Frequently Asked Questions

 

How was CUES formed?

CUES was founded in 1975 by a group of area business people, headed by the late John C. Kenefick, Chairman and CEO of Union Pacific Railroad, to fund the ongoing operations of Sacred Heart School. Our business model for Sacred Heart worked so well that in 2012, the CUES Fund Board agreed to assume funding responsibility for All Saints and Holy Name. In 2017, the steps were taken to create the CUES School System with a separate board of governors comprised mainly of educators that remained under the Archdiocese of Omaha. CUES, as it was, restructured to separate itself from the Archdiocese and was renamed CUES Fund – with the sole purpose of raising money to fund the CUES School System.

 

What does CUES stand for?

When the organization was founded, CUES was an acronym for Christian Urban Education Service. Now we just use the acronym, CUES.

 

What schools are in the CUES School System?

The CUES School System schools are:

  • Sacred Heart: 2205 Binney Street
  • All Saints: 1335 South 10th Street
  • Holy Name: 2901 Fontenelle Boulevard

 

What is CUES School System’s Mission?

The CUES School System is a bold educational initiative providing centralized leadership and governance to three urban elementary schools – Sacred Heart, All Saints and Holy Name – in Omaha, Nebraska, serving a majority of low income students and families.

We combine innovative instructional methods with comprehensive student and family support in a Catholic, faith based environment to create and sustain excellent and measurable outcomes that not only impact the students we serve but also the entire community.

 

What is CUES Fund?

The CUES Fund secures financial support through private donations to fully fund the CUES School System. The school system provides centralized leadership and governance to three urban grade schools: Sacred Heart, All Saints and Holy Name. The CUES Fund is a non-religious, nonprofit organization overseen by a Board of Directors.

 

What makes CUES different from other schools?

CUES Schools serve nearly 600 students. Class sizes are small. Relationships are long-standing and consistent. From pre-K through 8th grade, students, their parents, and families are part of the school community, and their life stories are known to CUES teachers and staff. We provide wrap-around support to the entire family, connecting them to outstanding community partners like Boys Town, Completely Kids, and Hope Center for Kids, to create a school-wide culture of support.

All of our families receive financial assistance. No child is turned away because of their family’s inability to pay.

CUES proves time and again that investing early in the lives of our children pays dividends for all of us. In 2022, 96% of CUES alumni graduated from high school, compared to approximately 74% for Omaha Public Schools.

 

Does the Archdiocese support the schools?

The Archdiocese contributes to the schools, but over 90% of CUES annual income is dependent on contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations.

 

What percentage of CUES students are Catholic?

Sacred Heart is 14% Catholic, All Saints is 73% Catholic, and Holy Name is 37% Catholic.

 

Do the schools charge tuition?

Yes. Each family is asked to contribute a minimum of $500 toward their family’s tuition; however, no student is turned away for lack of money. The tuition collected by the schools is a very small percentage of the total needed to cover the cost to educate. A majority of our student family population qualifies for Federal Free and Reduced lunch.

 

How can I best support CUES School System?

Donations are the backbone of support for the CUES School System. Checks may be mailed to the CUES Fund office – 2207 Wirt Street Omaha, NE 68110. You may also easily make your gift online through our donation form.

 

What Events Does CUES School System Have?

CUES holds two major fundraising events each year to help underwrite the cost of education. The Gathering dinner and auction takes place each march, and our Tee It Up Fore CUES Schools golf outing happens each September.

 

How Can I Volunteer With Cues School System?

The CUES School System serves nearly 600 inner-city students in three different schools. Each one of our schools has different needs from their volunteers. Every school volunteer must complete safe-environment training administered by the Archdiocese of Omaha.

Contact the schools below to learn about their current volunteer opportunities.