Average
#472 of 691 schools in NV
Desert Heights Elementary
Elementary School · Washoe County · Reno, NV
A Washoe County elementary school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
13948 MOUNT BISMARK STREET, Reno, NV 89506
- Math 20% vs NV 36% (2025)
- Reading 26% vs NV 46% (2025)
- 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Heights Elementary score 23% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
2025 SBAC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NV average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 29 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 23% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 31% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from NV state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Desert Heights Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 10Car-Dependent
- Transit 27Some Transit
- Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,979/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Reno), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$86,557
Median home value
$377,500
Median rent
$1,733/mo
College educated
20.5%
Homeownership
71.3%
Poverty rate
11.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 89506; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Nevada Academy CharterCharter · enrollment unverified | 3.2 | K–8 | 0.2 mi | 260 | Compare → |
| Silver Lake ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | K–5 | 1.8 mi | 424 | Compare → |
| Stead ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | K–5 | 2.0 mi | 674 | Compare → |
| Lemmon Valley ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–5 | 2.4 mi | 642 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Washoe County
- Schools in district
- 115
- Rank in district
- #76 of 109
- District spending per student
- $10,870NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Heights Elementary is listed in Washoe County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Heights Elementary
Desert Heights Elementary is a public elementary school in Reno, NV, part of Washoe County, serving approximately 507 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #472 of 691 schools in NV. State assessment records show 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Heights Elementary
What grades does Desert Heights Elementary serve?
Desert Heights Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Desert Heights Elementary?
Desert Heights Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 507 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Heights Elementary is 19.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Heights Elementary rank in NV?
Desert Heights Elementary ranks #472 of 691 schools in NV.
What is Desert Heights Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Heights Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Desert Heights Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Heights Elementary has 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Desert Heights Elementary a charter school?
No, Desert Heights Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Heights Elementary a Title I school?
No, Desert Heights Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Heights Elementary?
100.0% of students at Desert Heights Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 507
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Washoe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.3%
- Phone
- (775) 677-5444
- Area population (ZIP 89506)
- 45,349
- Area average commute
- 25.1 min
- Area median age
- 36.1
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SBAC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SBAC. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 SBAC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 SBAC. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 89506; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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