Next Up Blog

Posted at 17:13h in Blog by January 11, 2019
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Governor Sisolak‘s 1st State of the State Address
& the Future Landscape for Nevada’s Schools of Choice

Watch Party & Policy Discussion
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
5:30 PM
241 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 150

Please join Nevada Action for School Options, along with the Charter School Association of Nevada, and the Nevada Council of Independent and Religious Schools, in downtown Las Vegas on Wednesday evening, January 16 for a Watch Party for Governor Sisolak‘s first State of the State Address.  A discussion about what the speech, the Governor’s education outlook, and the upcoming legislative session mean for the most important priorities for Nevada’s schools of choice and the families who select them will follow.

Light Fare, Refreshments, and Engaging Conversation will be provided.  The speech is scheduled to begin at 6 pm. RSVP or any questions to events@NevadaAction.org or 702-202-3573.

The watch party will be at Nevada Action for School Options’ office, 241 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 150, behind Lola’s Restaurant.  Enter the parking lot from the Eastbound side of Charleston, then cross in the drive in front of Lola’s and park in any unreserved spot.  Any entrance to the building works fine, our office is toward the back.

Thank you.

Posted at 16:16h in Blog by December 31, 2018
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Happy New Year from Nevada Action for School Options.

We feel profoundly blessed to get to work alongside all people who give of themselves to improve the educational opportunities for ALL of Nevada’s children, students and families.

Thank you, and have a safe 2019!

Posted at 12:54h in Blog by December 18, 2018
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Home to some lower-income communities on Las Vegas’ Eastern side of town, the 89104 zip code hosts one strongly-rated public school amid a limited range of other choices.

The zip code features one four-star school – which is neither a magnet nor a charter – but most (4,700 students) find themselves in two- and three-star schools, as measured by Nevada’s School Performance Framework.

The 16,287 households that live here have a median household income of $34,792, or three-fifths of the Clark County average, making it difficult for families to move to find school options around the valley.  More than half of the population identify as Hispanic. Ten percent of adults 25-years old or older possess a Bachelor’s Degree – five percent below the Clark County average – while 22 percent have attended some form of college but have not or did not finish. Thirty-two percent have earned only a high school diploma, slightly higher than the Clark County average (29 percent).   

Crestwood Elementary increased its performance from three stars to four stars this past school year, an important indicator of progress.  Driving this gain were strong student growth outcomes in both math and English, both well above the school district average.

The school features a 55 percent English Language Learner population and 81 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunch. Crestwood’s score offer a strong example of why the state’s five-star system promotes equity with a system that shows schools can succeed with a strong score despite low proficiency rates and challenging populations.

According to its latest results, six out of 10 students are on track to be proficient in English within three years, which also ranks among the highest in the zip code.  Crestwood Elementary posted a 64, meaning if you take a student and compare them to 100 other students at the same level of proficiency, Crestwood students will be growing faster than 64 of them. According to the growth score, five out of 10 students from Crestwood Elementary are on track to be proficient in math.

Crestwood participated in the Nevada Department of Education’s Zoom program for the first time during the 2016-17 school year.  Through this program, it received targeted funding for special initiatives for English Language Learners like extra tutoring and services to improve English language proficiency. Crestwood Elementary was one of 31 schools to receive such extra supports from the state.

William Snyder Elementary, a three-star school, posted some strong numbers in terms of MGP. The school posted a 68 and 74 in math and English respectively. The school is on the cusp of becoming a four-star school, thanks mostly to these numbers. K.O. Knudsen — the zip code’s lone magnet school, meaning students must apply, meet any academic entrance requirements and be accepted to attend the school — posted a three-star rating, remaining the same as it did last year.

The zip code is also home to two one-star schools (Walter Long Elementary and Morris Sunset East Elementary ) and four two-star schools Park Elementary, Fremont Elementary, as well as two charter schools operated by the Clark County School District, Innovations Elementary and Innovations Middle School.

The 89104 zip code is also home to two private schools, St. Anne Catholic School, which serves grades preK-8, and Applied Scholastics Academy, an academic acceleration program based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard.

For more information on the performance of public schools in Clark County, visit the GreatSchoolsAllKids website operated by Opportunity 180.

Posted at 14:21h in Blog by December 2, 2018
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Military families in Las Vegas – come join us Friday evening for a free, family-friendly event at our downtown offices.  Learn about school options for your children, talk about benefits with experts, and share in an evening of fun activities.

6PM at 241 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 150 (behind Lola’s Restaurant – enter parking lot from Eastbound Charleston.

Details and RSVP here.

Posted at 11:41h in Blog, Zip Code Analyses by December 1, 2018
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Located near central Las Vegas, the 89107 zip code is another underserved community limited in high-quality school options. The zip code has no schools rating about three-stars – with 59 percent attending one- to two-star schools – as measured by Nevada’s School Performance Framework, which rates school on a five-star rating system.

The median household income in the zip code is $41,501, 80 percent of the Las Vegas median, making it difficult for families to move to find school options around the valley. Forty-seven percent of the population identify as Hispanic. Eight percent of adults 25-years old or older own a Bachelor’s Degree, while 23 percent have attended some form of college but have not or did not finish.  

Families in search of high-quality options will likely have to make a significant commute to enroll in a charter school, assuming they secure enrollment into these schools, which often have long waitlists which are resolved by lottery. Also, families eligible to receive private school tuition under the state’s only funded private school choice program may also benefit from luck to overcome a high demand for these scholarships.

The zip code features a trio of three-star schools – Hyde Park Middle School, Gibson Middle School and Pittman Elementary School, accounting for 3,394 students in the 13,967 households.

A majority of students (3,593 students) find themselves in two-star schools — Garside Middle School, Wasden Elementary, Adcock Elementary, Warren Elementary and Fyfe Elementary. The zip code is also home to two one-star schools — Griffith Elementary and Red Rock Elementary, the lowest rating in Nevada for school performance.

It is important to consider other aspects to a school’s performance rating that contribute to its star rating.  For example, schools are evaluated on the growth of their individual students over time in both math and reading. Pittman Elementary School’s performance increased from its 2016 ranking, showing in its English Growth Median Growth Percentile (MGP) compared to the amount of academic growth in reading its students showed compared with students at the same achievement levels in other elementary schools.

Its MGP rated as a 61 – the highest for an elementary school in the 89107 zip code. This number signifies that if  you take a student and compare them to 100 other students who performed at the same level of proficiency, the student at Pittman Elementary is growing faster than 61 of them. According to its growth score, five out of 10 students are on track to be proficient in English within three years, which also ranks among the highest in the zip code.

The 89107 zip code lacks charter options for parents, but is home to three private schools – Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic School (K-8), Las Vegas Valley Water District’s School’s Out Program (Kindergarten) and Trinity International Schools (K-12). Our Lady of Las Vegas is also an active participant in the Nevada Opportunity Scholarship program.  

For more information on the performance of public schools in Clark County, visit the GreatSchoolsAllKids website operated by Opportunity 180.