Best Schools in White Pine County & Ely NV: 2026 Rankings & Mining Relocation Guide

Best Schools in White Pine County & Ely NV: 2026 Rankings & Mining Relocation Guide

White Pine County public schools are anchored by Lund Elementary (87.3 index, 5 Stars) and White Pine High School in Ely (80.5 index, 4 Stars, 58.9% ELA proficiency). Lund Combined High earned 4 Stars (71.3 index), while David E. Norman Elementary (37.7 index) and Baker Elementary (36.1 index) hold 2 Stars.

White Pine County covers more than 8,800 square miles of high-desert basins and mountain ranges in east-central Nevada. Anchored by the historic copper mining city of Ely, the district operates nine public campuses serving approximately 1,200 students. With the ongoing expansion of the Robinson Mine (one of North America's premier open-pit copper and gold operations) alongside renewable energy projects and federal conservation employment at Great Basin National Park, families moving to eastern Nevada face distinct educational choices across long geographic distances.

This guide provides the official 2026 accountability data from the Nevada Department of Education, highlights top-performing rural and town campuses, and details community logistics for relocating families.

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2026 White Pine County School Performance Rankings

Under the 2026 Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF), schools receive an index score from 1 to 100 and a corresponding star rating from 1 to 5. Here is the verified accountability profile for every public school in White Pine County:

| School Name | Grades | Town / Community | Star Rating | 2026 Index Score | Math Prof. | ELA Prof. | Chronic Absenteeism | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Lund Elementary School | K–5 | Lund | ★★★★★ (5) | 87.3 | 57.8% | 68.4% | 8.1% | | White Pine High School | 9–12 | Ely | ★★★★ (4) | 80.5 | 25.6% | 58.9% | 25.0% | | Lund Junior-Senior High (HS) | 9–12 | Lund | ★★★★ (4) | 71.3 | 20.0% | 46.6% | 25.0% | | White Pine Middle School | 6–8 | Ely | ★★ (2) | 38.3 | 24.4% | 28.8% | 20.1% | | Lund Junior-Senior High (MS) | 6–8 | Lund | ★★ (2) | 38.3 | 27.2% | 30.3% | 14.7% | | David E. Norman Elementary | K–5 | Ely | ★★ (2) | 37.7 | 25.1% | 28.7% | 21.1% | | Baker Elementary School | K–6 | Baker | ★★ (2) | 36.1 | 25.0% | 50.0% | 16.6% | | Steptoe Valley High School | 9–12 | Ely | ★ (1) | 23.7 | — | 7.9% | 58.3% | | McGill Elementary School | K–5 | McGill | ★ (1) | 16.1 | 14.0% | 19.2% | 21.0% |

Source: Nevada Department of Education, 2026 Official Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) Accountability Reports.

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High School Spotlight: White Pine High School & Lund JSHS

Secondary education in White Pine County splits between two distinct learning environments:

White Pine High School (Ely)

White Pine High School (★★★★, 80.5 Index) serves more than 350 students as the primary comprehensive high school in Ely. In the 2026 NSPF report, White Pine High delivered standout academic results:

• 58.9% ELA Proficiency: White Pine High exceeded the statewide high school average in English Language Arts, ranking among the top rural high schools in Nevada.
• 25.6% Math Proficiency: Ahead of many larger urban high schools in Clark and Washoe counties.
• Great Basin College Dual-Enrollment: Through Great Basin College's Ely branch campus, juniors and seniors take concurrent college courses in English, history, mathematics, and career pathways.
• Career & Technical Education (CTE): Students participate in heavy industrial trade pathways, diesel mechanics, welding, and health occupations tailored to regional employers like KGHM Robinson Mine.
• Athletics & Tradition: The White Pine Bobcats compete in the NIAA 2A Northern League, with championship histories in track, basketball, volleyball, and football.

Lund Junior-Senior High School (Lund)

Located 35 miles southwest of Ely in the agricultural White River Valley, Lund Junior-Senior High (★★★★, 71.3 Index) offers a tight-knit community secondary model. With small class sizes, Lund high schoolers achieved 46.6% ELA proficiency and 20.0% Math proficiency, supported by strong agricultural science and FFA leadership programs.

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Elementary & Middle School Breakdown

1. Lund Elementary: The Academic Flagship

Lund Elementary (★★★★★, 87.3 Index) achieved the highest performance framework score in eastern Nevada. With 68.4% ELA proficiency and 57.8% Math proficiency, Lund outperformed regional and state averages by double digits. Its low 8.1% chronic absenteeism rate demonstrates exceptional family engagement.

2. Ely Campuses: Norman Elementary & White Pine Middle

Families living in Ely send students through a central town feeder pattern:

• David E. Norman Elementary (★★, 37.7 Index): Serves early childhood through 5th grade in central Ely. Students recorded 28.7% ELA proficiency and 25.1% Math proficiency with a 21.1% absenteeism rate.
• White Pine Middle School (★★, 38.3 Index): Serves 6th through 8th grade. Math proficiency stands at 24.4% and ELA proficiency at 28.8%, with 20.1% chronic absenteeism.

3. Rural Community Campuses: Baker & McGill

• Baker Elementary School (★★, 36.1 Index): Located near the entrance of Great Basin National Park, Baker Elementary serves the ranching and park service community on the Utah border. Baker students posted an impressive 50.0% ELA proficiency rate alongside 25.0% Math proficiency and a manageable 16.6% absenteeism rate.
• McGill Elementary School (★, 16.1 Index): Located 12 miles north of Ely in the historic smelter town of McGill. McGill recorded 19.2% ELA proficiency and 14.0% Math proficiency, receiving additional targeted academic intervention resources from the district.

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Relocation Guidance for Mining & Industry Families

Families relocating to White Pine County for technical or operational roles at Robinson Mine, NV Energy, or federal agencies should consider three key factors:

1. Neighborhood Housing Corridors:

• Central Ely & Murry Canyon: Historic homes close to district facilities, county offices, and White Pine High School.
• McGill & Steptoe Valley: Affordable homes with generous acreage and open desert vistas 15 minutes north along US-93.
• Ruth: Direct proximity to the Robinson Mine pit, offering a 10-minute commute to mining operations.
• Lund & White River Valley: Agricultural properties with multi-acre lots, zoned for 5-star Lund Elementary.

2. Rural School Transportation:

• The White Pine County School District operates daily bus routes covering hundreds of route miles across US-50, US-93, and State Route 318.

3. Winter Weather & Mountain Passes:

• Ely sits at an elevation of 6,437 feet. Winter snowfall is frequent, and temperatures regularly dip below zero. School schedules accommodate winter plowing, with automated notification updates for parents.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What high schools are in Ely and White Pine County?

White Pine High School in Ely is the county's comprehensive 4-star high school. Lund Junior-Senior High School serves the White River Valley, while Steptoe Valley High School provides alternative diploma pathways in Ely.

What is the highest-rated school in White Pine County?

Lund Elementary School earned the highest accountability rating in White Pine County with a 5-star NSPF rating, an 87.3 index score, 68.4% ELA proficiency, and 57.8% math proficiency.

How does Baker Elementary perform?

Baker Elementary School holds a 2-star NSPF rating with a 36.1 index score. Located near Great Basin National Park, the school achieved 50.0% ELA proficiency and a low 16.6% chronic absenteeism rate.

Are there public charter schools in White Pine County?

Currently, there are no physical brick-and-mortar charter schools operated by the State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) in White Pine County. Families seeking alternative public options enroll in Nevada statewide virtual public charters like Nevada Connections Academy or Nevada Virtual Academy.

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Interactive Education Tools for Nevada Families

• Nevada School Zone Address Finder: Verify your neighborhood school attendance boundaries and check transportation zones.
• Side-by-Side School Comparison Tool: Compare White Pine High against rural high schools or Lund Elementary against regional campuses.
• Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) Decoder: Understand how growth percentiles (AGP) and star ratings evaluate rural campuses.
• Nevada Open Enrollment & Transfer Guide: Step-by-step instructions for filing district school transfer variance requests.
• Nevada Charter School Lottery Playbook: Complete guide to SPCSA charter school enrollment rules.
• Nevada Education Partner & Sponsorship Portal: Connect with language tutors, STEM educators, and youth programs across Nevada.