Public schools in Sparks, NV
35 open public schools with an address in Sparks, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
35
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
22,773
35 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.8:1
Nevada median 17.6:1
Charter schools
2
5 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Sparks public schools
The federal directory lists 35 public schools in Sparks, NV: 25 elementary, 5 middle, 5 high. The 35 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 22,773 students, an average of 651 per school. The largest campus is Spanish Springs High School (2,131 students), and the largest elementary school is Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada (1,033).
Washoe County operates the most schools here (32), and 2 regular districts have at least one Sparks campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.8:1, similar to the statewide school median of 17.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools, 5 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 5 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 59% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Sparks
Elementary schools in Sparks
25| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Risley Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 363 | 15.9:1 | |
| Alice Maxwell Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 368 | 14.7:1 | |
| Alyce Taylor Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 469 | 19.5:1 | |
| Bud Beasley Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 571 | 18.3:1 | |
| Esther Bennett Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 529 | 15.5:1 | |
| Florence Drake Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 254 | 18:1 | |
| Greenbrae Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 323 | 16.3:1 | |
| Hillside Elementary School Storey | PK–05 | 37 | 11.2:1 | |
| Jerry Whitehead Elementary Washoe County | KG–05 | 234 | 13.9:1 | |
| Jesse Hall Elementary School Washoe County | PK–05 | 480 | 20.9:1 | |
| John Bohach Elementary School Washoe County | PK–05 | 686 | 21.2:1 | |
| Kate Smith Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 186 | 15:1 | |
| Katherine Dunn Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 462 | 17.8:1 | |
| Lena Juniper Elementary Washoe County | KG–05 | 372 | 14.9:1 | |
| Lincoln Park Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 438 | 16.8:1 | |
| Lloyd Diedrichsen Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 312 | 15.8:1 | |
| Lois Allen Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 478 | 17.7:1 | |
| Marvin Moss Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 308 | 14.5:1 | |
| Miguel Sepulveda Elementary School Washoe County | PK–05 | 532 | 18.3:1 | |
| Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada State Sponsored Charter Schools · Charter | KG–08 | 1,033 | 23.7:1 | |
| Robert Mitchell Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 336 | 16.2:1 | |
| Spanish Springs Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 558 | 17.8:1 | |
| Sun Valley Elementary Washoe County | KG–05 | 520 | 17.3:1 | |
| Van Gorder Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 649 | 18.3:1 | |
| Virginia Palmer Elementary Washoe County | PK–05 | 419 | 15.2:1 |
Middle schools in Sparks
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George L. Dilworth S.t.e.m Academy Washoe County | 06–08 | 613 | 17.5:1 | |
| Lou Mendive Middle School Washoe County | 06–08 | 964 | 21:1 | |
| Sky Ranch Middle School Washoe County · Magnet | 06–08 | 1,206 | 25.1:1 | |
| Sparks Middle School Washoe County | 06–08 | 622 | 19.4:1 | |
| Yvonne Shaw Middle School Washoe County | 06–08 | 785 | 23.8:1 |
High schools in Sparks
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Academy High School State Sponsored Charter Schools · Charter | 09–12 | 224 | 22.4:1 | |
| Edward C. Reed High School Washoe County · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,092 | 24.3:1 | |
| Procter R. Hug High School Washoe County · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,008 | 20.6:1 | |
| Spanish Springs High School Washoe County · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,131 | 26.1:1 | |
| Sparks High School Washoe County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,211 | 20.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White36.9%
- Hispanic48.3%
- Black2.4%
- Asian3.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander1.7%
- Multiracial6.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 35 Sparks schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (22,773 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Sparks
How many public schools are in Sparks, NV?
The current NCES directory lists 35 open public schools with a location address in Sparks: 25 elementary, 5 middle, 5 high. Together they reported 22,773 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Sparks?
Schools with an address in Sparks belong to 3 education agencies, led by Washoe County (32 schools), State Sponsored Charter Schools (2 schools), Storey (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Sparks?
Spanish Springs High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Sparks, with 2,131 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Sparks?
Yes. 2 of the 35 public schools in Sparks are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Alpine Academy High School, Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Sparks schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Sparks public schools is 17.8:1, similar to the Nevada school median of 17.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Sparks guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Nevada cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Nevada cities