The NSD was founded in 1869 by a deaf man named William DeCoursey French on 23 acres (93,000 m2) in North Omaha.

In 1893 the school's superintendent was cited for his commitment to encouraging teachers to use innovative techniques for classroom teaching, including gender integration and age-level isolation.

[8] Bell bankrolled the activities of an organization called the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf during this period.

"[9] Using a rationalization that cited successes of the integrated style of combined signing and speech used in instruction at Gallaudet University, state legislators faced immediate opposition from students and alumni who argued for an identical system at NSD.

Today this case is viewed as a rallying point for the deaf community in the United States.

[13] Starting in 1984, state authorities at the Nebraska Department of Education attempted to close the NSD.

[15] After the 1997-98 school year the NSD closed due to diminishing enrollment and increasing per-student costs.