About Us
Castelar Elementary is located at 2316 S. 18th Street in the heart of South Omaha. Castelar staff is dedicated in providing quality education to students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school offers English as a Second Language support, a unique K-5 Dual Language Program and a top rated Kids Club/ZAP(Zoo Afterschool Program) before and after school program. Castelar's mission is to inspire lifelong learners in achieving excellence. It is important that the entire school community work together and collaborate to create a strong and safe learning environment. Therefore, the involvement of parents and our community, as part of our team, ensures that each child will achieve both academic and social success.
History
Castelar Elementary, located at 2316 S. 18 St., first opened in 1886. Originally spelled Castellar after a Spanish statesman, it was situated on the southeast corner of the present playground.
The three-story, twelve-room building had wooden sidewalks, no lights and platforms in each room for the teacher’s desks. A basement was later added to house restrooms for students and staff. Two wooden annexes were added to accommodate the expanded enrollment, and the only playground was located on the east side of 18th and Martha.
In 1912, a new building was constructed at a cost of $82,000, containing twenty-one classrooms. Included were a branch public library room for the principal, two manual training rooms, fourteen regular classrooms, a public assembly room, a lunchroom and a teacher’s restroom. The heating, ventilation, and lighting systems were the best available at the time, allowing for a uniform temperature to be maintained in all the rooms. The school's peak enrollment was 1,400.
A renovation took place in the building in 1951, and an addition was made to the building in 1965. Castelar served kindergarten through eighth graders until 1964, when the two upper-grade levels were moved to Bancroft Jr. High.
From 1953 to 1978, former principal Viola Taylor annually produced and wrote an original Christmas play in which every student had a part.
The building served as an elementary school until 1984 when it officially closed its doors. According to a World Herald report, “Pupils exchanged letters, art and other items with pupils at their new school.” An era had ended, and Castelar would now serve the OPS school district as Wilson Alternative School.
Castelar re-opened its doors in August of 1999 to 333 neighborhood students. The following year, Castelar staff and students relocated to the Mills building on North 30th Street, where they remained for two years while the building underwent significant renovations. These renovations upgraded existing classrooms and added a new wing to the south side of the building. Castelar now has a total of 31 classrooms, including a new library and two kindergarten rooms, 52 certified staff, 24 paraprofessionals, 8 support staff and an official student enrollment of 630.
Castelar’s mascot is the Cardinal, and its school colors are red and white.
Information and photos courtesy of the Omaha Public School Archives Collection