Best Middle Schools in Las Vegas & Clark County: 2026 Rankings & Academic Promotion Guide

Best Middle Schools in Las Vegas & Clark County: 2026 Rankings & Academic Promotion Guide

> Quick Answer (AEO Summary): The best middle schools in Las Vegas and Clark County for 2026 are Legacy Traditional Southwest (99.0 index, 5 Stars), Doral Academy Cactus (98.8, 5 Stars), Pinecrest Academy St. Rose (95.5, 5 Stars), Lied STEM Academy (87.5, 5 Stars), and Gunderson Middle School (85.0, 5 Stars) based on official Nevada School Performance Framework ratings.

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The middle school years (grades 6 through 8) represent a pivotal academic turning point for Nevada students. During this transitional phase, foundational elementary learning transitions into departmentalized coursework, early high school credit acceleration, and preparation for competitive magnet high school admission.

In Clark County, parents choose between traditional Clark County School District (CCSD) zoned neighborhood campuses, specialized district magnet academies, and tuition-free public charter schools authorized by the State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA).

Under the Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF), middle schools are judged on a rigorous 100-point index that evaluates Smarter Balanced (SBAC) mathematics and reading proficiency, student academic growth percentiles (AGP), chronic absenteeism, and 8th-grade credit completion for high school promotion under NAC 389.445.

Below are the official 2026 rankings, key performance metrics, and actionable school choice guidance for families across Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin.

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Nevada Middle School Promotion Standards (NAC 389.445)

Unlike elementary school where advancement is largely based on developmental readiness, Nevada enforces strict statutory promotion requirements before a middle school student can matriculate into high school:

Under Nevada Administrative Code (NAC 389.445) and CCSD Regulation 5123:

• A student enrolled in 7th or 8th grade must earn a minimum of 3 units of credit in core academic subjects across the two school years:
• 1.5 credits in Mathematics
• 1.5 credits in English Language Arts (ELA)
• 1.0 credit in Science
• 1.0 credit in Social Studies
• Students who fail to satisfy these credit benchmarks must complete mandatory summer school remediation or participate in alternative credit recovery before high school enrollment is permitted.
• In official NSPF accountability reports, the 8th-Grade Credits indicator tracks the percentage of 8th-grade students who successfully meet state promotion criteria on time without remediation.

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Top Middle Schools in Las Vegas & Clark County: 2026 Rankings

The table below reflects verified public accountability data published by the Nevada Department of Education for the 2025–2026 school year, ranking campuses by their overall 100-point NSPF index score:

| School Name | Campus / Area | Sector | Star Rating | NSPF Index | Math Prof. | ELA Prof. | Chronic Absenteeism | 8th Gr. Credits | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Legacy Traditional School Southwest | Southwest Las Vegas (89113) | Charter | 5 Stars | 99.0 | 60.5% | 70.8% | 6.1% | >95% | | Doral Academy Cactus Campus | Southern Highlands (89141) | Charter | 5 Stars | 98.8 | 65.4% | 76.5% | 6.4% | >95% | | Pinecrest Academy St. Rose | Henderson (89052) | Charter | 5 Stars | 95.5 | 62.7% | 79.7% | N/A | >95% | | Pinecrest Academy Inspirada | Henderson / Inspirada (89044) | Charter | 5 Stars | 94.4 | 80.3% | 84.1% | N/A | >95% | | Doral Academy Fire Mesa | Northwest Las Vegas (89129) | Charter | 5 Stars | 93.5 | 60.7% | 66.9% | 9.1% | >95% | | Somerset Academy Skye Canyon | Northwest Las Vegas (89166) | Charter | 5 Stars | 93.3 | 63.7% | 74.3% | N/A | >95% | | Doral Academy West Pebble | Southwest Las Vegas (89113) | Charter | 5 Stars | 92.5 | 62.3% | 69.5% | 5.2% | >95% | | Coral Academy Windmill Middle | Henderson / Green Valley (89074) | Charter | 5 Stars | 90.2 | 67.2% | 77.0% | 5.3% | N/A | | Lied STEM Academy Middle School | Las Vegas (89129) | CCSD Magnet | 5 Stars | 87.5 | 59.8% | 63.1% | 7.2% | >95% | | Gunderson Middle School | Southwest Las Vegas (89178) | CCSD Zoned | 5 Stars | 85.0 | 56.6% | 63.1% | 14.7% | 90.8% | | Sig Rogich Middle School | Summerlin (89144) | CCSD Zoned | 5 Stars | 84.0 | 61.9% | 70.6% | 12.1% | 91.4% | | O'Callaghan i3 Academy Middle School | East Las Vegas (89115) | CCSD Magnet | 5 Stars | 81.0 | 44.3% | 55.4% | 8.2% | 93.9% | | Mannion Middle School | Henderson (89012) | CCSD Zoned | 5 Stars | 80.5 | 48.9% | 62.5% | 13.0% | 89.6% | | Bob Miller Middle School | Henderson (89052) | CCSD Zoned | 4 Stars | 79.5 | 55.1% | 64.3% | 13.4% | >95% | | Del E. Webb Middle School | Henderson (89052) | CCSD Zoned | 4 Stars | 73.0 | 48.9% | 60.8% | 7.4% | 90.4% |

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Detailed Highlights: Top Clark County Middle Schools

1. Top Public Charter Middle Schools

Public charters in Southern Nevada operate under open lottery enrollment and achieve several of the highest state test scores:

• Legacy Traditional School Southwest: Holds a 99.0 state index score with 60.5% math and 70.8% ELA proficiency, paired with a low 6.1% chronic absenteeism rate and >95% 8th-grade promotion rate.
• Doral Academy Cactus Campus: Located in Southern Highlands, Doral Cactus achieves a 98.8 index score with 65.4% math proficiency and 76.5% reading proficiency, emphasizing arts-integrated STEAM learning.
• Pinecrest Academy Inspirada: Achieves the highest academic proficiencies in Clark County with 80.3% Math and 84.1% ELA proficiency, serving the master-planned Inspirada community.
• Coral Academy Windmill Middle: A flagship STEM campus in Green Valley with 67.2% math proficiency and a 5.3% chronic absenteeism rate.

2. Top CCSD Zoned Comprehensive Middle Schools

For families seeking traditional zoned neighborhood schools with interscholastic sports, performing arts bands, and large-group activities:

• Sig Rogich Middle School (Summerlin): With an 84.0 index score, 61.9% math proficiency, and 70.6% ELA proficiency, Rogich feeds Summerlin students directly into Palo Verde High School.
• Gunderson Middle School (Southwest Las Vegas): Achieving an 85.0 index score and 56.6% math proficiency, Gunderson serves fast-growing master plans in Mountains Edge and Southwest Las Vegas.
• Mannion Middle School & Bob Miller Middle School (Henderson): Mannion (80.5 index) and Miller (79.5 index) serve Seven Hills and Green Valley Ranch, feeding into Coronado High School and Foothill High School.

3. Top CCSD Magnet Middle Schools

• Lied STEM Academy Middle School: Earning an 87.5 index score with 59.8% math and 63.1% reading proficiency, Lied provides specialized biotechnology, robotics, and architectural engineering pathways.
• O'Callaghan i3 Academy Middle School: Achieves 5 stars with an 81.0 index score through inquiry-based digital design and computer programming curricula.

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High School Feeder Patterns & Career Academy Admissions

Middle school academic performance directly influences high school trajectory across the Las Vegas valley:

1. 8th-Grade High School Credit Acceleration: High-performing middle school students who complete Algebra I and Geometry in 8th grade satisfy prerequisites to enter Advanced Placement (AP) calculus pathways in high school, positioning them for the Nevada Millennium Scholarship. 2. CCSD Career & Technical Academy (CTA) Lottery: Admission to top-tier academies like Advanced Technologies Academy (ATECH), West Career & Technical Academy (WCTA), and Southwest Career & Technical Academy (SWCTA) is competitive. Strong middle school attendance records and 8th-grade on-track credit status ensure students enter high school ready for rigorous CTA coursework.

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How Clark County Parents Can Navigate Middle School Choice

1. Verify Your Zoned School First: Attendance zones in Las Vegas can change as new subdivisions open. Use our free School Zone Address Finder to verify your neighborhood middle school. 2. Apply for CCSD Magnet Programs (October – January): District magnet applications open every fall for the following academic year. Seats are allocated through a computerized lottery. 3. Register for State Charter Lotteries: Applications for public charter networks (Pinecrest, Doral, Somerset, Coral Academy, Legacy) run throughout the fall and winter, with random lottery drawings held in January and February. 4. Consider Change of School Assignment (COSA): If your zoned middle school does not fit your child's learning style, CCSD offers an annual spring transfer window for schools with available capacity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What middle school is my address zoned for in Las Vegas or Henderson?

School zoning in Clark County is determined by residential address and street boundaries. You can enter any Clark County home address into our Nevada School Zone Address Finder to instantly identify your zoned middle school along with its official NSPF star rating and performance metrics.

What happens if a student fails a core subject in middle school in Nevada?

Under NAC 389.445, students must earn 1.5 credits in math, 1.5 in English, 1 in science, and 1 in social studies across 7th and 8th grade. Students who fail a course must attend summer school remediation or complete online credit recovery before being promoted to high school.

Are public charter middle schools free in Clark County?

Yes. All public charter schools in Nevada—including Legacy Traditional, Doral Academy, Pinecrest Academy, Somerset Academy, and Coral Academy—are 100% tuition-free public schools funded by the state. They admit students via random lottery without entrance exams or tuition fees.

Can middle school students earn high school credits in 8th grade?

Yes. Middle school students in Clark County who successfully complete Algebra I, Geometry, or high school foreign languages (such as Spanish I) earn high school credits that appear on their official high school transcript under NAC 389.655.

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Interactive Education Tools for Nevada Families

• Nevada School Zone Address Finder: Verify your assigned Clark County middle school boundary and evaluate neighborhood performance grades.
• NSPF Star Rating Calculator & Decoder: Decode how state test scores, student growth percentiles, and attendance metrics combine to calculate school ratings.
• Side-by-Side School Comparison Engine: Benchmark Rogich, Gunderson, Lied STEM, and Doral Cactus side-by-side on test scores and attendance.
• Education Partner & Business Portal: Connect with local academic tutoring providers, STEM programs, and youth organizations serving middle school families.
• Best Schools in Summerlin Relocation Guide: Explore neighborhood elementary, middle, and high schools across Summerlin.