The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cortez Manuel J Es
Cortez Manuel J Elementary sits on the east side of Las Vegas, in the 89115 zip code, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Clark County School District. The surrounding neighborhood is one of the more affordable pockets of the Las Vegas metro area. Home values here run well below the state benchmark and modestly below the national figure, while rents are likewise on the lower end. For families weighing housing costs alongside school choice, this is an area where renting costs meaningfully less than carrying a mortgage at current rates, which may appeal to households prioritizing flexibility or working with tighter budgets.
The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary campus, with the bulk of students spread fairly evenly across kindergarten through fifth grade alongside a pre-kindergarten cohort. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school squarely in a high-poverty context. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and very small numbers of Asian, white, and multiracial students. This is a community-serving school drawing from its immediate residential surroundings rather than a specialized or selective program.
State assessment results from the most recent year show a school working from a difficult starting point. In math, roughly three in ten tested students reached proficiency, and in English language arts the share was similar, just above the math figure. Science proficiency was far lower, with only a handful of students clearing that bar, though the science assessment covers a narrower grade range and fewer test-takers, which can make a single year's result swing more sharply. Participation was strong across all three subjects. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible from this data to say whether these results represent improvement, stagnation, or a recent dip. A parent evaluating the school may want to ask about year-over-year trajectory and what interventions are in place, especially for science instruction.
The broader academic picture has gaps. No data on English learner enrollment or special education enrollment was reported, which matters because those populations can shape both classroom dynamics and the resources a school devotes to language support and individualized services. Without those figures, a family whose child receives such services would need to inquire directly. No information was available on programs offered, staffing ratios, class sizes, attendance patterns, discipline data, or school climate measures. Title I status was not reported, though given the universal free-or-reduced-price lunch rate, the school almost certainly qualifies; the data simply does not confirm it. Locale and school environment details were absent as well, so the narrative here relies on what the assessment and demographic data convey.
The district brief returned no parent-relevant policy, curriculum, or budget changes for Clark County School District, so there is nothing to report on that front. No neighbor comparison or county-level positioning data was provided for this school, which means it cannot be placed against nearby campuses using the information at hand.
What the data does say is this: Cortez Manuel J is a community elementary school serving a high-poverty, largely Hispanic and Black student population in an affordable east Las Vegas neighborhood. Its proficiency rates in math and reading sit below where most parents would want them, and science results are particularly low. The absence of trend data, program details, staffing information, and special-population breakdowns leaves a parent needing to do further homework directly with the school. For a family living in the attendance zone, it is the default option, and the right questions to bring would center on what growth looks like year to year, how the school supports students performing below grade level, and what resources exist for English learners and students with disabilities.
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