Families choose freedom: Clark County charter schools boom as government schools lose students

Parents vote with their feet

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

Something big is happening in Nevada schools. Parents are making a clear choice. They’re picking charter schools over the traditional public school system. And the numbers tell a powerful story about freedom and choice in education.

Between the 2019-2020 and 2024-2025 school years, the number of students in Clark County attending charter schools grew by 26 percent, according to a report. That’s not a small bump. That’s families making a statement with their feet.

Meanwhile, the Clark County School District (CCSD) is losing students fast. Clark County School District enrollment declined by over 8 percent, while Southern Nevada’s population increased by 5 percent. Think about that. More people are moving to the area, but fewer kids are going to government schools.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The trend is clear when you look at the hard facts. Charter schools grew to 64,128 students in Clark County. At the same time, the school district estimates its enrollment at 285,707. That is the lowest in over 20 years, when it was 280,840 students in the 2004-2005 school year.

This isn’t just about Clark County either. In Nevada, state-sponsored charter schools collectively accounted for the nation’s second-largest enrollment growth rate. Parents across the Silver State are choosing alternatives to the government school monopoly.

Charter schools now serve 12.1 percent of K-12 public school enrollment in Nevada. They’ve become the third largest local education agency in the state. Some charter schools have huge waiting lists. American Preparatory Academy, for example, had over 4,000 students on its waiting list on the first day of school this year.

Why This Matters to Conservatives

For conservatives who believe in limited government and individual freedom, this trend is huge. Charter schools represent everything we stand for. They give parents choice instead of forcing kids into a one-size-fits-all system run by bureaucrats.

“We now realize that education cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Melissa Mackedon, executive director of Nevada’s State Public Charter School Authority. “Different students thrive in different circumstances. The charter space allows parents more voice and choice in determining what is best for their students.”

Charter schools also perform better. State-sponsored charters in Clark County have higher “star ratings” on average than the traditional public school district as a whole. When schools compete for students, quality goes up. It’s basic economics.

The Government School System Is Failing

The traditional system isn’t just losing students. It’s failing the ones it still has. Overall proficiency rates in Nevada were slightly higher than in CCSD — 32.6 as compared with 30.1 percent of students in grades three through eight were proficient in math, 41.3 as compared with 39.3 percent were proficient in English language arts.

CCSD also has safety problems. Last year, the county had 7,000 recorded incidents of violence in the 2023-2024 academic year, with 739 including weapons. Parents want their kids safe. That’s why many are looking elsewhere.

The district has other issues too. A top concern for years at CCSD has been overcrowded classes. When you have a monopoly, you don’t have to worry about customer service.

What Critics Say

School district supporters blame charter schools for their budget problems. CCSD officials have not been shy about placing some of the blame for its financial woes at the feet of these charter schools. They say when parents opt to enroll their kids in these charter schools, the public school district loses out on per-pupil funding distributed by the state.

But that misses the point. The money should follow the child, not prop up a failing system. If CCSD can’t compete, maybe it should ask why parents are leaving.

Some critics also say charter schools don’t serve enough disadvantaged students. Charters serve significantly lower percentages of the most challenging students, such as those with disabilities, English language learners compared to traditional schools. But newer charter schools are doing better at this. Among charter schools that have opened since 2020, enrollment in these key student groups is much stronger and helping the quasi-district move toward equity in its student demographics.

What’s Coming Next

The trend toward school choice isn’t slowing down. More parents are waking up to their options. Charter schools will likely keep growing as word spreads about their success.

The government school system is trying to fight back. A new marketing position, approved last month as part of the upcoming fiscal year budget, is tasked with developing and directing “the execution of a marketing plan to set consistent brand standards and improve the perception of the District.” But marketing won’t fix poor performance.

What Conservatives Should Do

First, support school choice laws in your state. Nevada shows what’s possible when parents have options. Push for more charter schools and fewer regulations that hold them back.

Second, get involved locally. Attend school board meetings. Ask tough questions about spending and performance. Hold politicians accountable for supporting educational freedom.

Third, spread the word. Many parents don’t know about charter schools or how to apply. Help inform other families about their choices.

Finally, consider supporting organizations that promote school choice.

The Nevada story shows us something important. When families have choices, they make good ones. When schools have to compete, they get better. That’s the conservative principle of free markets working in education.

The government school monopoly is cracking. And that’s good news for kids, parents, and freedom.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.