Can I use Washoe County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Washoe County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Washoe County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Washoe County?

Start with the 120 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Washoe County Schools & Education

Name: Washoe County, Nevada Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Washoe County, Nevada

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

19/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

85.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

85.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,957

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,153

School Score

19/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 43/100

State Score Position

#13

of 17 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Washoe County

Measured School Summary

Washoe County faces educational challenges with a school score of 19/100 and a graduation rate of 85.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $5,957 per pupil, Washoe County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 56% below the Nevada average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 27% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Washoe County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

120 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

19/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #13 of 17 Nevada counties with school score data.

Completion

85.0%

0.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,957

$2,196 below the state average

School coverage

120

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Washoe County has 120 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Washoe County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT carries most of the listed public-school system, with 112 of 120 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#13

of 17 Nevada counties with school score data. The county score is 24 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

64,989 students

Elementary 70Middle 18High 18Other 6

112 listed schools in this county slice.

DAVIDSON ACADEMY SCHOOL DISTRICT

High school only in this slice

163 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 112 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Washoe County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Washoe County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Data Story

Washoe County Education Infrastructure Includes 17 Charter Schools

Education data brief for Washoe County, Nevada.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:District structure

Washoe County features a complex district structure with 120 total public schools and a significant charter presence of 14.2%, represented by 17 charter institutions. The county serves 68,915 students across two districts, the largest being Washoe County School District with 64,989 students. School locales are primarily urban and suburban, with North Valleys High School serving as the largest at 2,432 students. Despite the large infrastructure, per-pupil expenditure is $5,957, which is lower than the Nevada average of $8,153 and the national average of $13,000. The county's composite school score is 18.8, falling below the state average of 42.7 and the national median of 50.0. The graduation rate is 85.0%, which is near the state average of 84.9% but below the national average of 87.0%. Five alternative schools and one special education school are also in operation. See the NCES Common Core of Data for school-level records.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

120

in Washoe County

Reported Enrollment

68,915

120 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

14% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary74

Middle18

High22

Other6

2 School Districts in Washoe County

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

DAVIDSON ACADEMY SCHOOL DISTRICT

1 school

163 students

120 Public Schools in Washoe County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 16 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 120 matching schools

Public schools in Washoe County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
NORTH VALLEYS HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89506Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,432
PROCTER R. HUG HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Sparks, 89431Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,331
EDWARD C. REED HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPARKS, 89434Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,144
SPANISH SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPARKS, 89441Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	2,057
DAMONTE RANCH HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89521City: Large	9–12	High	1,910
RENO HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89509City: Large	9–12	High	1,796
ROBERT MCQUEEN HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89523City: Large	9–12	High	1,643
EARL WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89502City: Large	9–12	High	1,509
SPARKS HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPARKS, 89431Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,311
SKY RANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPARKS, 89436Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,289
GALENA HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89511Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,254
WILLIAM OBRIEN MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89506City: Large	6–8	Middle	1,065
Nevada Connections Academy	Profile	STATE-SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOLS	Reno, 89521City: Large	9–12	Charter	1,000
DESERT SKIES MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SUN VALLEY, 89433Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	978
Doral Academy of Northern Nevada	Profile	STATE-SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOLS	Reno, 89511Rural: Fringe	KG–8	Charter	956
DARREL SWOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89509City: Large	6–8	Middle	946
Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada	Record	STATE-SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOLS	Sparks, 89441Suburb: Large	KG–8	Charter	927
BILLINGHURST MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89523City: Large	6–8	Middle	912
NICK POULAKIDAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, 89521City: Large	PK–5	Primary	868
LOU MENDIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPARKS, 89434Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	856

NORTH VALLEYS HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89506 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,432 students

PROCTER R. HUG HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Sparks, 89431 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,331 students

EDWARD C. REED HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPARKS, 89434 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,144 students

SPANISH SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPARKS, 89441 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,057 students

DAMONTE RANCH HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89521 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,910 students

RENO HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89509 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,796 students

ROBERT MCQUEEN HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89523 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,643 students

EARL WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89502 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,509 students

SPARKS HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPARKS, 89431 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,311 students

SKY RANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPARKS, 89436 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,289 students

GALENA HIGH SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89511 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,254 students

WILLIAM OBRIEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89506 / City: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,065 students

Nevada Connections Academy

STATE-SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOLS

Reno, 89521 / City: Large

Profile9–12Charter1,000 students

DESERT SKIES MIDDLE SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SUN VALLEY, 89433 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle978 students

Doral Academy of Northern Nevada

STATE-SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOLS

Reno, 89511 / Rural: Fringe

ProfileKG–8Charter956 students

DARREL SWOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89509 / City: Large

Profile6–8Middle946 students

Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada

STATE-SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOLS

Sparks, 89441 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–8Charter927 students

BILLINGHURST MIDDLE SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89523 / City: Large

Record6–8Middle912 students

NICK POULAKIDAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RENO, 89521 / City: Large

RecordPK–5Primary868 students

LOU MENDIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL

WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPARKS, 89434 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle856 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,957

State avg $8,153

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Washoe County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Nevada counties have the highest graduation rates?

Pershing County (95.0%), Lincoln County (92.0%), and Humboldt County (91.0%) currently lead Nevada among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Nevada?

Across Nevada counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,153. The highest current county values are Eureka County ($14,901), Esmeralda County ($13,673), and Pershing County ($11,014). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Washoe County?

Washoe County has a school score of 19/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Washoe County?

The high school graduation rate in Washoe County is 85.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Washoe County spend per student?

Washoe County spends $5,957 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Clark County

Nevada

-0 pts

19/100

School score

Nye County

Nevada

-1 pts

18/100

School score

Churchill County

Nevada

-4 pts

15/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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