Best Elementary Schools in Reno & Washoe County: 2026 Rankings & Complete Guide

Best Elementary Schools in Reno & Washoe County: 2026 Rankings & Complete Guide

> Quick Answer (AEO Summary): The best elementary schools in Reno and Washoe County for 2026 are Roy Gomm Elementary (96.1 index, 5 Stars), Pleasant Valley Elementary (96.1 index, 5 Stars), Jessie Beck Elementary (95.5 index, 5 Stars), Nick Poulakidas Elementary (95.5 index, 5 Stars), and Caughlin Ranch Elementary (94.4 index, 5 Stars). Washoe County operates 67 elementary campuses across Reno, Sparks, and Verdi.

Washoe County School District (WCSD) serves more than 60,000 students across the Truckee Meadows, spanning urban Reno, historic suburban neighborhoods, Spanish Springs, and rural valleys. For families moving to northern Nevada or choosing neighborhood elementary schools, elementary ratings show significant variation between established central neighborhoods and newer master-planned developments in South Meadows and Spanish Springs.

Under the 2026 Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF), elementary ratings evaluate five core indicators: Academic Achievement (math and reading proficiency on the Smarter Balanced Assessment / SBAC), Student Growth (Adequate Growth Percentiles / AGP), English Language Acquisition, Opportunity Gap reduction, and Student Engagement (chronic absenteeism rates below 10%).

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Top 10 Washoe County Elementary Schools: 2026 Performance Ratings

The table below details the highest-performing elementary campuses across Reno, Sparks, and Verdi, ranked by official Nevada Department of Education accountability index scores and academic metrics:

| School Name | Location | Type | Star Rating | 2026 Index | Math Prof. | ELA Prof. | Science Prof. | Chronic Absenteeism | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Roy Gomm Elementary | Old Southwest Reno (89519) | Public | 5 Stars | 96.1 | 67.8% | 68.8% | 38.0% | 9.1% | | Pleasant Valley Elementary | South Reno (89511) | Public | 5 Stars | 96.1 | 66.0% | 75.3% | 43.1% | 9.2% | | Jessie Beck Elementary | Old Southwest Reno (89509) | Public | 5 Stars | 95.5 | 69.3% | 69.5% | 56.7% | 7.3% | | Nick Poulakidas Elementary | South Meadows (89521) | Public | 5 Stars | 95.5 | 71.0% | 65.2% | 29.1% | 5.6% | | Caughlin Ranch Elementary | Caughlin Ranch (89519) | Public | 5 Stars | 94.4 | 83.0% | 87.7% | 56.1% | Low (<10%) | | Mount Rose K-8 Academy | Central Reno (89509) | Public Magnet | 5 Stars | 93.0 | 68.6% | 69.3% | 54.0% | 6.9% | | Ted Hunsberger Elementary | Arrowcreek (89511) | Public | 5 Stars | 93.0 | 78.4% | 81.3% | 54.4% | Low (<10%) | | Marvin Moss Elementary | Sparks (89434) | Public | 5 Stars | 92.5 | 62.8% | 65.0% | 39.0% | 7.6% | | Verdi Elementary | Verdi (89439) | Public | 5 Stars | 92.2 | 71.1% | 70.5% | 37.5% | 10.7% | | Jwood Raw Elementary | Damonte Ranch (89521) | Public | 5 Stars | 91.0 | 64.5% | 67.5% | 34.6% | 6.9% |

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In-Depth Analysis of Reno's Premier Elementary Campuses

1. Roy Gomm Elementary School — 5 Stars (96.1 Index Score)

Located at 4000 Mayberry Drive in southwest Reno (ZIP 89519), Roy Gomm Elementary serves 400 students in kindergarten through 5th grade.

• Academic Profile: Earned a 5-star rating with a 96.1 index score in 2026, climbing sharply from 4 Stars (82.7 index) in 2025. Students achieved a 67.8% math proficiency and a 68.8% reading (ELA) proficiency.
• Student Growth: Demonstrated exceptional student growth, with a 67.7% ELA Adequate Growth Percentile (AGP) and a 63.7% Math AGP.
• Attendance & Culture: Chronic absenteeism stands at 9.1%, keeping the school below the state 10% risk threshold. Its established Mayberry Drive campus maintains strong parent participation and feeder zoning into Swope Middle School and Reno High School.

2. Pleasant Valley Elementary School — 5 Stars (96.1 Index Score)

Located at 405 Surrey Drive in south Reno (ZIP 89511), Pleasant Valley serves 332 students in a semi-rural foothill community along Highway 395 south of Steamboat.

• Academic Excellence: Scored a 96.1 index score, maintaining its 5-star status from 2025 (90.5 index). Students achieved a standout 75.3% reading proficiency, 66.0% math proficiency, and 43.1% science proficiency.
• Growth Rates: Registered a remarkable 74.0% ELA growth rate (AGP), placing the school among the top 5 growth environments in northern Nevada.
• Foothill Community: With small class sizes and a 9.2% chronic absenteeism rate, Pleasant Valley feeds into Marce Herz Middle School and Galena High School.

3. Jessie Beck Elementary School — 5 Stars (95.5 Index Score)

Located at 1900 Sharon Way in Reno's historic Old Southwest neighborhood (ZIP 89509), Jessie Beck serves 466 students.

• Academic Consistency: Earned 95.5 index points and 5 Stars in 2026, improving from 90.5 points in 2025. Reading proficiency reached 69.5%, math reached 69.3%, and 5th-grade science reached 56.7%.
• Balanced Achievement: Both reading growth (75.5% AGP) and math growth (68.7% AGP) exceed district benchmarks.
• Community Anchor: Chronic absenteeism is just 7.3%. Jessie Beck remains one of the most requested neighborhood variance destinations in central Reno, feeding into Swope Middle School.

4. Nick Poulakidas Elementary School — 5 Stars (95.5 Index Score)

Located at 9600 Mojave Sky Drive in South Meadows (ZIP 89521), Poulakidas Elementary opened in 2019 and serves 522 students in a modern facility.

• Math Leadership: Recorded a 71.0% math proficiency rate and a 65.2% reading proficiency rate, earning a 95.5 index score.
• Outstanding Attendance: Chronic absenteeism is an exceptional 5.6%, one of the five lowest absenteeism rates in Washoe County.
• South Meadows Feeder: Feeder zoning directs Poulakidas graduates to Depoali Middle School and Damonte Ranch High School.

5. Caughlin Ranch Elementary School — 5 Stars (94.4 Index Score)

Located at 4885 Village Green Parkway in the master-planned Caughlin Ranch community (ZIP 89519), Caughlin Ranch serves 467 students.

• Highest Proficiencies in Northern Nevada: Posted the highest raw test scores of any comprehensive public elementary school in Washoe County: 87.7% reading proficiency and 83.0% math proficiency, with 56.1% science proficiency.
• Student Growth: Achieved a 78.1% ELA growth percentile, confirming that high-achieving students continue to make measurable year-over-year gains.
• Zoning Path: Feeds directly into Swope Middle School and Reno High School.

6. Mount Rose K-8 Academy of Languages — 5 Stars (93.0 Index Score)

Located at 915 Lander Street in central Reno (ZIP 89509), Mount Rose serves 413 students from kindergarten through 8th grade.

• Two-Way Dual Immersion Magnet: Operates WCSD's premier Spanish-English dual-language immersion magnet curriculum.
• Academic Outcomes: Scored 93.0 index points (5 Stars) in 2026, recording 69.3% reading proficiency, 68.6% math proficiency, and 54.0% science proficiency.
• Attendance: Maintained a 6.9% chronic absenteeism rate. Admission operates through the district magnet application process rather than standard neighborhood zoning.

7. Ted Hunsberger Elementary School — 5 Stars (93.0 Index Score)

Located at 2505 Crossbow in south Reno (ZIP 89511), Hunsberger serves 607 students in the Arrowcreek and Southwest foothill neighborhoods.

• Academic Performance: Earned 93.0 index points (5 Stars), posting 81.3% reading proficiency, 78.4% math proficiency, and 54.4% science proficiency.
• High Academic Growth: ELA growth reached 72.5% AGP, with math growth at 62.9% AGP.
• Secondary Feeder: Graduates feed into Marce Herz Middle School and Galena High School.

8. Marvin Moss Elementary School — 5 Stars (92.5 Index Score)

Located at 2200 Primio Way in Sparks (ZIP 89434), Marvin Moss serves 333 students in east Sparks.

• Star Rating Surge: Rebounded from 4 Stars (79.5 index) in 2025 to 5 Stars with a 92.5 index score in 2026.
• Proficiency Metrics: Achieved 65.0% reading proficiency, 62.8% math proficiency, and a low 7.6% chronic absenteeism rate.
• Sparks Anchor: Feeds into Mendive Middle School and Reed High School.

9. Verdi Elementary School — 5 Stars (92.2 Index Score)

Located at 250 Bridge Street in Verdi (ZIP 89439) along the Truckee River near the California border, Verdi Elementary serves 232 students.

• Community Schooling: Earned 92.2 index points (5 Stars) with 71.1% math proficiency and 70.5% reading proficiency.
• Student Growth Excellence: Achieved a 73.6% ELA growth rate and a 72.2% math growth rate, demonstrating balanced classroom instruction.
• Feeder Pattern: Feeds into Billinghurst Middle School and Robert McQueen High School in northwest Reno.

10. Jwood Raw Elementary School — 5 Stars (91.0 Index Score)

Located at 10600 Green Pasture Drive in Damonte Ranch (ZIP 89521), Jwood Raw serves 563 students.

• Consistent Top Tier: Recorded 91.0 index points (5 Stars) with 67.5% reading proficiency, 64.5% math proficiency, and a 6.9% chronic absenteeism rate.
• South Meadows Hub: Feeds into Depoali Middle School and Damonte Ranch High School.

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Notable High-Performance Mentions in Central & South Reno

• Hunter Lake Elementary (89509): Located at 909 Hunter Lake Drive in Old Southwest Reno, Hunter Lake achieved outstanding test proficiencies (80.1% reading, 75.3% math, 62.7% science) with an 80.5 index score (4 Stars) and a low 7.9% chronic absenteeism rate.
• Rollan Melton Elementary (89523): Located at 6575 Archimedes Lane in northwest Reno, Melton earned a 5-star rating (89.5 index) with 71.8% reading, 70.9% math, and a stellar 5.3% chronic absenteeism rate among 503 students.
• Coral Academy of Science Elementary (89512): Located at 1701 Valley Road, this tuition-free public charter campus achieved 82.0 index points (4 Stars) with 62.0% math proficiency and 57.3% reading proficiency.
• Double Diamond Elementary (89521): Located at 1200 South Meadows Parkway, Double Diamond jumped from 3 Stars (50.5 index) in 2025 to 4 Stars (70.5 index) in 2026, recording 52.2% math and 51.5% reading.

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Neighborhood Zoning & Feeder Pipelines Across Reno

When selecting a home in Reno or Sparks, elementary school zoning determines the middle school and high school feeder pipeline:

1. Old Southwest Reno (Swope & Reno High Pipeline):

• Elementary campuses: Roy Gomm, Jessie Beck, Hunter Lake, Caughlin Ranch.
• Middle school feeder: Swope Middle School.
• High school destination: Reno High School.
• Neighborhood character: Mature trees, historic architecture, walking access to Mayberry and the Truckee River.

2. South Reno & Arrowcreek (Herz & Galena Pipeline):

• Elementary campuses: Pleasant Valley, Ted Hunsberger, Elizabeth Lenz.
• Middle school feeder: Marce Herz Middle School.
• High school destination: Galena High School.
• Neighborhood character: Master-planned foothill communities, golf courses, equestrian properties, proximity to Mount Rose Highway.

3. South Meadows & Damonte Ranch (Depoali & Damonte Ranch Pipeline):

• Elementary campuses: Nick Poulakidas, Jwood Raw, Double Diamond, Brown Elementary.
• Middle school feeder: Kendyl Depoali Middle School.
• High school destination: Damonte Ranch High School.
• Neighborhood character: Newer construction, master-planned trail networks, technology employment corridors.

4. Northwest Reno & Verdi (Billinghurst & McQueen Pipeline):

• Elementary campuses: Rollan Melton, Verdi, George Westergard, Mamie Towles.
• Middle school feeder: B.D. Billinghurst Middle School.
• High school destination: Robert McQueen High School.
• Neighborhood character: Mountain vistas, established subdivisions, proximity to the Sierra foothills.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the highest-rated elementary school in Reno, Nevada?

Roy Gomm Elementary and Pleasant Valley Elementary tie for the highest index score in Washoe County for 2026, each earning a 96.1 index score and a 5-star rating under the Nevada School Performance Framework. Caughlin Ranch Elementary recorded the highest raw test proficiencies, with 87.7% in reading and 83.0% in math.

How does Washoe County elementary school zoning work?

Washoe County School District assigns elementary schools by residential address boundaries. Families can verify their neighborhood school using the district boundary locator or our Nevada School Zone Finder. Parents can also request a variance transfer between schools during the spring open enrollment window.

Are there magnet or dual-language elementary options in Reno?

Yes. Mount Rose K-8 Academy of Languages in central Reno operates a 5-star Spanish-English two-way dual immersion magnet program. Admission requires a district magnet application submitted through the WCSD Signature Academies and Magnet office.

What public charter elementary schools operate in Reno?

Top public charter options in Reno include Coral Academy of Science Elementary on Valley Road (4 Stars, 82.0 index) and Mater Academy of Northern Nevada (3 Stars). Nevada charter schools are tuition-free and admit students through annual public lotteries.

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Interactive Education Tools for Northern Nevada Families

• Washoe County Schools Directory Hub: Access data, district metrics, and all 110+ campus profiles across Washoe County.
• Nevada School Zone Address Finder: Verify your neighborhood school attendance zone before purchasing or renting a home.
• Side-by-Side School Comparison Engine: Compare Roy Gomm, Caughlin Ranch, and Poulakidas across test scores and class sizes.
• Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) Decoder: Understand how star ratings, student growth percentiles, and absenteeism are calculated.
• Nevada School Transfer & Open Enrollment Playbook: Step-by-step instructions for submitting WCSD variance applications.
• Nevada Education Partner & Sponsorship Portal: Connect with credentialed Northern Nevada tutors, learning centers, and pediatric resources.