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GreatSchools Rating

Sparks Middle School

Public | 7-8 | 778 students

Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
Based on 2 ratings
2010:
No new ratings

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8 reviews of this school


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Posted November 20, 2012

My son attends Sparks Middle School as an eighth grader. Though this is his first year there, he has made many friends, and gets along well with his teachers. His first term progress report was well above average. The staff are always available when I need to call and his teachers give progress reports when my son neglects his homework. (Yes, he is a teenager and does get lazy once in a while), But his teachers make sure the stays on top of his assignments. I would definitely recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 4, 2011

i don't understand your one review about gangs being in the school; but not to fear because it is up to the student. wow. the bad environment is still there lady. and don't you see that out of 100 this school rates only a 37? seems to me the administration and the teachers have their work cut out for themselves and until then they should be embarrassed. my great niece started school there and one student walked up to her and threatened her and yelled the "b" word at her.. so academics are lacking and bullying seems to be norm for the course. i know of what i speak. i have been an educator for 40 years in michigan..


Posted February 25, 2011

My daughter goes to Sparks, let me tell you something, Horrible, This school is less than Unsatisfactory. Is below that by x100. The suspend the student for very dorky reasons, My daughter got suspended because she didn't tuck in her shirt, on the first day of school, didn't know you had to, thought it was a mellow school. Teachers are low quality, they don't teach as well as they use to.. My daughter is hard worker, Math and science teacher, fail her, and she deserves better, teachers are all over her. One teacher exposed her suspension, to the classes, I don't recommend this school at all.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 22, 2010

sms is awesome for my kid and the teachers are great go to this school now now!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 18, 2009

Wow! I am so disappointed in the complaining parents! This is a great school for your kids. They were the only school to get higher scores on the CRT's , while the other schools went down. Not to mention they have uniforms now. Many people refer to this school as ghetto, because of the gang violence,and what not. But it all depends on the child, they could go to the best school in the world and your child could still be a gangbanger! Please dont judge the school for its cover, try it you'll love it!!! -Great kids come here!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted December 21, 2008

I had a daughter go to Sparks MS. I was so disappointed in the school and the teachers and I would not ever recommend this school to parent.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 24, 2007

My daughter had been a straight 'A' student until starting SMS this year. When she asks the teacher for help, he passes her by and tells her to ask someone close to her, then, she gets in trouble for talking. We are very disappointed in this school and the teachers, and are looking for a way to get her transfered before she loses interest in learning!!!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 23, 2006

My Daughter is attending Sparks Middle and she is a straight A student. I would recommend SMS to other parents. Try it out, you will not regret it. The teachers are awesome and you can always stop by the office and be greeted by a friendly staff.
—Submitted by Syliva Gonzalez, a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 71% in 2011.

378 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
64%

2010

 
 
60%

2009

 
 
60%

2008

 
 
57%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 53% in 2011.

378 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
35%

2010

 
 
62%

2009

 
 
60%

2008

 
 
57%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Nevada used the Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math, and in grades 5 and 8 in science and writing. The CRT is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nevada. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Nevada's state standards

Source: Nevada Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 59% in 2011.

362 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
53%

2010

 
 
50%

2009

 
 
49%

2008

 
 
44%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 45% in 2011.

361 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
32%

2010

 
 
54%

2009

 
 
54%

2008

 
 
47%
Science

The state average for Science was 48% in 2011.

362 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
37%

2010

 
 
43%

2009

 
 
59%

2008

 
 
53%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 60% in 2011.

364 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
51%

2010

 
 
43%

2009

 
 
51%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Nevada used the Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math, and in grades 5 and 8 in science and writing. The CRT is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nevada. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Nevada's state standards

Source: Nevada Department of Education

Math

All Students64%
Female66%
Male63%
Black/African Americann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic60%
American Indian/Alaskan Nativen/a
White/Caucasian73%
Students qualifying for free/reduced lunch62%
Full price74%
Students with disabilities (IEP)34%
Students without disabilities68%
Students with limited English proficiency32%
Proficient in English75%

Reading

All Students35%
Female39%
Male30%
Black/African Americann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic29%
White/Caucasian43%
Students qualifying for free/reduced lunch33%
Full price31%
Students with disabilities (IEP)n/a
Students without disabilities40%
Students with limited English proficiencyn/a
Proficient in English46%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Nevada used the Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math, and in grades 5 and 8 in science and writing. The CRT is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nevada. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Nevada Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Nevada's state standards

Source: Nevada Department of Education

Math

All Students53%
Female56%
Male50%
Black/African Americann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic48%
American Indian/Alaskan Nativen/a
White/Caucasian59%
Students qualifying for free/reduced lunch49%
Full price66%
Students with disabilities (IEP)n/a
Students without disabilities59%
Students with limited English proficiency27%
Proficient in English57%

Reading

All Students32%
Female38%
Male21%
Black/African Americann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic28%
White/Caucasian42%
Students qualifying for free/reduced lunch29%
Full price41%
Students without disabilities36%
Students with limited English proficiencyn/a
Proficient in English40%

Science

All Students37%
Female29%
Male41%
Black/African Americann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic28%
White/Caucasian53%
Students qualifying for free/reduced lunch34%
Full price40%
Students without disabilities42%
Students with limited English proficiencyn/a
Proficient in English48%

Writing

All Students51%
Female66%
Male38%
Black/African Americann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanic49%
American Indian/Alaskan Nativen/a
White/Caucasian58%
Students qualifying for free/reduced lunch47%
Full price65%
Students with disabilities (IEP)n/a
Students without disabilities56%
Students with limited English proficiencyn/a
Proficient in English57%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011 Nevada used the Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math, and in grades 5 and 8 in science and writing. The CRT is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Nevada. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Nevada Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Nevada's state standards

Source: Nevada Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Hispanic 57% 37%
White 32% 42%
Asian/Pacific Islander 5% 8%
Black 4% 11%
American Indian/Alaska Native 2% 2%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 65%N/A39%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 19N/A20
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

2275 18th St
Sparks, NV 89431
Phone: (775) 353-5770

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