Total enrollment
67,732
-1,293 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Washoe County
Nevada · Public K-12
Washoe County sits inside Nevada and runs 127 public K-12 schools, enrolling about 68,279 students. Washoe County Public Schools alone accounts for 63,412 of those students. By grade band, the county runs 80 elementary, 18 middle, and 23 high schools.
4-year change in Washoe County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
122
+3 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Washoe County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Nevada | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 68,279 | #2 of 11 | #157 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 123 | #2 of 11 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 20.1:1 | #10 of 11 | #2,581 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 56.3% | #8 of 11 | #1,285 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 64.3% | #2 of 11 | #355 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Washoe County school rankings
Residents
497,200
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
127
5 districts
Enrollment
68,279
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$88,096
Above Nevada avg
Free/reduced lunch
56.3%
Below Nevada avg
Elementary
80
31,760 students
Middle
18
13,843 students
High
23
21,427 students
Combined / other
6
1,249 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Washoe County Public Schools
63,412 students · 5 districts in Washoe County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Washoe County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
34.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.1%
civilian labor
Median age
39
20.7% under 18
Test scores in Washoe County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 94 schools ranked. Nevada state average: 45.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- CAUGHLIN RANCH ELEMENTARY· 84.5%
- TED HUNSBERGER ELEMENTARY· 82.9%
- MOUNT ROSE K-8 ACADEMY OF LANGUAGES· 82.1%
- JESSIE BECK ELEMENTARY· 79.3%
- ELIZABETH LENZ ELEMENTARY· 76.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Bailey Charter School· 15.5%
- ECHO LODER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 16.7%
- LINCOLN PARK ELEMENTARY· 17.2%
- LIBBY BOOTH ELEMENTARY· 18.2%
- EDWARD L. PINE MIDDLE SCHOOL· 19.3%
Cities in Washoe County
About Washoe County
Across the broad Nevada county of Washoe County of about 497,200 residents, the public-school footprint covers 127 schools and about 68,279 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $88,096 a year, 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 17% noticeably above the Nevada median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Washoe County is made up of 80 elementary schools (31,760 students), 18 middle schools (13,843), 23 high schools (21,427), and 6 combined or other schools.
Washoe County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 63,412 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Washoe County has held roughly steady since SY 2020-21, moving from about 69,025 students to 67,732. Washoe County now counts 122 public schools, up from 119 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Washoe County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data