Help Center

A standardized test often used for college admissions in the U.S. and used by Nevada as the state’s college and career readiness assessment. It is usually taken during a student’s 11th grade year.

Adequate Growth Percentile (AGP) tells us how many students are growing fast enough to be on grade level within three years.

Alternative Performance Framework (APF) is designed to collect and report data from schools that are not rated under NSPF. These schools can include those offering credit recovery programs for credit-deficient students, schools offering behavioral programs, juvenile detention facilities serving adjudicated youth, and special education schools serving students with identified disabilities.

Clark County School District (CCSD) is the largest school district in Nevada, encompassing Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, and the fifth largest school district in the U.S.

A free public school that operates under a charter from a school district, the SPCSA, or another authorizing body. Independent school boards manage charter schools and may offer specific programming (such as college/career readiness, trades-specific programming, International Baccalaureate, arts education, etc.) to fit the needs of students. Students apply to attend charter schools and, if necessary, use a lottery system to select students for the number of seats available equitably.

Students who miss 10% or more of their enrolled school days are considered chronically absent.

A school that has multiple grade levels from typically different levels. A common example is a K-8 school, which would include elementary and middle schools, or K-12, which would include elementary, middle, and high schools.

A public school under the purview of the county school district; students typically attend based on their home address. Students register for their district school but do not apply to attend.

Opportunity, 180’s summary of each Clark County, Washoe County, State Board of Education, and State Public Charter School Authority board meeting decisions and key data, is available on Opportunity180.org.

English Language Proficiency is a measure of English Learners achieving English Language proficiency on the State English Language Proficiency assessment, WIDA. The NSPF includes Adequate Growth Percentiles to determine if English Language Learners are meeting the goal toward English Language proficiency. Students meeting their growth targets should be on track to become English proficient and exit English Language Learner status in five years.

English Learners. Students who speak a language other than English when they first enroll in school and receive support to grow and improve in English Language Arts.

A count of the number of students who have registered for and are attending a given school.

The Free/Reduced Price Lunch (FRL) designation applies to students who qualify for free or reduced lunch based on household income.

Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are legal documents under federal law that outline a plan for a public school child who needs special education support and services.

A substitute teacher who leads instruction during a full-time teacher’s extended absence. This differs from a short-term substitute in that they are not there to cover a day or two, but for a longer instructional period, such as when a teacher is on a leave of absence, parental leave, or due to a shortage of licensed educators at the school.

Free public schools of choice that operate within existing districts. Magnet schools focus on specific areas of interest, such as performing arts, STEM/STEAM programming, languages, leadership, etc. Magnet schools typically run on an application and lottery system.

Median Growth Percentile (MGP) tells us how well schools and districts are supporting the growth of all students. The MGP is the median Student Growth Percentile of the school.

Nevada State Performance Framework (NSPF) is Nevada’s public school rating system. Designed by Nevadans and developed in accordance with the Federal Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), it classifies schools within a five-star performance rating system.

Nevada Department of Education (NDE, NDOE, or NVDOE) is Nevada’s oversight organization for over 17 county-wide school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority.

Nevada School Climate/Social Emotional Learning Survey (NV-SCSEL) is given to students each fall and is used by schools to understand how students feel about the quality of school life.

The average level that most students at a specific grade level can understand. This may apply to math, reading, science, and other subjects.

Closing Opportunity Gaps is a measure of non-proficiency. This measure includes students who were non-proficient on the previous year’s State assessment and determines if those students in the current assessment administration succeeded in meeting their Adequate Growth Percentile. This is a measure of gap between proficient and non-proficient students.

A public school that contains a smaller, autonomous group of students within its student population. The autonomous unit may operate on an application/lottery system.

Academic Achievement is a measure of the end-of-year state assessment called the Smarter Balanced Test (SBAC). On a grading scale of 1 through 4, a student receives a 3 for proficient or a 4 for advanced. This is also referred to as “on grade level” or “above grade level.”

The total amount of money spent per student that year. This number includes federal, state, and local funds and includes grants and applications.

State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) is Nevada’s third-largest school district, encompassing state-run public charter schools authorized under the Authority’s purview.

Student Engagement is a measure of Chronic Absenteeism and Climate Survey Participation. Research shows that attendance matters and that chronic absenteeism places students at risk of failure. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent, or more, of school days for any reason, including excused, unexcused or disciplinary absences. Students who are absent due to school sponsored activities are not considered absent for the purposes of this calculation.

The percentage of students who do not finish the school year at the same school they started.

Washoe County School District, the second largest school district in Nevada, encompassing the cities of Reno and Sparks.