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Desert Heights Elementary

Public Grades K-5

350^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 376 Nevada Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Nevada elementary schools

Summary

Desert Heights Elementary is a K–5 school in Reno, Nevada, serving 474 students as part of the Washoe County School District. In 2025–2026 it ranked 350th of 376 Nevada elementary schools — the 7th percentile — with 0 stars, while the district overall earned 4 stars. The school's statewide rank has slipped steadily, from the 26th percentile in 2021–2022 down to 22nd, 17th, 9th, and now 7th.

Academically, students trail district and state averages. All-grades proficiency was 20.9% in math and 27.5% in reading, compared with district rates of 37% and 44.4% and state rates of 36.2% and 45.2%. Math is especially weak in the upper grades: 32.7% proficient in 3rd grade, 19.5% in 4th, and just 13.7% in 5th. Reading was 27.1% in 3rd grade, 24% in 4th, and 31.2% in 5th. Science proficiency was 17.9% in 2024–2025 and was suppressed in 2025–2026. Chronic absenteeism rose to 30.2%, above both the district's 27.5% and the state's 25.5%.

Context matters here: 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school spends $15,127 per student with an 18:1 student–teacher ratio. Some nearby schools with similar poverty levels get better results — Alice Smith Elementary (100% free/reduced lunch) reached 43.6% reading, Nancy Gomes Elementary 28.6% math, and Esther Bennett Elementary 28.2% math. Michael Inskeep Elementary School scores much higher (45.8% math, 51% reading) but serves a far less low-income population. Lemmon Valley Elementary, the closest peer by rank, has similar math (22.1%) but lower reading and lower absenteeism. Sierra Nevada Academy Charter, just a short distance away, has higher absenteeism and lower math.

474

Students ?

18.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,127

Per pupil spending ?

46.2%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

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

13948 Mount Bismark Street
Reno, NV 89506

(775) 677-5444

District: Washoe County

Students who attend Desert Heights Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	William Obrien Middle School
High:	North Valleys High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

51.7%

White:

27.0%

Pacific Islander:

8.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 5th percentile in 2016 → 7th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Nevada average (24% vs 39% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!Reading scores 18 pts below the Nevada average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg39%

Nevada avg39%

350^th of 376

Nevada public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Nevada Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

60^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	11.8	350 of 376	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	12.7	343 of 379	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	312 of 377	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.1	301 of 384	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.6	282 of 380	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.5	253 of 324	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.0	345 of 388	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.0	309 of 341	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	18.4	297 of 351	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	11.0	328 of 347	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	7.8	323 of 332	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	21.5	277 of 330	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	20.1	256 of 328	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	14.2	274 of 318	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	11.5	264 of 300	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	22.7	224 of 292	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	9.5	264 of 294	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	24.4	181 of 246	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	13.4	211 of 213	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	13.7	307 of 330	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	20.0	273 of 308	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	21.3	280 of 321	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	18.9	288 of 332	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	18.3	202 of 227	11.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nevada percentile	Rating
2018	13.4	223 of 247	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2018)13th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)13th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2018)11th percentile~ school

Special Education (2018)11th percentile~ school

White (2018)10th percentile~ school

Female (2018)7th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2018)1st percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Nevada (2025-2026) ?

Reading28%-18 vs state

Mathematics21%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Desert Heights 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 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
Desert Heights Elementary	Public	K-5	13948 Mount Bismark Street	Reno	89506	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 677-5444	474	26	18.0	46.2%	128 (27.0%)	15 (3.2%)	245 (51.7%)	14 (3.0%)	3 (0.6%)	39 (8.2%)	30 (6.3%)	11.8	350^th of 376 public elementary schools	6.9%		12.7	343^rd of 379 public elementary schools	9.5%	7	32.7	19.5	13.7				20.9	27.1	24.0	31.2				27.5				$15,127	$2,246	$12,882
Sierra Nevada Academy Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	5600 Fox Ave	Reno	89506	Washoe County	Washoe County	Yes	No	No	No	(775) 677-4500	251	7	37.8	48.6%	111 (44.2%)	6 (2.4%)	99 (39.4%)	11 (4.4%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	21 (8.4%)								(n/a)							18.3					40.0		31.6				$11,343	$2,377	$8,966
Silver Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8719 Red Baron Blvd	Reno	89506	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 677-5400	491	23	21.1	39.7%	179 (36.5%)	20 (4.1%)	239 (48.7%)	13 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.2%)	28 (5.7%)	27.5	254^th of 376 public elementary schools	32.4%		29.1	254^th of 379 public elementary schools	33.0%		39.7	31.5	12.1				28.2	44.3	33.6	39.7				39.1				$13,281	$1,813	$11,469
Stead Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10580 Stead Blvd	Reno	89506	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 677-5480	647	36	17.7	44.2%	144 (22.3%)	34 (5.3%)	365 (56.4%)	36 (5.6%)	5 (0.8%)	29 (4.5%)	34 (5.3%)	18	307^th of 376 public elementary schools	18.4%		18.5	307^th of 379 public elementary schools	19.0%		27.0	24.1	14.0				21.6	35.7	26.7	42.9				35.2				$12,720	$1,570	$11,149
Lemmon Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	255 W Patrician Drive	Reno	89506	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 677-5460	635	35	17.9	48.5%	174 (27.4%)	14 (2.2%)	360 (56.7%)	34 (5.4%)	3 (0.5%)	12 (1.9%)	38 (6.0%)	12	348^th of 376 public elementary schools	7.4%		14.8	331^st of 379 public elementary schools	12.7%	17	27.7	15.0	24.3				22.1	17.4	20.6	39.6				25.8	9.0		9.0	$13,146	$1,654	$11,492
Alice Smith Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1070 Beckwourth Drive	Reno	89506	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 677-5410	512	32	15.9	48.4%	141 (27.5%)	15 (2.9%)	294 (57.4%)	23 (4.5%)	2 (0.4%)	9 (1.8%)	28 (5.5%)	31.9	237^th of 376 public elementary schools	37.0%		21.2	292^nd of 379 public elementary schools	23.0%	55	42.6	38.0	15.7				31.4	43.9	52.3	35.7				43.6	10.4		10.4	$15,685	$1,977	$13,707
Nancy Gomes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3870 Limkin Street	Reno	89508	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 677-5440	259	15	17.2	37.8%	162 (62.5%)	1 (0.4%)	69 (26.6%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.3%)	24.7	273^rd of 376 public elementary schools	27.4%		36.7	219^th of 379 public elementary schools	42.2%	54	27.2	30.0	28.8				28.6		37.5					30.2				$16,413	$1,742	$14,671
Michael Inskeep Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	18001 Briar Drive	Reno	89508	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	No	(775) 677-3800	451	24	18.7	26.6%	269 (59.6%)	4 (0.9%)	134 (29.7%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (8.6%)	52.9	160^th of 376 public elementary schools	57.4%		51.8	161^st of 379 public elementary schools	57.5%	1	57.8	41.7	37.8				45.8	47.3	49.3	56.7				51.0	16.2		16.2	$12,949	$1,381	$11,568
Esther Bennett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5900 Sidehill Drive	Sparks	89433	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 674-4444	529	34	15.4	60.5%	106 (20.0%)	3 (0.6%)	386 (73.0%)	6 (1.1%)	5 (0.9%)	8 (1.5%)	15 (2.8%)	17.3	315^th of 376 public elementary schools	16.2%		20.5	296^th of 379 public elementary schools	21.9%	19	31.3	29.8	23.1				28.2	20.4	31.9	32.9				28.6				$15,257	$2,237	$13,019
Sun Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	5490 Leon Drive	Sparks	89433	Washoe County	Washoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(775) 674-4420	520	30	17.3	59.2%	63 (12.1%)	2 (0.4%)	415 (79.8%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.7%)	17 (3.3%)	15.7	326^th of 376 public elementary schools	13.3%		17.2	319^th of 379 public elementary schools	15.8%	7	32.1	31.5	12.0				25.5	29.7	22.1	34.9				28.6				$13,747	$2,233	$11,514

Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Heights Elementary

Is Desert Heights Elementary a good school?

Desert Heights Elementary ranks in the bottom 6.9% of Nevada elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Desert Heights Elementary?

Students at Desert Heights Elementary are 52% Hispanic, 27% White, 8% Pacific Islander, 6% Two or more races, 3% African American, 3% Asian.

What district is Desert Heights Elementary in?

Washoe County

What schools do graduates of Desert Heights Elementary attend?

Students who attend Desert Heights Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : William Obrien Middle School
High : North Valleys High School

How many students attend Desert Heights Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 474 students attended Desert Heights Elementary.

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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.