High Schools in Elko

The Elko area is home to eight high schools serving roughly 2,964 students across a wide rural stretch of northeastern Nevada, ranging from the 1,407-student Elko High School down to the 39-student Jackpot High School. The Elko district overall sits mid-pack statewide — 6 of 12, 50th percentile, 3 stars — but individual schools differ sharply. Elko High and Spring Creek High School together enroll 77.2% of these students, while the five smallest schools — Carlin, Wells, Owyhee, Battle Born and Jackpot — account for just 12.8%.

West Wendover High School shows the strongest current academic signal: the highest current rank (47 of 105, 55th percentile, 3 stars), the highest 2024-25 graduation rate at 93.2%, and EOC Science End of Course at 38.5%, well above the district (21.8%) and state (26.5%). Its ACT English (39.3%) and chronic absenteeism (35.3%) are areas to watch. Spring Creek leads in ACT Math at 27.2%, above district and state, and posts an 89.0% graduation rate. Elko High is strongest in ACT English (51.2%) and 9th-grade science (41.9%), with an 88.6% graduation rate. Wells High School has the lowest chronic absenteeism (24.5%) and highest ACT English (53.8%), though most of its current scores are suppressed. Owyhee High School faces the steepest challenges: a 52.0% graduation rate and 59.7% chronic absenteeism.

Chronic absenteeism is a broad concern: only Wells falls below the state rate of 25.5%, while the district rate is 29.0%. Per-pupil spending ranges from $11,245 at Elko High to $39,248 at Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy, a distinct alternative program that is not directly comparable. Current test data is heavily suppressed at Carlin, Wells, Owyhee, Battle Born and Jackpot — a dash means unknown, not failing.