Sparks High School

Summary:

Sparks High School is a public high school located in Sparks, Nevada, serving 1,311 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Washoe County School District, which is ranked 5th out of 13 districts in Nevada and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Sparks High School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing high schools in Nevada, with a statewide ranking between 96-100 out of 97-136 high schools over the past several years. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state and district averages, with only 6.1% of Sparks High School students proficient or better in ACT/Mathematics, compared to 23.1% in Washoe County and 19.4% statewide. Additionally, Sparks High School has an extremely high percentage of students (99.85%) who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Nearby schools, such as Earl Wooster High School, TMCC Magnet School, and Academy of Arts, Careers & Technical, generally outperform Sparks High School on academic measures, suggesting that there may be opportunities to learn from their approaches and strategies. Addressing the challenges faced by Sparks High School will likely require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that addresses the school's academic, demographic, and resource-related needs.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 820 15th St
       Sparks, NV  89431


(775) 353-5550

District: Washoe County

SchoolDigger Rank:
96th of 97 Nevada High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,782 Help


Feeder schools for Sparks High School:

Elementary:    Alice Maxwell Elementary
    Florence Drake Elementary
    Greenbrae Elementary
    Lincoln Park Elementary
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  22.8 Help
Number of students:  1,278

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
76.1%
White:
12.6%
Asian:
3.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Sparks High School ranks worse than 99% of high schools in Nevada. It also ranks last among 14 ranked high schools in the Washoe County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Sparks High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (76.1%), White (12.6%), Asian (3.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sparks High School is 22.8, which is the 7th best among 14 high schools in the Washoe County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Sparks High School employs 56 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sparks High School is $9,782, which is the 8th highest among 14 high schools in the Washoe County School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Sparks High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Sparks High School 96th of 97 Nevada public high schools. (See Sparks High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Male students:


Washoe County:

SchoolDigger ranks Washoe County 5th of 13 Nevada school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Sparks High School

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Rank History for all students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 16.69 46th 55 16.4%
2008 13.00 55th 63 12.7%
2009 58.82 26th 60 56.7%
2010 37.88 35th 47 25.5%
2011 19.98 58th 69 15.9%
2012 21.59 53rd 71 25.4%
2013 29.71 82nd 110 25.5%
2014 34.36 80th 105 23.8%
2015 24.65 89th 107 16.8%
2016 21.50 92nd 113 18.6%
2017 25.94 90th 125 28.0%
2018 24.46 94th 118 20.3%
2019 14.47 121st 136 11.0%
2021 7.39 100th 101 1.0%
2022 7.62 95th 96 1.0%
2023 6.16 96th 96 0.0%
2024 8.00 96th 97 1.0%
See the entire list of Nevada High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.75 50th 52 3.8%
2019 10.00 52nd 56 7.1%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 43.94 22nd 47 53.2%
2018 12.98 53rd 53 0.0%
2019 26.95 53rd 61 13.1%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 32.05 42nd 57 26.3%
2018 38.24 35th 60 41.7%
2019 21.78 61st 65 6.2%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 46.39 42nd 75 44.0%
2018 28.09 78th 99 21.2%
2019 20.80 96th 109 11.9%
2024 10.43 60th 60 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 21.60 66th 80 17.5%
2018 17.28 85th 99 14.1%
2019 15.09 103rd 121 14.9%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 36.13 50th 79 36.7%
2018 26.76 79th 108 26.9%
2019 13.95 111th 126 11.9%
2024 7.76 77th 77 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 53.27 26th 44 40.9%
2018 24.85 37th 49 24.5%
2019 1.12 53rd 53 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 40.40 40th 73 45.2%
2018 25.36 77th 92 16.3%
2019 19.54 95th 110 13.6%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Sparks High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 17.29 70th 78 10.3%
2018 18.88 86th 100 14.0%
2019 11.82 108th 117 7.7%
See the entire list of Best Nevada High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Nevada Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Sparks High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Nevada Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Sparks High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1276 38 83 106 42 n/a n/a -1 1544
1989 1179 31 63 110 40 n/a n/a 0 1423
1990 1205 42 52 157 36 n/a n/a 0 1492
1991 1122 35 63 156 38 n/a n/a 0 1414
1992 1192 40 76 194 42 n/a n/a 0 1544
1993 1173 59 87 161 36 n/a n/a 0 1516
1994 1125 65 89 202 38 n/a n/a 0 1519
1995 1095 100 98 255 37 n/a n/a 0 1585
1996 1095 100 98 255 37 n/a n/a 0 1585
1997 1155 66 89 287 49 n/a n/a 0 1646
1998 1203 65 76 284 53 n/a n/a 0 1681
1999 1213 83 94 335 55 n/a n/a 0 1780
2000 1215 85 99 375 68 n/a n/a 0 1842
2001 1269 79 111 431 62 n/a n/a 0 1952
2002 587 48 82 446 32 n/a n/a 0 1195
2003 587 48 82 446 32 n/a n/a 0 1195
2004 532 44 82 539 42 n/a n/a 0 1239
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1175 1175
2006 445 48 76 538 26 n/a n/a 0 1133
2007 399 51 70 627 30 n/a n/a 0 1177
2008 340 59 72 676 23 n/a n/a 0 1170
2009 297 50 74 664 17 n/a n/a 0 1102
2010 292 53 73 709 19 n/a n/a 0 1146
2011 254 40 68 758 16 9 25 0 1170
2012 233 31 49 815 15 9 28 0 1180
2013 227 22 48 782 11 9 34 0 1133
2014 221 33 51 829 10 17 26 0 1187
2015 227 34 46 853 16 16 30 0 1222
2016 228 34 47 823 10 17 39 0 1198
2017 202 32 50 871 9 11 34 0 1209
2018 179 34 52 861 8 9 44 0 1187
2019 168 34 41 880 8 12 41 0 1184
2020 156 41 41 930 8 15 46 0 1237
2021 158 42 47 912 9 20 36 0 1224
2022 158 35 42 990 10 29 34 0 1298
2023 164 33 44 1001 8 20 39 2 1311
2024 161 33 43 973 10 18 39 1 1278

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sparks High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1544 68.0 22.7 n/a
1989 1423 68.0 20.9 n/a
1990 1492 68.0 21.9 n/a
1991 1414 69.0 20.4 6.2
1992 1544 73.0 21.1 9.5
1993 1516 69.0 22.0 10.9
1994 1519 66.0 23.0 12.8
1995 1585 75.6 21.0 15.5
1996 1585 75.6 21.0 15.5
1997 1646 77.1 21.3 6.4
1998 1681 79.3 21.2 7.7
1999 1780 80.5 22.1 15.3
2000 1842 86.7 21.2 16.6
2001 1952 91.4 21.4 18.9
2002 1195 70.0 17.1 21.8
2003 1195 70.0 17.1 21.8
2004 1239 77.0 16.1 24.9
2005 1175 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1133 62.0 18.3 n/a
2007 1177 61.7 19.1 n/a
2008 1170 60.8 19.2 43.8
2009 1102 63.0 17.5 48
2010 1146 60.0 19.1 54.5
2011 1170 62.0 18.8 65.5
2012 1180 62.5 18.8 59.7
2013 1133 57.5 19.7 57.7
2014 1187 60.5 19.6 60.5
2015 1222 65.0 18.8 59.3
2016 1198 64.0 18.7 66.9
2017 1209 67.5 17.9 59.4
2018 1187 59.5 19.9 58.1
2019 1184 74.0 16.0 57.1
2020 1237 77.0 16.0 60.3
2021 1224 77.0 15.8 48.4
2022 1298 n/a n/a 47.8
2023 1311 59.2 22.1 99.8
2024 1278 56.0 22.8 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sparks High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1544 68.0 22.7 n/a
1989 1423 68.0 20.9 n/a
1990 1492 68.0 21.9 n/a
1991 1414 69.0 20.4 6.2
1992 1544 73.0 21.1 9.5
1993 1516 69.0 22.0 10.9
1994 1519 66.0 23.0 12.8
1995 1585 75.6 21.0 15.5
1996 1585 75.6 21.0 15.5
1997 1646 77.1 21.3 6.4
1998 1681 79.3 21.2 7.7
1999 1780 80.5 22.1 15.3
2000 1842 86.7 21.2 16.6
2001 1952 91.4 21.4 18.9
2002 1195 70.0 17.1 21.8
2003 1195 70.0 17.1 21.8
2004 1239 77.0 16.1 24.9
2005 1175 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1133 62.0 18.3 n/a
2007 1177 61.7 19.1 n/a
2008 1170 60.8 19.2 43.8
2009 1102 63.0 17.5 48
2010 1146 60.0 19.1 54.5
2011 1170 62.0 18.8 65.5
2012 1180 62.5 18.8 59.7
2013 1133 57.5 19.7 57.7
2014 1187 60.5 19.6 60.5
2015 1222 65.0 18.8 59.3
2016 1198 64.0 18.7 66.9
2017 1209 67.5 17.9 59.4
2018 1187 59.5 19.9 58.1
2019 1184 74.0 16.0 57.1
2020 1237 77.0 16.0 60.3
2021 1224 77.0 15.8 48.4
2022 1298 n/a n/a 47.8
2023 1311 59.2 22.1 99.8
2024 1278 56.0 22.8 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sparks High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $700 (7.5%) $8,684 (92.5%) $9,384
2020 $628 (6.9%) $8,482 (93.1%) $9,110
2021 $1,180 (12.2%) $8,518 (87.8%) $9,699
2022 $1,234 (12.6%) $8,548 (87.4%) $9,782

Data source: Nevada Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sparks High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 121st of 136 High schoolsRanks 96th of 96 High schools
 11%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
9th Grade Science (Sparks High School)96.5
 2.5%
   9th Grade Science (Washoe County)31.524.5
 7%
   9th Grade Science (Nevada)27.721.1
 6.6%
11th Grade Mathematics (Sparks High School)8.25.4
 2.8%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Washoe County)30.826.3
 4.5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Nevada)25.520.5
 5%
11th Grade English (Sparks High School)14.912.7
 2.2%
   11th Grade English (Washoe County)46.745.8
 0.9%
   11th Grade English (Nevada)46.745.9
 0.8%
All Grades Science (Sparks High School)9.16.7
 2.4%
   All Grades Science (Washoe County)30.923.9
 7%
   All Grades Science (Nevada)26.920.1
 6.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students11841311
 10.7%
African American3433
 2.9%
American Indian88
Asian4144
 7.3%
Hispanic8801001
 13.8%
Pacific Islander1220
 66.7%
White168164
 2.4%
Two or More Races4139
 4.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients57.1%99.8%
 42.8%


Schools Near Sparks High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Sparks High School

Sparks High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alice Maxwell Elementary
Elementary : Florence Drake Elementary
Elementary : Greenbrae Elementary
Elementary : Lincoln Park Elementary
Elementary : Robert Mitchell Elementary

Students at Sparks High School are 76% Hispanic, 13% White, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races, 3% African American, 1% Pacific Islander.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,278 students attended Sparks High School.

Sparks High School ranks in the bottom 1.0% of Nevada high schools.


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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.





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