Best Middle Schools in Reno & Sparks: 2026 Washoe County Rankings & Transition Guide
In the latest 2025 NSPF cycle, Mount Rose K-8 Academy Of Languages leads Washoe County with 5★ and an index score of 98.8/100 on official Nevada accountability measures. The full top 5 middle schools in Washoe County for 2026: 1. Mount Rose K-8 Academy Of Languages (5★) · 2. Coral Academy High School (5★) · 3. Kendyl Depoali Middle School (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. Washoe County schools are part of the same NSPF system as Clark County (Las Vegas). Use the NevadaSchools.org comparison tool to confirm the metrics that matter most to your family, then visit the campus before committing.
lightbulbKey Takeaway
A 2026 parent guide to the top-rated middle and K-8 schools across Reno, Sparks, and Incline Village, analyzing NSPF star ratings, math/ELA proficiency, and high school transition credits.
Best Middle Schools in Reno & Sparks: 2026 Washoe County Rankings & Transition Guide
> Quick Answer: Washoe County's top-ranked middle schools for 2026 are Mount Rose K-8 Academy (98.8, 5 Stars), Kendyl Depoali Middle (83.0, 5 Stars), Coral Academy Middle (82.0, 5 Stars), and Marce Herz Middle (79.0, 4 Stars).
---
Washoe County Middle School Rankings: 2026 Performance Data
| School Name | City / ZIP | Grades | Star Rating | NSPF Index | Math Prof | ELA Prof | | :--- | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Mount Rose K-8 Academy of Languages | Reno (89509) | 6–8 | 5 Stars | 98.8 | — | — | | Kendyl Depoali Middle School | South Reno (89521) | 6–8 | 5 Stars | 83.0 | 44.9% | 59.1% | | Coral Academy Middle School | Reno (89512) | 6–8 | 5 Stars | 82.0 | 39.8% | 62.2% | | Marce Herz Middle School | South Reno (89511) | 6–8 | 4 Stars | 79.0 | 56.6% | 65.0% | | Sky Ranch Middle School | Sparks (89436) | 6–8 | 3 Stars | 68.5 | 43.5% | 57.4% | | Incline Middle School | Incline Village (89451) | 6–8 | 3 Stars | 63.0 | 37.2% | 48.1% | | Darrel Swope Middle School | Reno (89509) | 6–8 | 3 Stars | 61.0 | 49.7% | 60.0% |
---
8th-Grade High School Credit Requirements (NAC 389.445)
Under Nevada state law, 8th-grade students must earn a minimum of 3 semesters each of ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Schools with high 8th-grade credit completion rates demonstrate strong promotion practices.
---
Essential Nevada Schools Research Tools
- Nevada NSPF Decoder: Decode star ratings and growth percentile calculations.
- School Zone & Neighborhood Grader: Look up any Reno, Sparks, or Incline Village address.
- Head-to-Head School Comparison Tool: Compare Depoali, Marce Herz, and Coral Academy side-by-side.
rankingsTop 5 Middle Schools in Washoe County (2026)
- Mount Rose K-8 Academy Of Languages — 5-star NSPF rating · 98.8/100 index · RENO
- Coral Academy High School — 5-star NSPF rating · 84.5/100 index · RENO · Charter
- Kendyl Depoali Middle School — 5-star NSPF rating · 83/100 index · RENO
- Coral Academy Middle School — 5-star NSPF rating · 82/100 index · RENO · Charter
- Marce Herz Middle School — 4-star NSPF rating · 79/100 index · RENO
Source: Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) index scores, latest reporting year. Compare every Washoe County school →
Quick answers
chevron_rightWhat is the main takeaway from Best Middle Schools in Reno & Sparks: 2026 Washoe County Rankings & Transition Guide?
A 2026 parent guide to the top-rated middle and K-8 schools across Reno, Sparks, and Incline Village, analyzing NSPF star ratings, math/ELA proficiency, and high school transition credits.
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 middle school in Washoe County?
Mount Rose K-8 Academy Of Languages is currently the highest-rated middle school in Washoe County on the Nevada School Performance Framework, with an index score of 98.8/100. Use the NevadaSchools.org comparison tool to see math, ELA, and performance detail on every school in the top 10.
chevron_rightHow do Washoe County schools compare to Clark County (Las Vegas) schools?
Washoe County and Clark County (Las Vegas) both report to the same statewide Nevada accountability system — the NSPF — but typically diverge on student-teacher ratios, ELL population, and graduation rate. Washoe County generally posts higher district-wide math and ELA proficiency rates than Clark County (Las Vegas), although Clark County (Las Vegas) 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.