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Katherine Dunn Elementary

Q: Is Katherine Dunn Elementary a good school?

Katherine Dunn Elementary ranks 213 th of 376 Nevada elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

213^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 376 Nevada Elementary Schools

Better than 43% of Nevada elementary schools

Summary

Katherine Dunn Elementary is a PK–5 school at 1135 O'Callaghan Dr in Sparks, Nevada, serving about 462 students — the largest school in its immediate neighborhood — as part of the Washoe County School District, where economic need is nearly universal at 99.78% free/reduced lunch in 2024-2025.

In 2025-2026, Katherine Dunn Elementary ranked 213 of 376 Nevada elementary schools (43rd percentile, 2 stars), and its ten-year history has been steady mid-pack, with percentiles ranging only from 40 to 59. Proficiency sits below district and state in math (32.1%) and reading (42.4%), but above both in science (29.1%) — and science is the clearest bright spot, running roughly 10 points above the district and 12 points above the state, a nearly 70% relative advantage. Against its nearby peers, Dunn ranks 7th of 11 in math and 6th of 11 in reading, ahead of Greenbrae Elementary, Lincoln Park Elementary, Agnes Risley Elementary and Robert Mitchell Elementary, but behind Florence Drake Elementary, Lloyd Diedrichsen Elementary and Lena Juniper Elementary.

Three things stand out for families. Reading has improved about 7.5 points over four tested years, while math has barely moved. Chronic absenteeism is better than district and state — 18.7% versus 27.5% and 25.5% — but has risen three years in a row, and Dunn's edge over the district has shrunk from 17.6 points to 8.8, making attendance the leading indicator to watch. Grade-level results also show a pronounced 4th-grade dip: 4th-grade math (26.3%) is about 19 points below the district and the lowest among all 11 comparison schools, while 3rd-grade reading (45.0%) is above both district and state and 5th-grade reading sits at 52.7%. Florence Drake Elementary, with the same 100% free/reduced lunch population, reaches 62.5% math and reading and a 79th-percentile, 4-star ranking — showing strong outcomes and high poverty are not mutually exclusive here.

462

Students ?

17.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,091

Per pupil spending ?

46.3%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

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

1135 O Callaghan Dr
Sparks, NV 89434

(775) 353-5520

District: Washoe County

Students who attend Katherine Dunn Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	George L. Dilworth S.T.E.M Academy
High:	Edward C. Reed High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

55.6%

White:

30.5%

Two or more races:

5.4%

See top rated Nevada elementary schools

Compare Katherine Dunn Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 49th percentile in 2016 → 43rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg39%

Nevada avg39%

213^th of 376

Nevada public elementary schools ?

Bottom 43%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to bottom 43% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Nevada Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

36^th of 62Elementary Schools in the Washoe County

4^th of 12Washoe 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	37.7	213 of 376	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.1	227 of 379	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.5	170 of 377	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.1	208 of 384	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.5	185 of 380	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.1	147 of 324	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.6	212 of 388	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.5	169 of 341	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.5	143 of 351	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	47.0	176 of 347	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	43.9	192 of 332	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	43.6	195 of 330	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	32.7	221 of 328	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	42.2	185 of 318	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	60.8	95 of 300	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	37.6	175 of 292	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	23.3	222 of 294	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	33.1	157 of 246	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	37.4	138 of 213	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	48.9	163 of 330	50.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	53.4	129 of 308	58.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	58.3	115 of 321	64.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	48.1	162 of 332	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	58.4	72 of 227	68.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	28.6	195 of 247	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2018)68th percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)64th percentile+14 vs school

Hispanic (2018)58th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2018)51st percentile~ school

Female (2018)51st percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2018)35th percentile-15 vs school

White (2018)21st percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Nevada (2025-2026) ?

Reading42%-3 vs state

Mathematics32%-4 vs state

Science29%+4 vs state

3.7

3 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, August 16, 2019

Amazing school and the teachers are great, clean school with a very good rating. This school came highly recommended to us and we are so much our children attend this school, we would highly recommend this school. Close Quote

Schools Near Katherine Dunn Elementary

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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 All Grades	SBAC Reading 3rd Grade	SBAC Reading 4th Grade	SBAC Reading 5th Grade	SBAC Reading All Grades	SBAC Science 5th Grade	SBAC Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Katherine Dunn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1135 O Callaghan Dr	Sparks	89434	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 353-5520	462	26	17.7	46.3%	141 (30.5%)	5 (1.1%)	257 (55.6%)	15 (3.2%)	3 (0.6%)	16 (3.5%)	25 (5.4%)	37.7	213^th of 376 public elementary schools	43.4%		35.1	227^th of 379 public elementary schools	40.1%	14	40.8	26.3	29.5	32.1	45.0	30.2	52.7	42.4	29.1	29.1	$14,091	$2,079	$12,011
Lloyd Diedrichsen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1735 Del Rosa Way	Sparks	89434	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 353-5730	312	20	15.7	34.9%	142 (45.5%)	8 (2.6%)	119 (38.1%)	16 (5.1%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.9%)	20 (6.4%)	61.2	121^st of 376 public elementary schools	67.8%		69.5	102^nd of 379 public elementary schools	73.1%	19	57.1	46.1	37.2	46.2	57.1	57.6	47.4	53.7			$13,643	$1,196	$12,448
Greenbrae Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1840 4th Street	Sparks	89431	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 353-5530	323	20	16.3	59.8%	42 (13.0%)	7 (2.2%)	236 (73.1%)	10 (3.1%)	6 (1.9%)	2 (0.6%)	20 (6.2%)	19.8	297^th of 376 public elementary schools	21.0%		15.7	325^th of 379 public elementary schools	14.2%	28	28.5			20.2	28.5	27.2	43.7	33.9			$15,346	$2,003	$13,343
Lincoln Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Lincoln Way	Sparks	89431	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 353-5570	438	26	16.8	58.9%	74 (16.9%)	31 (7.1%)	273 (62.3%)	8 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	24 (5.5%)	26 (5.9%)	18.1	304^th of 376 public elementary schools	19.1%					(n/a)	34.0			21.5	23.4	23.0	42.3	30.3			$14,214	$2,080	$12,134
Florence Drake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2755 Fourth Street	Sparks	89431	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 353-5510	254	14	18.0	44.9%	83 (32.7%)	2 (0.8%)	131 (51.6%)	15 (5.9%)	2 (0.8%)	6 (2.4%)	15 (5.9%)	73.5	79^th of 376 public elementary schools	79.0%		87.4	39^th of 379 public elementary schools	89.7%	40	86.6	53.2	52.0	62.5	82.2	46.7	64.5	62.5	25.0	25.0	$17,219	$1,914	$15,305
Lena Juniper Elementary	Public	K-5	225 Queen Way	Sparks	89431	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 353-5540	372	25	14.8	36.8%	140 (37.6%)	6 (1.6%)	185 (49.7%)	4 (1.1%)	2 (0.5%)	6 (1.6%)	29 (7.8%)	62.3	118^th of 376 public elementary schools	68.6%		48.3	173^rd of 379 public elementary schools	54.4%	55	55.8	52.5	26.6	47.6	50.0	52.5	57.7	52.8			$14,674	$1,887	$12,787
Jerry Whitehead Elementary	Public	K-5	3570 Waterfall Dr	Sparks	89434	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 626-5200	234	17	13.9	29.1%	105 (44.9%)	6 (2.6%)	89 (38.0%)	8 (3.4%)	2 (0.9%)	4 (1.7%)	20 (8.5%)	43.1	193^rd of 376 public elementary schools	48.7%		37.3	217^th of 379 public elementary schools	42.7%	24	42.4	40.0	25.0	34.8	39.3	42.8	59.0	48.2	25.0	25.0	$18,413	$2,136	$16,277
Marvin Moss Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 Primio Way	Sparks	89434	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 353-5507	308	21	14.4	29.2%	139 (45.1%)	10 (3.2%)	103 (33.4%)	11 (3.6%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.8%)	26 (8.4%)	84.3	45^th of 376 public elementary schools	88.0%		67.4	105^th of 379 public elementary schools	72.3%	60	73.3	51.8	72.5	64.7	73.3	51.8	77.5	66.1	40.0	40.0	$17,027	$1,728	$15,299
Robert Mitchell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1216 Prater Way	Sparks	89431	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 353-5590	336	21	16.1	57.1%	54 (16.1%)	18 (5.4%)	226 (67.3%)	6 (1.8%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (4.8%)	15 (4.5%)	23.8	276^th of 376 public elementary schools	26.6%		23.4	276^th of 379 public elementary schools	27.2%			33.8		25.8	25.4	36.7	39.2	34.0			$17,114	$2,908	$14,205
Alice Maxwell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2300 North Rock Blvd	Sparks	89431	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 353-5580	368	25	14.7	54.1%	62 (16.8%)	7 (1.9%)	281 (76.4%)	7 (1.9%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.2%)	30.9	241^st of 376 public elementary schools	35.9%		42.4	196^th of 379 public elementary schools	48.3%	45	22.5	50.0	29.8	33.1	27.4	38.0	47.3	37.2			$14,258	$1,701	$12,557

Frequently Asked Questions about Katherine Dunn Elementary

How many students attend Katherine Dunn Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 462 students attended Katherine Dunn Elementary.

Is Katherine Dunn Elementary a good school?

Katherine Dunn Elementary ranks 213^th of 376 Nevada elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Katherine Dunn Elementary attend?

Students who attend Katherine Dunn Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : George L. Dilworth S.T.E.M Academy
High : Edward C. Reed High School

What is the racial makeup of Katherine Dunn Elementary?

Students at Katherine Dunn Elementary are 56% Hispanic, 31% White, 5% Two or more races, 3% Pacific Islander, 3% Asian, 1% African American.

What district is Katherine Dunn Elementary in?

Washoe 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.