Quality of Life Indicators

educational success data

alternative educational opportunities
educational attainment -- updated 10/20/08
Student Test Scores
UNR freshman attrition rates
high school dropout rates

alternative educational opportunities

In 2005-06, there were 65,013 students enrolled in the Washoe County School District. Of that number; 2,942 of the students are in alternative settings within the school district:  Nevada Report Card

• Regional Technical Institute – 60
• TMCC Magnet H.S. – 157
• Alternative Schools (Picollo, Washoe Middle/High School) – 758
• Charter high schools – 1,967

The above tally does not include students who are being home-schooled or at private schools. The number of home-schooled students fluctuates from month to month.

GEDs are not included in WCSD data since they are not “diplomas.” In August 2005, the Washoe County Library, Community Resource Center, in collaboration with NNLC, began offering assessments and enrollments in the online GED study program. Statistics on the number passing the GED exam are not available, however 65 assessments were completed fiscal year 2006-07. Enrollment in the program has more than tripled with just 11 in 2005, 35 in 2006, and 46 as of December 2007. [Source: Washoe County Library, ]

educational attainment -- updated 10/20/08

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey tracks the education level of those 25 years and older because of the relationship between income and workforce skills.

Student Test Scores

Over the years, the legislature has changed the standardized test to be used in schools. They’ve also changed the time of year that testing occurs. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) makes further changes to the testing schedule and requirements.

In evaluating which indicators, if any, TMT will use to monitor student achievement in the future, the measures that must be reported should be taken into consideration. Per the NCLBA, according to the 2003-04 Accountability report, the WCSD has 15 schools in need of improvement. There were also 19 high achieving schools and two exemplary schools.

The high school proficiency pass rates are another option for monitoring student achievement. Washoe County students have higher pass rates than students state wide in all three proficiency areas.

UNR freshman attrition rates

According to a recent study, just over 30% of students graduating from Nevada high schools in 2002 had achieved “readiness” to attend UNR or TMCC. 

Source: Greene, J.P., & Winters, M.A. (2005, February). Public High School Graduation and College. Readiness criteria are based on meeting minimum admission standards at least selective four-year colleges:

1) regular high school diploma; 2) passing 4 years of English, 3 years of math, and 2 years each of natural sciences, social sciences, foreign language; and 3) passing basic level on the NAEP reading assessment (HSTS).

Note that foreign language is not required for a Washoe County high school diploma.

The college-going rate of Nevada high school graduates rose to 45.3% in 2000 as the Millennium Scholarship was introduced. From 1996 to 2005, between 30% and 50% of graduates from Washoe County High Schools needed remedial courses in math, English, or both.  UNR research source

high school dropout rates

Staying in school is more important as the world becomes more complex. After having come down dramatically for more than a decade, the dropout rate increased slightly in 2006-07. Concerted efforts from many groups of community collaborators have made a real difference. Improvements in the Hispanic and American Indian dropout rates are especially encouraging, although the Hispanic dropout rate increased this past year.