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Las Vegas Valley

Schools

The Clark County School District (CCSD) is the country's fifth largest, serving over 306,000 students who attend more than 337 schools. The school district's seven regions serve 72 percent of Nevada's school children, including the Las Vegas metropolitan area as well as surrounding rural areas. The academic achievement of students in CCSD varies by school, but students in low-income communities continue to significantly lag behind their peers. In 2006, only 31 percent of CCSD third-graders receiving free or reduced-price lunch performed at or above grade level in reading in recent standardized tests. Fewer than half of high school seniors passed their math proficiency exams, and, of all the freshmen that enter high school, only 64 percent graduate.

In addition to ensuring that CCSD has the physical and professional resources to improve while sustaining rapid growth, the district remains focused on improving the achievement of all students. The district recently completed the final phases of its A+ in Action initiative, a plan that emphasizes accountability for student achievement. A+ in Action has been credited with raising student test scores and reducing the number of under-performing schools. Teach For America is working with CCSD to become an active partner in the effort to close the achievement gap in the Las Vegas Valley. The 2008 corps will join the 43 2007 corps members to assume a leading role in upcoming district initiatives.

 

At a Glance

Local School Districts:
Clark County School District

Ethnic Breakdown - Las Vegas Valley
14% African-American
39% Caucasian
38% Latino/Hispanic
9% Asian-American
<1% Native American
<1% Other

Ethnic Breakdown - Student Population - Teach For America Placement Schools
16 % African-American
16% Caucasian
62% Latino/Hispanic
5 % Asian-American
1% Native American
<1% Other

Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
78%

Placements
60%elementary teachers
22% secondary teachers
18% special education teachers
99% teach at a school with another corps member or alumnus general subject elementary secondary math secondary science secondary English secondary history special education