Nevada School Report Card: Complete 2026 Parent Guide to NSPF Ratings & Data

Nevada School Report Card: Complete 2026 Parent Guide to NSPF Ratings & Data

Every September, the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) releases official school report cards for more than 750 public and charter schools statewide. Mandated by Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 385A.070) and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Nevada School Report Card provides the state's authoritative public accounting of academic performance, graduation rates, safety, and demographics.

For parents, reading a multi-page state report card can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down exactly what the Nevada School Report Card measures, how the 1-to-5 star rating is calculated under the Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF), and how to use this data to make informed education decisions for your family.

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Quick Summary: Nevada School Report Card at a Glance

> Quick Summary (AEO Definition): The Nevada School Report Card is the official annual state evaluation published by the Nevada Department of Education. It scores public and charter schools on a 100-point index and assigns a rating of 1 to 5 stars based on standardized test proficiency (SBAC/ACT), student growth percentiles (MGP), English language acquisition, chronic absenteeism, and 4-year graduation rates.

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The 5 Core Metrics on Every Nevada School Report Card

The Nevada Department of Education calculates a composite 100-point index score for each campus. While high schools emphasize graduation and college readiness, elementary and middle schools prioritize student growth. Across all levels, five core categories drive the evaluation:

1. Academic Achievement (Proficiency)

• Elementary & Middle Schools (25 Points): Measures the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA), plus 5th and 8th-grade Science exams.
• High Schools (25 Points): Measures 11th-grade performance on the statewide administration of the ACT exam across English, reading, math, and science.

2. Student Growth (Growth Percentiles)

Accounting for up to 35 points in elementary and middle schools, this metric evaluates Median Growth Percentiles (MGP). Rather than testing whether a student passed a cutoff score, MGP tracks how much progress an individual student achieved compared to academic peers statewide with similar prior-year score histories.

3. Closing Opportunity Gaps

Allocates up to 20 points based on how effectively a school raises proficiency among historically underserved student subgroups, including English language learners (ELL), students with individualized education programs (IEPs), and economically disadvantaged students.

4. English Language Proficiency (WIDA ACCESS)

Assigns 10 points tracking the percentage of English learners making adequate annual progress toward English language proficiency on the annual WIDA ACCESS assessment.

5. Student Engagement & Chronic Absenteeism

Accounts for 10 points. In Nevada, a student is defined as chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of enrolled academic days—roughly 18 days per school year. Schools with chronic absenteeism rates above 20% to 30% lose critical framework points, which can pull a 4-star school down into a 3-star tier.

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Understanding NSPF Star Ratings (1 to 5 Stars)

The composite index score (0 to 100 points) converts directly into an official NSPF Star Rating:

| Star Rating | Index Score Range | Performance Tier Description | | :---: | :---: | :--- | | 5 Stars | 82.0 – 100.0 | Superior Performance: Campus exceeds state performance standards across all evaluated metrics. Distinguished by high growth and exemplary test scores. | | 4 Stars | 67.0 – 81.9 | Commendable Performance: Campus meets state standards with strong performance across multiple indicators, maintaining solid growth and attendance. | | 3 Stars | 50.0 – 66.9 | Adequate Performance: Campus meets baseline state performance standards. About 35% of Nevada public schools land within this middle tier. | | 2 Stars | 32.0 – 49.9 | Needs Improvement: Campus falls below state standards in multiple indicators. Targeted intervention and technical assistance required. | | 1 Star | 0.0 – 31.9 | Critical Need for Intervention: Campus persistently underperforms state benchmarks and is subject to state-level oversight and corrective action. |

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How to Check Your School's Report Card on NevadaSchools.org

Rather than sorting through multi-page state PDFs, NevadaSchools.org structures official NDE data into interactive comparison tools:

1. Check Your Neighborhood School: Use our School Zone Address Finder to look up your home address and instantly see the assigned elementary, middle, and high school ratings. 2. Simulate Point Scenarios: Use the NSPF Star Rating Decoder to model how adjustments in test scores or attendance shift a campus between star tiers. 3. Compare Campuses Head-to-Head: Use the Side-by-Side School Comparison Tool to benchmark neighborhood zoned schools against local magnet and charter alternatives. 4. Community & Business Partners: Education providers, tutoring academies, and real estate professionals can learn more through our Partner & Advertising Portal.