Las Vegas Schools Guide for Families Moving from California
How CCSD zoning works, and how to check any address.
Public schools in Las Vegas and Henderson are part of the Clark County School District, which assigns schools by home address, not by city or ZIP code. CCSD is the fifth-largest district in the country, with about 305,000 students in 2023 to 2024. Families can also apply to magnet programs, public charter schools and private schools. Nevada rates each public school from one to five stars.
This guide covers how the system works and where to look things up. It doesn’t rate schools. That’s the state’s job, and we’ll show you where to find what it publishes. (The money side of the move, including what California can still tax after you leave, is in our Nevada vs California taxes guide.)
One district for the whole valley
If you’re coming from California, where Irvine, Capistrano, Poway and dozens of other districts can sit next to each other, this is the biggest change. There’s one district for all of Clark County: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and the unincorporated areas in between.
By the numbers, CCSD had 304,565 students in 2023 to 2024 and ran 373 schools: 233 elementary, 61 middle, 54 high schools, plus alternative and special schools.
What that means for you:
- Your city doesn’t pick your school. A Henderson address and a Las Vegas address can both feed into CCSD, and your specific address determines which schools.
- Your HOA or master plan doesn’t either. A large master-planned community can be split across several school zones.
- Your ZIP code doesn’t either. Two houses in the same ZIP can be zoned to different schools.
How to check a home’s zoned schools
Before you write an offer on any house, look up the address.
- Go to the CCSD Zoning Search.
- Enter the full street address, not just the neighborhood name.
- Write down the elementary, middle and high school it returns.
- Look each one up on the Nevada Report Card (next section).
Zoning boundaries can change as the district balances enrollment, so check again close to closing and again before you register. CCSD’s registration notice also points families to its school zone lookup at dzg.ccsd.net.
We’ll pull the zoned schools for any house you’re serious about. On our community pages, like Mountain’s Edge, we list the schools that serve parts of each area, with the same reminder: zoning goes by address.
Nevada Report Card star ratings
Nevada rates public schools through the Nevada School Performance Framework. Each school gets an index score from 1 to 100, which translates to a rating of one to five stars.
According to the Nevada Department of Education, the ratings look at:
- English language arts proficiency (Smarter Balanced assessment)
- Math proficiency (Smarter Balanced assessment)
- Science assessments
- Chronic absenteeism
- Graduation rates, for high schools
The most recent ratings we found were released September 15, 2025, for the 2024 to 2025 school year. Statewide, the share of five-star schools rose from 11.2% to 17% that year.
Look up any school on the Nevada Report Card. You’ll see the star rating plus the underlying data, like test results and attendance, so you can decide what matters to you.
Magnet schools and career and technical academies
CCSD runs magnet schools and career and technical academies (CTAs) built around specific subjects, like performing arts, engineering or health sciences. Any eligible student in the district can apply, regardless of zoned address.
The key dates for the 2027 to 2028 school year, per CCSD:
| Date | |
|---|---|
| Application opens | October 5, 2026 |
| Application deadline | January 12, 2027, 3:00 p.m. |
How it works:
- Grades K through 10 can apply. Kindergarten applicants must be 5 by August 1. A few schools also take 11th-grade applicants.
- Seats are filled by random computer lottery. No application fee, no tuition.
- Sibling preference applies only if a sibling is already enrolled.
- Transportation is limited. CCSD provides it only to students who live within designated zones and more than two miles from the school.
- It’s a full-year commitment. Students generally stay through the end of the school year.
Moving mid-cycle? CCSD has accepted late applications for some programs in past years. Call the magnet office at 702-799-8492 or email magnetschools@nv.ccsd.net to ask what’s still open. Details are at magnet.ccsd.net.
Open enrollment
CCSD also runs open enrollment through its It’s Your Choice site, which lets families apply to a CCSD school outside their zone when seats are available.
Nevada passed a statewide open enrollment law in 2025, Assembly Bill 533. According to The Nevada Independent (January 2026), most of its provisions take effect for the 2027 to 2028 school year. Under the law, schools accept students based on capacity, applicants zoned to one- or two-star schools get priority, and a lottery decides the rest, with sibling preference. The same article reported CCSD’s window for the current cycle opened in October and closed January 13, with a spring window reopening March 23. Neither CCSD nor Washoe provides transportation for open enrollment students.
Rules like this change as they roll out. Check the district’s site for the current window.
Public charter schools
Charter schools in Nevada are public schools. They’re tuition-free, open to any Nevada student, and run independently from CCSD under a sponsor. Many charters in the Las Vegas area are sponsored by the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority.
What’s different from a zoned school:
- You apply to each school. Each charter sets its own application window.
- Seats are usually filled by lottery when there are more applicants than spots.
- Windows vary a lot. For the 2026 to 2027 school year, School Scout Nevada listed Coral Academy applications from September 1, 2025 to January 30, 2026; Amplus from January 5 to February 27, 2026; and Mater Academy Cactus Park from January 2 to February 28, 2026.
- Ask about transportation, uniforms and before and after care. Each school handles these its own way.
School Scout Nevada, run by the nonprofit Opportunity 180, keeps a timeline of charter, magnet and CTA application dates in one place. Charter schools you’ll see near the southwest neighborhoods include Doral Academy and Pinecrest Academy, among others.
Private schools
The valley has a range of private schools, religious and independent, including Faith Lutheran, Bishop Gorman, The Meadows School and Challenger School campuses, among many others. Tuition, admissions testing, application deadlines and waitlists vary by school. Contact each one directly, ideally a year ahead of when you’d enroll.
Enrolling in CCSD: what to bring
CCSD registers students online at ccsd.net/enroll. For the 2026 to 2027 school year, the district listed these documents for new students:
- Parent or guardian ID
- Your child’s ID: birth certificate, passport or certified birth card
- Immunization record
- Proof of address: a utility bill, rent receipt, lease, or sales contract
That last item helps when you’re moving from California. A signed purchase contract counts as proof of address, so you may be able to start registration before you close. Every family registers every year in CCSD, even returning students.
Bring your child’s California records too: report cards, any IEP or 504 plan, and test results. It makes the handoff easier for the new school.
Timing a move around the school year
- Moving in summer? Register as soon as you have a signed contract or lease.
- Hoping for a magnet or charter seat in the fall? Apply in the October to January window before you move, if you can.
- Moving mid-year? Your child enrolls at the zoned school for your new address. Ask about late magnet and open enrollment options.
If you’re weighing neighborhoods partly on school zoning, tell us which schools you want to be zoned for. We’ll search addresses inside those zones in Henderson and across the valley.
Frequently asked questions about Las Vegas schools
How do I find out which school a Las Vegas house is zoned for?
Use the CCSD Zoning Search at ccsd.net and enter the full street address. The Clark County School District assigns schools by address, not by city, ZIP code or master-planned community, so two nearby homes can be zoned differently. Boundaries can change, so check again before you register.
When do CCSD magnet school applications open?
For the 2027 to 2028 school year, CCSD’s magnet application opens October 5, 2026 and closes January 12, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. Students in kindergarten through 10th grade can apply, seats are filled by random lottery, and there’s no application fee or tuition.
Are charter schools free in Nevada?
Yes. Charter schools in Nevada are public schools, so they’re tuition-free and open to any Nevada student. Each one sets its own application window and usually fills seats by lottery. Many Las Vegas area charters are sponsored by the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority.
What documents do I need to enroll in CCSD?
CCSD asks for a parent or guardian ID, the child’s ID such as a birth certificate or passport, an immunization record, and proof of address. A utility bill, rent receipt, lease or sales contract counts as proof of address. Families register online at ccsd.net/enroll.
How are Nevada schools rated?
Nevada uses the Nevada School Performance Framework, which gives each public school an index score from 1 to 100 and a rating of one to five stars. It looks at English and math proficiency, science, chronic absenteeism and graduation rates. Ratings are published on the Nevada Report Card.
Moving with kids? Start here
Tell us the grades, the schools or programs you’re considering and your budget. We’ll match addresses to zones and send you homes that fit. We don’t rank schools, and we won’t tell you which ones are right for your kids. We’ll make sure you have the zoning and the state’s published data before you write an offer.
Matt: 702-324-8685 · Christina: 702-827-6146 · Send us a note
More guides for Californians moving here are on our resources page.
School zoning, ratings and application dates change. Always confirm with CCSD, the Nevada Department of Education or the school directly. The Cali to Vegas Buyers Team is committed to the Fair Housing Act and equal housing opportunity.