction by an area organization. .... Read 115 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 263

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Underwood Community School District, IA•

• 6-8

• grade A minus

• Students 195

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Bellevue, NE•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  26 reviews

Parent: We were new to Omaha; toured numerous public and private schools. We chose Gross Catholic. Several years later, we're more convinced than ever it's been a great choice. Gross has wonderful faith-, leadership-, academic-, theater-, and sports-based groups in which to participate. It's welcoming! Strong academics. Love the trip experiences centering on important topics. As parents, we appreciate the House activities and family dinners (when there's not a pandemic!) and appreciate school leaders being unwaveringly Catholic. We've met numerous families who transferred into Gross from other faith-based and public schools for this leadership. Our athletic programs are competitive without sacrificing academic and spiritual integrity in the name of recruiting and becoming just another sports factory. Music and theater is 1st rate. The cheer team is nationally ranked and always energizes school pride. Robotics? Absolutely incredible! Our active booster club gives to so many programs. DuxEsto!... Read 26 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 429

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Council Bluffs, IA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  32 reviews

Senior: Saint Albert High School's commitment to academic excellence also helped shape me into the person I am today. The rigorous curriculum and supportive teachers challenged me to push beyond my limits and to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that have proven invaluable in my personal and professional life. Finally, the friendships and relationships I developed at Saint Albert High School have had a profound impact on me. The school provided a safe and nurturing environment where I could build strong bonds with my peers and develop social skills that have helped me navigate the complexities of adult life. In conclusion, Saint Albert High School has played a vital role in shaping who I am today. Its emphasis on community, social responsibility, academic excellence, and relationships has helped me develop into a responsible, compassionate, and successful individual.... Read 32 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 562

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Underwood Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 397

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Underwood Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  59 reviews

Junior: I love the community that this school brings, we are very competitive and very inviting to new students. Although these are great they have a very strong preference towards athletics and almost no effort is being made to better the music department.... Read 59 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 258

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  208 reviews

Senior: A great place to thrive. Small classes, a great family atmosphere. I have made great friends and there a ton of resources. I am an athlete and love the sports program. I love how much time the parents put into the school and how theys support their students. All grades support each other- it is very inclusive and a real family feel. I felt comfortable from the first day and know that I will really miss the tight knit community that this school offers. I feel I have gotten a great education while making friendships that will last a lifetime. The coaches and teachers are great. I feel that for academia the school still has a very conservative feel to it. The only thing that I would critique negatively would be the school counselors. I never really "needed" them but in terms of getting ready to apply for colleges etc they didn't guide us very well. The school counselors don't seem to spend a lot of time with their students. Overall a very good experience!... Read 208 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 710

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  70 reviews

Senior: At Roncalli, I really felt like I was a part of a family. I was very connected to my peers and administrators and felt like I belonged there. I would say the best part is both the teachers and family-like environment. The teachers were all very friendly and willing to help with just about anything. I felt like they truly cared about the education I was receiving. Adding on to the family environment, I felt like a person there, not just a number. I could go up and talk to anyone and they knew who I was and we could talk about just about anything. On the other side of things, I would say the worst part would be the actual condition of the school. Unfortunately, Roncalli does not have the greatest funding and some parts of our school needed to be updated or changed. However, that’s not the fault of the school, and they did the best they could to give us a good learning environment. If I could change anything, I would add additional honors/AP/DC classes to further challenge us.... Read 70 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 407

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Lewis Central Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  217 reviews

Senior: The best parts about my experience at Lewis Central is definitely all of the opportunities and activities available. This makes it so anyone can find an activity that they like. This was great for me personally because I was able to meet many different people that I don’t usually see with the more and more activities I joined. However, some of the worst parts of my experience would definitely have to be that it is still high school and everyone is still learning to grow as a person. So this leads me to see something that the school could change. I think that the school could improve upon having more classes and retreats dedicated to high schoolers mental health and self improvement. This would help tremendously because in high school everything is go, go, go and we never really get a chance to breathe and think about our actions and feelings. So with time dedicated to this, it would lead to students being more well rounded and overall better people for themselves and others.... Read 217 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 919

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  22 reviews

Parent: Quest Forward is a wonderful place for neurodivergent people. The school works on teaching life skills like setting goals, submitting independent work for feedback, and more. I'm so glad we chose it for our child!... Read 22 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 94

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Council Bluffs, IA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: We love the education our children have received at Heartland Christian School. This is the only school for us.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 253

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Bellevue, NE•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  23 reviews

Sophomore: Inviting, faith-based educational experience. Teachers are friendly and helpful, willing to take time outside of class to explain and make topics clear. The campus is well-maintained and attractive. Students are expected to maintain a Godly character and are held to moral and academic standards. Everyone is welcoming.... Read 23 reviews

• grade B

• Students 480

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Lewis Central Community School District, IA•

• 6-8

• grade B

• Students 746

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Omaha, NE•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  89 reviews

Parent: I cannot say enough good things about OCA. My family has been involved with the school for over ten years and we have loved every second of it! The staff is kind and friendly. The teachers are nurturing and genuinely care about the character of our children. It’s wonderful to have a school that is an extension of our home and where I know my children are safe, loved, and cared for when they’re at school. I’m thankful for a school that stands firm on God’s Word and teaches Truth, especially with the culture we’re living in today. OCA has been able to offer more athletics and extracurricular activities over the years, but above sports and certain classes being offered, I believe the most important thing is having my children in a Christ-centered environment. Here they can build and nurture their relationship with God and not be exposed to the lies of the world and be part of the agenda and indoctrination. Beyond blessed to be part of the OCA family!... Read 89 reviews

• grade B

• Students 320

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Council Bluffs Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• grade B minus

• Students 115

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Lewis Central Community School District, IA•

• 2-5

• •
  Rating 1 out of 5  1 review

• grade B minus

• Students 855

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Council Bluffs Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-5

• grade B minus

• Students 455

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1