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Desert Heights Elementary

Summary:

Desert Heights Elementary is a public elementary school in Reno, Nevada, serving 463 students in grades PK-6 and part of the Washoe County school district.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending of $13,332, Desert Heights Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom third of Nevada elementary schools, with only 20.6% of students proficient or better in SBAC Mathematics, compared to 33.9% in Washoe County and 32.6% in Nevada. The school's academic performance is significantly below the district and state averages in both mathematics and reading proficiency across all grade levels, earning it a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Interestingly, the nearby schools such as Sun Valley Elementary, Lois Allen Elementary, and Michael Inskeep Elementary School generally perform better academically, with higher proficiency rates in mathematics and reading. For example, Michael Inskeep Elementary had 35.2% of students proficient or better in SBAC Mathematics, compared to only 20.6% at Desert Heights. The nearby schools also have lower percentages of economically disadvantaged students, ranging from 29.39% to 100%, compared to 100% at Desert Heights.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 13948 Mount Bismark Street
       Reno, NV  89506

(775) 677-5444

District: Washoe County

SchoolDigger Rank:
312th of 377 Nevada Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,332 Help


Students who attend Desert Heights Elementary usually attend:

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

Student/teacher ratio:  19.5 Help
Number of students:  507

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
49.7%
White:
29.8%
Pacific Islander:
9.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Desert Heights Elementary ranks worse than 82.8% of elementary schools in Nevada. It also ranks 54th among 63 ranked elementary schools in the Washoe County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.05. (See more...)
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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 (49.7%), White (29.8%), Pacific Islander (9.1%). (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 Desert Heights Elementary is 19.5. 56 elementary schools in the Washoe County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Desert Heights Elementary employs 26 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Desert Heights Elementary is $13,332, which is the 13th highest among 63 elementary schools in the Washoe County School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Desert Heights Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Washoe County:

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


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Rank History for Desert Heights Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 24.43 181st 246 26.4%
2008 9.54 264th 294 10.2%
2009 22.68 224th 292 23.3%
2010 11.48 264th 300 12.0%
2011 14.22 274th 318 13.8%
2012 20.14 256th 328 22.0%
2013 21.53 277th 330 16.1%
2014 7.78 323rd 332 2.7%
2016 11.03 328th 347 5.5%
2017 18.35 297th 351 15.4%
2018 14.99 309th 341 9.4%
2019 16.98 345th 388 11.1%
2021 21.54 253rd 324 21.9%
2022 22.60 282nd 380 25.8%
2023 20.13 301st 384 21.6%
2024 18.05 312th 377 17.2%
See the entire list of Nevada Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.36 211th 213 0.9%
See the entire list of Best Nevada Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.29 202nd 227 11.0%
See the entire list of Best Nevada Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.31 280th 321 12.8%
See the entire list of Best Nevada Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.71 307th 330 7.0%
See the entire list of Best Nevada Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.91 288th 332 13.3%
See the entire list of Best Nevada Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.98 273rd 308 11.4%
See the entire list of Best Nevada Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Desert Heights Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.41 223rd 247 9.7%
See the entire list of Best Nevada Elementary 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.

Desert Heights Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Nevada Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Desert Heights Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1995 269 18 14 55 9 n/a n/a 0 365
1996 269 18 14 55 9 n/a n/a 0 365
1997 264 22 8 66 12 n/a n/a 0 372
1998 252 26 7 112 10 n/a n/a 0 407
1999 267 20 13 137 9 n/a n/a 0 446
2000 282 18 11 134 11 n/a n/a 0 456
2001 289 21 12 149 9 n/a n/a -1 479
2002 240 15 14 156 13 n/a n/a 0 438
2003 240 15 14 156 13 n/a n/a 0 438
2004 325 30 23 179 16 n/a n/a 0 573
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 535 535
2006 273 43 22 191 11 n/a n/a 0 540
2007 253 21 27 223 12 n/a n/a 0 536
2008 271 36 25 252 19 n/a n/a 0 603
2009 268 30 30 247 20 n/a n/a 0 595
2010 271 39 30 213 15 n/a n/a 0 568
2011 235 25 8 235 8 10 35 0 556
2012 243 20 12 210 2 19 31 0 537
2013 215 18 9 214 1 22 27 0 506
2014 198 19 8 196 1 28 35 0 485
2015 203 29 8 194 1 39 32 0 506
2016 183 25 4 202 0 41 31 0 486
2017 176 24 9 194 3 35 38 0 479
2018 168 20 7 235 1 31 29 0 491
2019 172 27 12 228 2 32 34 0 507
2020 176 19 13 233 2 33 49 0 525
2021 153 11 12 224 2 36 34 0 472
2022 180 15 9 229 0 41 32 0 506
2023 156 11 7 220 2 43 24 0 463
2024 151 10 17 252 2 46 29 0 507

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 Desert Heights Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 365 22.0 16.6 64.4
1996 365 22.0 16.6 64.4
1997 372 22.0 16.9 40.1
1998 407 23.5 17.3 68.1
1999 446 25.5 17.5 69.1
2000 456 24.5 18.6 67.5
2001 479 28.5 16.8 72.5
2002 438 28.0 15.6 65.5
2003 438 28.0 15.6 65.5
2004 573 38.0 15.1 61.8
2005 535 n/a n/a n/a
2006 540 33.0 16.4 n/a
2007 536 33.0 16.2 n/a
2008 603 36.5 16.5 65.5
2009 595 39.0 15.3 59.5
2010 568 36.5 15.5 68
2011 556 36.0 15.4 74.3
2012 537 37.0 14.5 73.4
2013 506 31.0 16.3 82.6
2014 485 32.0 15.1 81.9
2015 506 33.0 15.3 96.8
2016 486 24.0 20.2 99.2
2017 479 31.0 15.4 99.4
2018 491 32.0 15.3 100
2019 507 35.0 14.4 100
2020 525 30.0 17.5 100
2021 472 30.0 15.7 100
2022 506 n/a n/a 100
2023 463 24.0 19.2 100
2024 507 26.0 19.5 100

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 Desert Heights Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 365 22.0 16.6 64.4
1996 365 22.0 16.6 64.4
1997 372 22.0 16.9 40.1
1998 407 23.5 17.3 68.1
1999 446 25.5 17.5 69.1
2000 456 24.5 18.6 67.5
2001 479 28.5 16.8 72.5
2002 438 28.0 15.6 65.5
2003 438 28.0 15.6 65.5
2004 573 38.0 15.1 61.8
2005 535 n/a n/a n/a
2006 540 33.0 16.4 n/a
2007 536 33.0 16.2 n/a
2008 603 36.5 16.5 65.5
2009 595 39.0 15.3 59.5
2010 568 36.5 15.5 68
2011 556 36.0 15.4 74.3
2012 537 37.0 14.5 73.4
2013 506 31.0 16.3 82.6
2014 485 32.0 15.1 81.9
2015 506 33.0 15.3 96.8
2016 486 24.0 20.2 99.2
2017 479 31.0 15.4 99.4
2018 491 32.0 15.3 100
2019 507 35.0 14.4 100
2020 525 30.0 17.5 100
2021 472 30.0 15.7 100
2022 506 n/a n/a 100
2023 463 24.0 19.2 100
2024 507 26.0 19.5 100

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 Desert Heights Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,943 (15.5%) $10,631 (84.5%) $12,574
2020 $1,800 (14.6%) $10,501 (85.4%) $12,301
2021 $2,244 (17.0%) $10,983 (83.0%) $13,227
2022 $2,098 (15.7%) $11,234 (84.3%) $13,332

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Desert Heights Elementary

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 345th of 388 Elementary schoolsRanks 301st of 384 Elementary schools
 10.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Desert Heights Elementary)17.426.5
 9.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Washoe County)47.843.4
 4.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Nevada)47.841.4
 6.4%
3rd Grade Reading (Desert Heights Elementary)23.926.5
 2.6%
   3rd Grade Reading (Washoe County)44.540.8
 3.7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Nevada)46.340.9
 5.4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Desert Heights Elementary)31.327.6
 3.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Washoe County)45.441.3
 4.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Nevada)43.937.6
 6.3%
4th Grade Reading (Desert Heights Elementary)29.229.9
 0.7%
   4th Grade Reading (Washoe County)47.942.5
 5.4%
   4th Grade Reading (Nevada)49.241.7
 7.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Desert Heights Elementary)18.623.8
 5.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Washoe County)38.535.1
 3.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Nevada)36.829.2
 7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Desert Heights Elementary)3921.7
 17.3%
   5th Grade Reading (Washoe County)49.645.6
 4%
   5th Grade Reading (Nevada)51.943.7
 8.2%
6th Grade Reading (Desert Heights Elementary)29.639.3
 9.7%
   6th Grade Reading (Washoe County)51.141.3
 9.8%
   6th Grade Reading (Nevada)45.840.9
 4.9%
All Grades Mathematics (Desert Heights Elementary)23.721
 2.7%
   All Grades Mathematics (Washoe County)40.833.6
 7.2%
   All Grades Mathematics (Nevada)37.531.3
 6.2%
All Grades Reading (Desert Heights Elementary)30.926.2
 4.7%
   All Grades Reading (Washoe County)49.341.2
 8.1%
   All Grades Reading (Nevada)48.541
 7.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students507463
 8.7%
African American2711
 59.3%
American Indian22
Asian127
 41.7%
Hispanic228220
 3.5%
Pacific Islander3243
 34.4%
White172156
 9.3%
Two or More Races3424
 29.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%

Schools Near Desert Heights Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Heights Elementary

In the 2023-24 school year, 507 students attended Desert Heights Elementary.

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

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

Desert Heights Elementary ranks in the bottom 17.2% of Nevada elementary schools.

Students at Desert Heights Elementary are 50% Hispanic, 30% White, 9% Pacific Islander, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American.


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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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