Churchill County Schools Show Growth in State Star Ratings

Churchill County schools posted gains in Nevada’s latest performance ratings, with district campuses improving and Oasis Academy holding strong in the Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF).

The Nevada Department of Education on Monday released star ratings for the 2024-25 school year, part of an accountability system that measures schools on academic achievement, growth, and other factors such as absenteeism and graduation rates.

Statewide, the share of top-rated schools climbed significantly. This year, 17 percent of schools earned a five-star rating, compared with 11.2 percent last year. Four-star schools rose to 13.5 percent, up from 10.7 percent, while one-star schools dropped to 16.3 percent from more than a quarter of campuses.

“It’s encouraging news that more of our state’s public schools are earning higher star ratings,” said Interim State Superintendent Steve Canavero. “This reflects the hard work and dedication of our educators, administrators, staff, students, and families. We always have more work to do, but the widespread gains in achievement seen this year are rare and a clear indicator of progress.”

Locally, results were mixed but trending upward. Churchill County High School improved from two to three stars; Numa Elementary climbed from one to two; and Churchill County Middle School remained at one, though its overall performance score improved.

Although E.C. Best Elementary and Lahontan Elementary were not included in this year’s NSPF due to data thresholds, district leaders noted their foundational role in student learning. Northside Early Learning Center, while not covered by NSPF, holds a five-star rating under Nevada’s Silver Stars Quality Rating and Improvement System, the highest rating available for preschool programs.

“These results highlight the hard work of our students, teachers, staff, and families,” Superintendent Derild Parsons said in a district statement. “We are seeing progress, and we remain committed to building on this momentum to ensure success for every student in Churchill County.”

Parsons also pointed to the district’s early grades, where instructional practices are setting the stage for growth at the middle and high school levels.

Oasis Academy, Churchill County’s K-12 public charter school, posted some of the strongest local results. The elementary campus earned a four-star rating, while both the middle and high school programs received five stars. The Oasis middle school is ranked fifth in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“Our recent school performance results reflect the hard work and dedication of our students whose perseverance and effort have been instrumental in achieving these exemplary outcomes,” said Oasis K-12 School Leader Dane Nott. “Behind these successes is a strong foundation of community support, from parents to local organizations, putting kids first and working together to create a positive environment for growth. These results are not just numbers, they represent the collective effort of a school community that believes in every student’s potential.”

Nott said Oasis plans to expand differentiated instruction and personalized learning, deepen family and community partnerships, and broaden project-based learning opportunities in STEM, arts, and real-world problem solving.

NSPF assigns schools one to five stars based on proficiency in English, math, and science; year-to-year growth; chronic absenteeism; graduation rates; and other measures. Scores are totaled on a 100-point index and converted to star ratings.

This year’s release included only star ratings, with full data reports delayed by a statewide network security incident that disrupted state agency websites. Officials said the Nevada Report Card portal will be restored in the coming weeks with detailed results.

In the meantime, local leaders framed the star ratings as both recognition and a reminder of work still to do. “We remain focused on fostering a lifelong love of learning through continuous improvement and a shared responsibility to improve our students’ lives through educational access and support,” Nott said.