Nevada Releases 2025–2026 School Performance Data: Star Ratings, Test Scores, and District Results

Nevada Releases 2025–2026 School Performance Data: Star Ratings, Test Scores, and District Results

On September 15, 2026, the Nevada Department of Education published official accountability results for the 2025–2026 school year. The annual release covers 860 public, charter, and magnet schools across 17 county districts and the State Public Charter School Authority.

The new figures show mixed results across the state. While mathematics proficiency in grades 3 through 8 increased slightly by 0.8 percentage points to 36.2%, reading proficiency dropped to 42.0%. The share of top-rated 5-star schools fell statewide from 17.0% down to 14.2%, and 1-star ratings rose to 18.8%.

The state also debuted its first formal district-level accountability framework under Senate Bill 460, designating lower-performing districts as priority zones eligible for targeted state intervention.

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Statewide Star Rating Distribution (2025–2026)

Under the Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF), every eligible public school receives an index score from 1 to 100 points, which determines its star rating.

Out of 860 evaluated schools across Nevada:

| Star Rating | Schools (2025–2026) | Percentage | Change from Prior Year | | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | 5 Stars | 122 | 14.2% | Down 24 schools (from 146) | | 4 Stars | 119 | 13.8% | Down 13 schools (from 132) | | 3 Stars | 162 | 18.8% | Steady | | 2 Stars | 219 | 25.5% | Up 15 schools (from 204) | | 1 Star | 162 | 18.8% | Up 22 schools (from 140) | | Not Rated / Small N | 76 | 8.8% | N/A | | Statewide Total | 860 | 100.0% | Full official count |

More than 44% of Nevada schools now sit in the bottom two performance tiers (1 or 2 stars), compared to 40% in 2024–2025.

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Standardized Test Results: Math, Reading, and Science

The 2025–2026 testing data measures student proficiency on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) in grades 3 through 8, the Nevada Science exam in grades 5 and 8, and the 11th-grade ACT exam.

Grades 3 through 8 Findings

• Mathematics: 36.2% of students met or exceeded grade-level proficiency standards, up 0.8 percentage points from 35.4% the previous year.
• English Language Arts (Reading): 42.0% met proficiency, down from 42.6% last year.
• Elementary Science (Grade 5): 17.4% of students tested proficient.
• Middle School Science (Grade 8): 33.4% of students tested proficient.

High School ACT Proficiency

Eleventh-grade ACT averages remained flat statewide, with composite math proficiency hovering near 20% and reading proficiency near 39%. Chronic absenteeism remains the single largest drag on high school index points, with comprehensive neighborhood high schools averaging absence rates above 35%.

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District and Charter Performance

Clark County School District (CCSD)

In Clark County, Nevada's largest school district serving more than 300,000 students, 73% of campuses maintained or improved their star rating from the previous year. Career and Technical Academies (such as A-Tech, West CTA, and Southwest CTA) maintained 5-star ratings with index scores exceeding 95.0. However, several traditional elementary and middle campuses experienced rating declines due to drops in median student growth percentiles and persistent absenteeism.

Washoe County School District (WCSD)

Washoe County schools in the Reno and Sparks metro area showed relative stability. Signature high schools like Galena, Incline, and Reno High held their 5-star designations, while elementary reading proficiency across northern Nevada remained above the statewide average.

State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA)

State-sponsored public charters continued to represent a disproportionate share of the state's 5-star campuses. Networks including Coral Academy of Science, Pinecrest Academy, Doral Academy, and Somerset Academy posted strong math and reading proficiency numbers, though newer and rural charter campuses saw wider variance.

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Senate Bill 460: New District Performance Ratings

A key element of the 2026 data release is the launch of the Senate Bill 460 District Performance Framework (DPF). Previously, Nevada only assigned star ratings to individual campuses. Under SB 460, the state evaluates entire school districts on district-wide growth, chronic absenteeism reduction, and graduation metrics.

Districts that consistently fail to meet baseline standards receive a "Priority District" label. This designation requires the district to submit targeted academic improvement plans and grants the Nevada Department of Education authority to direct specific state funding toward instructional interventions.

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Check Your School's 2025–2026 Numbers

All official 2025–2026 ratings and metric breakdowns are now loaded into NevadaSchools.org:

• Search 860 Nevada Schools: Enter your school name or filter by district and star rating to view its 2026 profile.
• Compare Schools Head-to-Head: Place any two or three schools side-by-side to compare test scores, attendance, and student-teacher ratios.
• NSPF Star Rating Decoder Tool: See how individual test scores, growth percentiles, and attendance figures translate into overall star ratings.