Best Schools in Sparks, Nevada
38 schools · 27 Elementary · 5 Middle · 5 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Sparks?
Use this page to compare every school in Sparks by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Florence Drake Elementary
Elementary · Washoe County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Spanish Springs Elementary
Elementary · Washoe County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Marvin Moss Elementary
Elementary · Washoe County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Sparks for 2026 are Florence Drake Elementary (9.0/10), Spanish Springs Elementary (9.0/10), and Marvin Moss Elementary (8.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 37 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
38
35 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$452,520
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
38
35 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$452,520
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 9.0/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Sparks schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Sparks
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (37 of 38). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florence Drake Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Spanish Springs Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Marvin Moss Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Van Gorder Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 5 | John Bohach Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Bud Beasley Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada | 8.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Sky Ranch Middle School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Jesse Hall Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Hillside Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $92,553
- Median home value
- $452,520
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69%
46% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Sparks compares
Nevada rank
#13 of 35
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Nevada avg (6.4)
Median household income
$93k
118% of Nevada median
Schools in this city
37
About Schools in Sparks, Nevada
Sparks, Nevada gives parents 35 ranked public schools to evaluate, with an average rating of 6.7 out of 10 across the city. That average sits in solid mid-tier territory, and the distribution is genuinely encouraging: 17 schools — nearly half the city — score 7 or above. Parents have real options here, not just a handful of standouts surrounded by underperformers.
The elementary tier leads the city. Florence Drake Elementary and Bud Beasley Elementary both earn 9.3 out of 10, the highest scores in Sparks. Marvin Moss Elementary, Spanish Springs Elementary, and John Bohach Elementary School follow closely at 9.2 each. Five elementary schools clustered between 9.2 and 9.3 signals consistent instructional quality at the grade school level — a meaningful advantage for families with younger children who want to establish a strong academic foundation before middle and high school.
The 49% rate of schools scoring 7 or better is the key number for parents mapping out neighborhoods. It means that roughly one in two Sparks public schools clears a meaningful performance threshold, giving families reasonable confidence that a good school is accessible without requiring a long commute or a private school budget. The gap between the city average (6.7) and the top performers (9.3) is wide, so exact school assignment still matters — two families a mile apart may land in very different situations.
Practically speaking, parents relocating to Sparks should identify their likely attendance zone early and cross-reference school scores before committing to a neighborhood. The concentration of high-scoring elementaries in the city creates genuine upside for families who do that homework. Sparks is part of the Washoe County School District, so boundary and enrollment option details run through the district directly. Use the school profiles on MySchoolScout to filter by grade level, score threshold, and proximity, then verify current attendance boundaries with the district before finalizing any address decision.
Elementary Schools
27 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 247 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 463 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 333 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 4 | 558 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 5 | 835 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 6 | 626 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
| 7 | 997 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.2 |
| 8 | 456 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 9 | 43 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 10 | 290 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 |
Show all 27 elementary schools in Sparks
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,339 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 745 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
| 3 | 902 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 4 | 598 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 5 | 606 students · 6th–8th | 4.4 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,060 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 |
| 2 | 157 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 3 | 2,119 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 4 | 2,091 students · 9th–12th | 3.5 |
| 5 | 1,278 students · 9th–12th | 3.1 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excel Christian School
Private
204 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.9 |
Schools in Sparks
Sparks, Nevada · 38 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$92,553
Median Home Value
$452,520
Median Rent
$1,684/mo
Population
154,030
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
69%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Community Profile
Sparks has a median household income of $92,553. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $452,520, with a median rent of $1,684/month. The local poverty rate of 9.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Nevada
- Elementary
- 27
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 5
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Nevada
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Sparks, Nevada
How many schools are in Sparks, Nevada?
Sparks has 38 schools, including 35 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Sparks, Nevada?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Sparks is 6.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Sparks, Nevada?
The top-ranked school in Sparks on MySchoolScout is Florence Drake Elementary with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Sparks, Nevada?
The top-ranked elementary school in Sparks on MySchoolScout is Florence Drake Elementary with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Sparks, Nevada?
The top-ranked middle school in Sparks on MySchoolScout is Sky Ranch Middle School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Sparks, Nevada?
The top-ranked high school in Sparks on MySchoolScout is Spanish Springs High School with a composite score of 4.9/10.
How many school districts serve Sparks, Nevada?
Sparks is served by 3 school districts: State Sponsored Charter Schools, Storey, Washoe County.
What is the education level in Sparks, Nevada?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Sparks have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Sparks, Nevada?
The median household income in Sparks is approximately $92,553 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Sparks, Nevada?
Yes, Sparks has 3 private schools alongside 35 public schools. The top-rated private school is Excel Christian School with a score of 6.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sparks, Nevada?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Sparks is 18.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Sparks, Nevada?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Nevada Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.