Best Elementary Schools in Las Vegas: 2026 Clark County Rankings & Parent Guide
In the latest 2025 NSPF cycle, Estes M McDoniel Elementary leads Clark County with 5★ and an index score of 97/100 on official Nevada accountability measures. The full top 5 elementary schools in Clark County for 2026: 1. Estes M McDoniel Elementary (5★) · 2. Billy & Rosemary Vassiliadis Elementary (5★) · 3. Gordon McCaw Elementary (5★). 5 public, magnet, and charter campuses are tracked statewide on the same framework, so you can compare any school directly on math, ELA, and student growth. Clark County schools are part of the same NSPF system as Washoe County (Reno). Use the NevadaSchools.org comparison tool to confirm the metrics that matter most to your family, then visit the campus before committing.
lightbulbKey Takeaway
Explore the top-rated elementary schools across Las Vegas and Clark County for 2026. Ranked by official Nevada Department of Education NSPF index scores, 3rd–5th grade SBAC math and reading proficiency, and student growth across Summerlin, Henderson, and top charter networks.
Best Elementary Schools in Las Vegas: 2026 Clark County Rankings & Parent Guide
> Quick Summary: The best elementary schools in Las Vegas and Clark County for 2026 include Estes M. McDoniel (97 index), Billy & Rosemary Vassiliadis (95 index, 81.2% math), Gordon McCaw STEAM Magnet (94 index), James E. Smalley (93.3 index), and John W. Bonner (92.5 index). Top-performing tuition-free public charters include Somerset Academy Stephanie (100 index) and Doral Academy Cactus (97 index).
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How Clark County Elementary Schools Are Evaluated
Under the Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF), elementary schools (K–5) earn up to 100 index points across five indicators:
1. Academic Achievement (25 Points): SBAC proficiency in grades 3–5 math and ELA. 2. Academic Growth (35 Points): The most heavily weighted indicator. Individual student Academic Growth Percentiles (AGP). 3. English Language Proficiency (10 Points): WIDA ACCESS progress for English learners. 4. Student Engagement (10 Points): Chronic absenteeism rates. 5. Closing Opportunity Gaps (20 Points): Year-over-year gains for underserved subgroups.
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Top 10 Elementary Schools in Las Vegas & Clark County (2026)
| School Name | Sector / Zone | Star Rating | Index Score | Math Prof. | ELA Prof. | | :--- | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Somerset Academy Stephanie | State Charter (SPCSA) | 5 Stars | 100.0 | 61.4% | 69.4% | | Estes M. McDoniel Elementary | CCSD (Green Valley) | 5 Stars | 97.0 | 61.4% | 67.7% | | Doral Academy Cactus | State Charter (Enterprise) | 5 Stars | 97.0 | 72.3% | 72.3% | | Billy & Rosemary Vassiliadis ES | CCSD (Summerlin West) | 5 Stars | 95.0 | 81.2% | 79.9% | | Pinecrest Academy Springs | State Charter (Spring Valley) | 5 Stars | 95.0 | 60.2% | 63.0% | | Gordon McCaw Elementary | CCSD STEAM Magnet (Henderson) | 5 Stars | 94.0 | 73.9% | 77.8% | | James E. & A. Rae Smalley ES | CCSD (Henderson) | 5 Stars | 93.3 | 73.2% | 82.0% | | Neil C. Twitchell Elementary | CCSD (Green Valley Ranch) | 5 Stars | 93.0 | 62.4% | 65.6% | | John W. Bonner Elementary | CCSD (Summerlin) | 5 Stars | 92.5 | 71.6% | 72.4% | | Doral Academy Red Rock | State Charter (Summerlin West) | 5 Stars | 92.5 | 75.6% | 77.5% |
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School Choice Tools for Nevada Families
- Nevada NSPF Decoder: Learn how student growth percentiles and absenteeism affect star ratings.
- School Zone & Address Grader: Enter any Las Vegas, Henderson, or Summerlin address.
- Side-by-Side School Comparison Engine: Compare any two elementary schools on math proficiency, reading scores, and attendance.
- Nevada Charter School Lottery Guide: Learn how to apply to top charter elementary schools.
rankingsTop 5 Elementary Schools in Clark County (2026)
- Estes M McDoniel Elementary — 5-star NSPF rating · 97/100 index · Henderson
- Billy & Rosemary Vassiliadis Elementary — 5-star NSPF rating · 95/100 index · Las Vegas
- Gordon McCaw Elementary — 5-star NSPF rating · 94/100 index · Henderson · Magnet
- James E & A Rae Smalley Elementary — 5-star NSPF rating · 93.3/100 index · Henderson
- Neil C Twitchell Elementary — 5-star NSPF rating · 93/100 index · Henderson
Source: Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) index scores, latest reporting year. Compare every Clark County school →
Quick answers
chevron_rightWhat is the main takeaway from Best Elementary Schools in Las Vegas: 2026 Clark County Rankings & Parent Guide?
Explore the top-rated elementary schools across Las Vegas and Clark County for 2026. Ranked by official Nevada Department of Education NSPF index scores, 3rd–5th grade SBAC math and reading proficiency, and student growth across Summerlin, Henderson, and top charter networks.
chevron_rightWhere does NevadaSchools.org get its school information?
NevadaSchools.org uses official Nevada school accountability data, including NSPF star ratings, index scores, proficiency metrics, graduation rates, and related public school profile information.
chevron_rightWhat is the top-rated elementary school in Clark County?
Estes M McDoniel Elementary is currently the highest-rated elementary school in Clark County on the Nevada School Performance Framework, with an index score of 97/100. Use the NevadaSchools.org comparison tool to see math, ELA, and performance detail on every school in the top 10.
chevron_rightHow do Clark County schools compare to Washoe County (Reno) schools?
Clark County and Washoe County (Reno) both report to the same statewide Nevada accountability system — the NSPF — but typically diverge on student-teacher ratios, ELL population, and graduation rate. Clark County generally posts higher district-wide math and ELA proficiency rates than Washoe County (Reno), although Washoe County (Reno) has expanded its 5-star magnet school options in recent years. Use the NevadaSchools.org district-comparison tool for a head-to-head.
chevron_rightHow is the Nevada NSPF star rating calculated?
The Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) assigns 1 to 5 stars using a weighted composite of academic achievement, academic growth, English-language progress, chronic absenteeism (elementary/middle), and graduation rate (high school). A school's index score combines the same indicators on a 0–100 scale, and star tier is bucketed from that score.
Ready to compare specific Nevada schools?
Search over 980+ public, charter, and magnet schools across Clark, Washoe, and rural counties by academic score and star rating.
Sources and next steps
NevadaSchools.org uses official Nevada school accountability data, including NSPF ratings, proficiency metrics, graduation rates, and public school profile information. For the original state source, review the Nevada Report Card.