Carson schools on No Child Left Behind alert

Fritsch Elementary School was added to Nevada's "watch list" on the State Department of Education's report card of 225 schools failing to make adequate progress under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

It joined Empire Elementary, which is in its second year as being designated "in need of improvement" by the federal criteria, as well as Fremont Elementary, Carson and Eagle Valley middle schools and Carson High School, all of which were listed for the first time as needing improvement.

Seeliger and Mark Twain elementary schools, which had been placed on the "watch list" in October, were removed.

The report issued Monday by State Department of Education officials showed nearly half of Nevada's 568 public elementary and secondary schools were either in need of improvement or on the No Child Left Behind watch list.

"The results actually are better than what I was anticipating," said state schools chief Keith Rheault, adding that he won't know how Nevada compares with other states until he sees more reports on those states.

State and federal laws require schools to move all their students to "proficient" or better performance levels by the 2013-14 school year.

School performance is based on test scores of various student groups. If one of the subgroups doesn't meet the goals, the entire school is listed as not having made adequate yearly progress, Rheault said.

The 122 Nevada schools listed as "in need of improvement" include only two - Manse and Amargosa elementary schools in Nye County - that have had the low ranking for three years. Seventeen other elementary or middle schools are in their second year, and the rest are on the list for the first time.

Another 103 schools are on a "watch list," a step away from "in need of improvement." The report also shows a dozen public schools with "exemplary" ratings, and 69 others with "high-achieving" ratings.

Among the "exemplary" schools were Incline Middle and Incline High schools in Washoe County; and Smith Valley Elementary, Fernley Intermediate and Smith Valley High School, all in Lyon County.

No Carson City or Douglas County schools made the "exemplary" list.

Being placed on the "watch list" means Fritsch Elementary didn't make adequate yearly progress for one year. If that progress isn't achieved for two or more consecutive years in math or English, the "improvement needed" label attaches.

To get off that list, a school has to make adequate yearly progress for two years in a row. If the low ranking persists for three or more years, remedial efforts can include the state's involvement in a school's management.

Rheault said he was surprised to see the drop in schools on the "watch list" this year compared with last year. In 2003, he said nearly twice as many schools had that classification.

Carson City schools 'in need of improvement'

Second year

Empire Elementary

First year

Fremont Elementary

Carson Middle

Eagle Valley Middle

Carson High

Watch list

Fritsch Elementary