Nevada’s Department of Education has reported improvements in student performance for the 2024-25 academic year. Results from the Smarter Balanced assessments show that students in grades three through eight made progress in both mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA).
Mathematics proficiency increased to 35.4 percent, which is a 2.9 percentage-point rise compared to the previous school year. ELA proficiency rose by 4.4 percentage points, reaching 45.6 percent statewide.
“The across-the-board gains in student achievement last school year are a positive step and a testament to the hard work of our educators and students,” said Dr. Steve Canavero, Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction. “We know that work remains to ensure that all students are equipped and prepared to thrive in school and in their future endeavors.”
The data indicate improvements across all grade levels and among every student group, including different races and ethnicities, students with disabilities, English learners, and those who are economically disadvantaged.
Pacific Islander students saw the largest increase in ELA proficiency at 6.9 percentage points, while Black and Hispanic students improved by 4.9 percentage points. In mathematics, students identifying as two or more races had a 3.6 percentage-point gain; Hispanic students improved by 3.2 percentage points.
Among third graders, mathematics proficiency was highest at 46.4 percent; fourth graders followed at 43.2 percent, with fifth graders at 34.6 percent. In ELA, seventh graders led with a proficiency rate of 51.1 percent.
Chronic absenteeism also declined statewide last year, dropping from 29.3 percent to 26.6 percent of students missing at least ten percent of school days during the academic year. Seventy percent of schools reduced their chronic absenteeism rates; nearly half achieved reductions of at least ten percent.
Nevada participates in The 50% Challenge alongside other states and Washington D.C., aiming to cut chronic absenteeism rates by half over five years through an initiative supported by Attendance Works, EdTrust, and Nat Malkus with AEI.
Science assessment results showed elementary school students gained 3.9 percentage points over last year’s scores; middle schoolers’ scores increased slightly by 0.2 points; high schoolers improved by three points.
Graduation rates also saw a modest increase: Nevada’s Class of 2024 graduation rate reached 81.6 percent—up from the previous year's rate of 81.4 percent—with most districts surpassing this average.
Ten districts reported higher graduation rates than last year: Esmeralda, Carson City, Clark, Douglas, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Washoe, and White Pine counties.
The Department’s update also covered federal designations for schools needing improvement under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These include Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), as well as More Rigorous Interventions (MRI) for schools remaining under CSI status for three years or more.
Additional details about state-, district-, or school-level performance data can be found on the Nevada Report Card website at nevadareportcard.nv.gov.