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Below Average

#611 of 691 schools in NV

William Obrien Middle School

Middle School · Washoe County

5000 Silver Lake Rd, Reno, NV 89506

Enrollment

1,056

Student-Teacher

21.1:1

Score

4.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Nevada schools

#611 of 691

In Reno

#69 of 77

public schools

In district

#97 of 109

Washoe County

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William Obrien Middle School

4.4/10

Middle School in Reno · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Stead Elementary

4.7/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Silver Lake Elementary

5.7/10

1.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About William Obrien Middle School

William Obrien Middle School is a public middle school in Reno, NV, part of Washoe County. William Obrien Middle School serves approximately 1,056 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio. William Obrien Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #611 of 691 schools in NV.

Structured state assessment records for William Obrien Middle School show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.6 pts below district
  • This school 4.4 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.0
  • NV avg 5.9

What Parents Should Know

William Obrien Middle School runs 21.1:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

48% of students at William Obrien Middle School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.3Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.8 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.0Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency9.5% (2025 SBAC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency23.9% (2025 SBAC)
Math vs. State Avg-26.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-21.9 pts
Overall Proficiency17% (2025 SBAC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)35% (model expectation from 2025 SBAC)
vs. Expected-18.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile12th
Resources & Environment5.0Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,870
Chronic Absenteeism47.8%

William Obrien Middle School — Students at William Obrien Middle School score 17% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NV SBAC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 28.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
35.6% (2025 SBAC)
ELA Proficiency 38.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.8% (2025 SBAC)

Based on 28 test records from NV state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
47%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
60%
ELA
40%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
45%
2012
Math
43%
ELA
49%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
23%
ELA
43%
2016
Math
26%
ELA
38%
2017
Math
25%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
16%
ELA
29%
2019
Math
16%
ELA
29%
2020*
Math
10%
ELA
33%
2021*
Math
10%
ELA
33%
2022
Math
9%
ELA
26%
2025
Math
9.5%
ELA
23.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.3/10.

How William Obrien Middle School Compares

See how William Obrien Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.4/10
12th percentile in NV
Academic
3.0/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
5.3/10
Average
Environment
5.0/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
21:1 student-teacher ratio
50 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
47.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

5000 Silver Lake Rd, Reno, NV 89506

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering William Obrien Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. ROLLAN MELTON ELEMENTARY (rated 9.2/10, 5.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MAMIE TOWLES ELEMENTARY (rated 8.8/10, 6.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, GEORGE WESTERGARD ELEMENTARY (rated 8.6/10, 6.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Reno, see our Reno schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.7 mi
School Distance Rating
STEAD ELEMENTARY Reno 0.1 mi 4.7
SILVER LAKE ELEMENTARY Reno 1.4 mi 5.7
Sierra Nevada Academy Charter Reno 2.0 mi 3.2
DESERT HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY Reno 2.1 mi 5.5
ALICE SMITH ELEMENTARY Reno 2.5 mi 5.4
LEMMON VALLEY ELEMENTARY Reno 2.7 mi 4.9
NORTH VALLEYS HIGH SCHOOL Reno 3.2 mi 3.3
ROLLAN MELTON ELEMENTARY Reno 5.4 mi 9.2
ROBERT MCQUEEN HIGH SCHOOL Reno 6.1 mi 5.8
MAMIE TOWLES ELEMENTARY Reno 6.1 mi 8.8
ARCHIE CLAYTON PRE-A.P. ACADEMY Reno 6.2 mi 6.1
ST ALBERT THE GREAT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Reno 6.2 mi 5.2
PEAVINE ELEMENTARY Reno 6.2 mi 7.5
TMCC MAGNET SCHOOL Reno 5.5 mi 7.1
ESTHER BENNETT ELEMENTARY Sparks 5.2 mi 5.5
GEORGE WESTERGARD ELEMENTARY Reno 6.7 mi 8.6
GRACE WARNER ELEMENTARY Reno 6.6 mi 6.6
CAUGHLIN PRESCHOOL Reno 6.7 mi
ELMCREST ELEMENTARY Reno 6.5 mi 7.6
THE KING'S ACADEMY Reno 6.7 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 89506 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$86,557

Median Home Value

$377,500

Median Rent

$1,733/mo

Population

45,349

College Educated

20.5%

Homeownership

71.3%

Avg Commute

25.1 min

Poverty Rate

11.1%

Median Age

36.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Spring Creek Middle School Spring Creek, NV 4.4
Bailey Dr William H MS Las Vegas, NV 4.5
Cannon Helen C JHS Las Vegas, NV 4.5
Churchill County Middle School Fallon, NV 4.5
Cortney Francis H JHS Las Vegas, NV 4.3
Fernley Intermediate School Fernley, NV 4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about William Obrien Middle School

What grades does William Obrien Middle School serve?

William Obrien Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend William Obrien Middle School?

William Obrien Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 1,056 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at William Obrien Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at William Obrien Middle School is 21.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does William Obrien Middle School rank in NV?

William Obrien Middle School ranks #611 of 691 schools in NV.

What is William Obrien Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

William Obrien Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 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 William Obrien Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, William Obrien Middle School has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is William Obrien Middle School a charter school?

No, William Obrien Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is William Obrien Middle School a Title I school?

No, William Obrien Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for William Obrien Middle School?

100.0% of students at William Obrien Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
51 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
1,056
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
50
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Washoe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
47.8%

District

Washoe County
District Enrollment
63,777
Schools in District
115
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,870
District Rank
#97 of 109

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