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Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

29^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 376 Nevada Elementary Schools

Better than 92% of Nevada elementary schools

Summary

Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School is a PK–5 school in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, serving 691 students in the Clark County School District. It currently ranks 29th of 376 Nevada elementary schools — the 92nd percentile, with a 5-star rating. That is a sharp rise from 2024–25, when it ranked 59th of 379 (84th percentile, 4 stars), and from 2023–24, when it was 77th of 377 (80th percentile, 4 stars). This is the school's best recent ranking.

Math and reading are the school's clear strengths. In 2025–26, 64.4% of students were proficient in math and 73.4% in reading, compared with 33.8% and 43.3% in the district and 36.2% and 45.2% statewide. Those are the highest math and reading scores among nearby schools, edging Coral Academy Centennial Hills in math and leading it by more than four points in reading. Science proficiency is 35.2%, well above district (23.5%) and state (25.5%) rates, though O Roarke Thomas Elementary School is far ahead at 59.3%. Ward still beats the nearby charters' 5th-grade science results (Somerset Academy Aliante 32.8%, Coral Academy Centennial Hills 31.6%).

Chronic absenteeism is unusually low at 13.9%, roughly half the district (27.0%) and state (25.5%) rates and down from 25.3% in 2021–22 — lower than every nearby Clark County school, with only the two charters lower. The school spends $12,759 per student (2023–24), less than most same-district neighbors, and its student–teacher ratio improved to 17.2 in 2024–25. Notably, 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Compared with Heckethorn Howard E Elementary School, about 0.66 miles away, Ward posts much higher math (64.4% vs. 51.8%), reading (73.4% vs. 57.0%), and science (35.2% vs. 18.3%) scores with similar spending. Overall, Ward Kitty McDonough is a high-performing, improving school with strong results and relatively efficient spending.

691

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,759

Per pupil spending ?

26.0%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2024-25)

5555 Horse Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89131

(702) 799-4501

District: Clark County

Students who attend Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Saville Anthony Middle School
High:	Shadow Ridge High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.6%

Hispanic:

28.4%

Two or more races:

9.6%

See top rated Nevada elementary schools

Compare Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 84th percentile in 2016 → 92nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Nevada average (64% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of Nevada elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg36%

Nevada avg39%

29^th of 376

Nevada public elementary schools ?

Top 8%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to top 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Nevada Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 216Elementary Schools in the Clark County

5^th of 12Clark County among Nevada districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2026	89.0	29 of 376	92.3%	★★★★★
2025	80.7	59 of 379	84.4%	★★★★☆
2024	75.2	77 of 377	79.6%	★★★★☆
2023	78.8	66 of 384	82.8%	★★★★☆
2022	81.3	64 of 380	83.2%	★★★★☆
2021	67.0	76 of 324	76.5%	★★★★☆
2019	84.3	52 of 388	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	85.5	40 of 341	88.3%	★★★★☆
2017	88.2	36 of 351	89.7%	★★★★★
2016	83.1	56 of 347	83.9%	★★★★☆
2014	82.0	49 of 332	85.2%	★★★★☆
2013	83.3	38 of 330	88.5%	★★★★☆
2012	62.9	98 of 328	70.1%	★★★★☆
2011	55.3	126 of 318	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	57.6	113 of 300	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	48.9	133 of 292	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	54.0	125 of 294	57.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	82.3	46 of 330	86.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	85.4	25 of 308	91.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	86.4	23 of 321	92.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	85.3	38 of 332	88.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	39.5	51 of 74	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	61.7	59 of 227	74.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	75.0	50 of 247	79.8%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)93rd percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2018)92nd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2018)89th percentile~ school

Female (2018)86th percentile~ school

White (2018)80th percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2018)74th percentile-14 vs school

Multi-racial (2018)31st percentile-57 vs school

By subject vs Nevada (2025-2026) ?

Reading73%+28 vs state

Mathematics64%+28 vs state

Science35%+10 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, March 17, 2019

AWFUL school. The principal is nasty, malicious, and a hypocrite. The office staff is inept, rude, and lazy. My poor son has been bullied EVERY year. This year, the bully is the TEACHER. The principal is more interested in CONSTANTLY asking parents for money via weekly fundraisers than doing her job and ensuring proper education is FIRST. This school is a prime example of why Nevada is ranked LAST in the nation Close Quote

Schools Near Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SBAC Mathematics (2026)							SBAC Reading (2026)							SBAC Science (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SBAC Mathematics 3rd Grade	SBAC Mathematics 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics All Grades	SBAC Reading 3rd Grade	SBAC Reading 4th Grade	SBAC Reading 5th Grade	SBAC Reading 6th Grade	SBAC Reading 7th Grade	SBAC Reading 8th Grade	SBAC Reading All Grades	SBAC Science 5th Grade	SBAC Science 8th Grade	SBAC Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5555 Horse Drive	Las Vegas	89131	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	No	(702) 799-4501	691	40	17.2	26.0%	336 (48.6%)	61 (8.8%)	196 (28.4%)	17 (2.5%)	4 (0.6%)	11 (1.6%)	66 (9.6%)	89	29^th of 376 public elementary schools	92.3%		80.7	59^th of 379 public elementary schools	84.4%	30	76.6	64.9	53.3				64.4	75.8	70.9	74.2				73.4	35.2		35.2	$12,759	$1,406	$11,353
Heckethorn Howard E Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5150 Whispering Sands Dr	Las Vegas	89131	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	No	(702) 799-6690	778	44	17.6	27.8%	289 (37.1%)	102 (13.1%)	250 (32.1%)	27 (3.5%)	3 (0.4%)	12 (1.5%)	95 (12.2%)	64.2	110^th of 376 public elementary schools	70.7%		71.9	97^th of 379 public elementary schools	74.4%	13	53.5	51.8	50.3				51.8	50.4	51.8	67.9				57.0	18.3		18.3	$12,598	$1,309	$11,289
Triggs Vincent L Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4470 W Rome Blvd	North Las Vegas	89084	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	No	(702) 799-1890	798	44	18.1	34.1%	190 (23.8%)	155 (19.4%)	280 (35.1%)	45 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.5%)	116 (14.5%)	54.7	152^nd of 376 public elementary schools	59.6%		53.9	151^st of 379 public elementary schools	60.2%	1	36.8	51.1	48.4				45.8	37.6	59.3	64.7				54.9	15.0		15.0	$12,636	$1,221	$11,415
Somerset Academy Aliante	Public, Charter	K-8	6475 Valley Drive	North Las Vegas	89084	Clark County	State Sponsored Charter Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(702) 916-2327	1,182	42	28.1	17.3%	325 (27.5%)	145 (12.3%)	458 (38.7%)	81 (6.9%)	2 (0.2%)	17 (1.4%)	154 (13.0%)	83.3	52^nd of 376 public elementary schools	86.2%		79.5	64^th of 379 public elementary schools	83.1%	12	74.6	57.4	56.2	47.4	54.4	50.0	56.6	69.2	61.4	64.0	65.4	63.9	65.8	65.0	32.8	50.8	41.5	$8,700	$1,046	$7,653
Rhodes Betsy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7350 Tealwood St	Las Vegas	89131	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	No	(702) 799-3450	570	38	15.0	41.9%	217 (38.1%)	68 (11.9%)	205 (36.0%)	15 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	60 (10.5%)	65.8	103^rd of 376 public elementary schools	72.6%		70.5	100^th of 379 public elementary schools	73.6%	3	57.1	56.0	40.8				50.7	52.9	69.5	58.1				60.0	21.4		21.4	$13,338	$1,396	$11,942
Goynes Theron H & Naomi D Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3409 Deer Springs Way	North Las Vegas	89084	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	No	(702) 799-1770	675	37	18.2	32.1%	169 (25.0%)	123 (18.2%)	254 (37.6%)	29 (4.3%)	2 (0.3%)	13 (1.9%)	85 (12.6%)	55.1	149^th of 376 public elementary schools	60.4%		65	112^th of 379 public elementary schools	70.4%	37	52.6	46.6	34.2				44.1	55.7	49.1	55.8				53.3	20.7		20.7	$13,572	$1,302	$12,269
Neal Joseph M Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6651 W Azure Drive	Las Vegas	89130	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	Yes	(702) 799-2200	458	34	13.4	47.2%	119 (26.0%)	77 (16.8%)	195 (42.6%)	19 (4.1%)	3 (0.7%)	9 (2.0%)	36 (7.9%)	68.3	95^th of 376 public elementary schools	74.7%		49.9	168^th of 379 public elementary schools	55.7%	73	41.2	46.4	60.8				49.7	50.7	54.9	76.8				61.0	29.4		29.4	$15,657	$1,502	$14,154
Carl Kay Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5625 Corbett St	Las Vegas	89130	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	Yes	(702) 799-6650	630	41	15.3	45.6%	163 (25.9%)	131 (20.8%)	216 (34.3%)	25 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.9%)	83 (13.2%)	46.7	176^th of 376 public elementary schools	53.2%		54.3	148^th of 379 public elementary schools	60.9%	28	42.8	49.5	36.1				42.7	40.8	50.4	52.1				48.1	15.9		15.9	$14,980	$1,433	$13,547
Coral Academy Centennial Hills	Public, Charter	K-8	7951 Deer Springs Way	Las Vegas	89131	Clark County	State Sponsored Charter Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(702) 685-4333	686	28	24.5	17.6%	227 (33.1%)	61 (8.9%)	229 (33.4%)	71 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.5%)	88 (12.8%)	87.4	39^th of 376 public elementary schools	89.6%		93.4	19^th of 379 public elementary schools	95.0%	20	62.7	68.9	54.4	81.0	59.4	54.9	64.1	62.7	64.3	78.4	70.2	75.3	62.7	69.0	31.6	56.8	41.5	$8,020	$875	$7,145
O Roarke Thomas Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8455 O'Hare Road	Las Vegas	89143	Clark County	Clark County	No	No	No	No	(702) 799-6600	637	38	16.7	21.4%	341 (53.5%)	48 (7.5%)	163 (25.6%)	18 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	62 (9.7%)	87.7	37^th of 376 public elementary schools	90.2%		88.4	32^nd of 379 public elementary schools	91.6%	5	58.1	60.4	53.6				57.4	70.9	64.9	73.9				69.7	59.3		59.3	$14,765	$1,364	$13,401

Frequently Asked Questions about Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Saville Anthony Middle School
High : Shadow Ridge High School

What is the racial makeup of Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School?

Students at Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School are 49% White, 28% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 9% African American, 2% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 691 students attended Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School.

Is Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School a good school?

Yes. Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School ranks in the top 7.7% of Nevada elementary schools.

What district is Ward Kitty McDonough Elementary School in?

Clark County

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Latest Nevada data All new data »

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataSep 14, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 14, 2026

2025–26 ACT, EOC Science Exam & SBAC scoresSep 14, 2026

2024–25 ACT, EOC Science Exam & SBAC scoresOct 1, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Nevada Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.