Elkhorn Public Schools has drastically grown ever since its opening in 1961.
It first started with Westridge Elementary and steadily grew to Elkhorn Middle School. Then the first high school, Elkhorn High, was built and opened in 1980. Now, EPS(Elkhorn Public Schools) has grown to consist of eleven elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools.
One of the main forces behind the growth of Elkhorn Public Schools is its appeal to families in suburban areas. With a reputation for high academic achievement and many extracurricular activities, Elkhorn draws families looking for a quality education in a good environment. As more families move to the area, the demand for quality education continues to rise.
In response to this growth, EPS has expanded its facilities. When the population continues to rise every year, new schools are necessary.
“Growth in the Elkhorn district creates challenges to manage growth for our Board of Education and community,” Habrock said, “These challenges, however, intersect with many opportunities to broaden the impact of the mission of the Elkhorn Public Schools to more students and families.”
Superintendent Dr. Barry Habrock has served in his position for eight years and been in the District Office for a total of 17.
During his time as Superintendent, the district has opened six elementary schools plus two currently under construction and three middle schools, and two high schools to accommodate the growth of the school district.
The district has also invested in expansion of existing school buildings, Elkhorn North High School and Valley View Middle School.
“The addition to Elkhorn North High School will allow the building to serve 1,800 students,” Habrock said. “The planned completion of this addition is August of 2026.”
An important indicator of EPS’s growth is the hiring of new teachers and staff to maintain a low student to teacher ratio.
According to the U.S. News the student to teacher ratio in Elkhorn is 15:1 and the state average is 14:1, so Elkhorn is well aligned with the state average while the student enrollment increases every year.
Elkhorn is a great school district and is ranked high among the other districts across Neb. The district is ranked No. 1 as the best in the state, No. 3 with the best teachers, and No. 4 in the best places to teach in Nebraska.
“From behind the scenes, I take much pride in the success of our students, educators, community and school system,” Habrock said.
As years go on, EPS will continue to grow. As it grows, district lines will change and the development of new schools will increase.
“It is possible that there will be a fourth high school in the district but this question remains unclear,” Habrock said. “This decision point depends on the continued growth of the school district and the density of new developments in the northwest quadrant of the school district.”
