The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Alice Maxwell Elementary
Alice Maxwell Elementary sits on North Rock Boulevard in Sparks, Nevada, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Washoe County School District. It is a regular public school, neither a charter nor a magnet, drawing from a community rooted in railroad history that has grown into a residential and industrial city within the Reno-Sparks metro area. Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. State testing applies only to the upper elementary grades, so the assessment results reflect a subset of the full enrollment.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller white population and small representation from other racial and ethnic groups. Every student in the building qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a category of high-poverty elementary education. Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, with relatively even distribution across grade levels and a pre-kindergarten program for younger children. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available in the sources reviewed, so those population details remain unknown.
On state assessments administered under Nevada's SBAC framework, Alice Maxwell shows mixed results. In English language arts, a modest share of tested students reached proficiency. Math performance was close behind. Science proficiency was considerably lower, with only a small fraction of the tested group meeting the bar, though the science assessment covered a much smaller number of students, which is typical for elementary schools where science is tested at fewer grade levels. Participation rates were strong across all three subjects. No multi-year trend data was available, so the data does not show whether performance is improving, declining, or holding steady. Average scale scores were also missing. A parent evaluating this school may want to ask the administration about science instruction in particular and about the trajectory of results over time.
Sparks itself, according to publicly reported sources, carries a working identity. It began as a Southern Pacific Railroad switching yard and repair center and expanded into a Reno suburb after a postwar housing boom. Today it retains real industrial weight. The Tesla and Panasonic Gigafactory on the eastern edge is a major employer, and warehouse and light-industry districts along the south side of the railroad continue to provide jobs. Victorian Square, a redeveloped pedestrian district near the Nugget Casino Resort, serves as the commercial and civic heart, hosting open-air events and providing a walkable core in an otherwise car-dependent city. Sparks Marina Park offers recreation, and the Regional Transportation Commission operates bus service connecting Sparks to Reno.
The housing market around the school reflects the broader Reno-Sparks area. Home values in the school's zip code sit below the statewide Nevada benchmark but above the national figure, and they have been roughly flat to slightly declining. Rents have risen more sharply. For families considering buying, the monthly cost of ownership at current mortgage rates substantially exceeds renting, which may shape who moves into the attendance zone and who rents instead. The area has seen sustained growth, with development pushing northward into Spanish Springs and major road projects underway to improve connectivity.
Several pieces of information that parents often look for were absent from the available data. There was no locale classification, no Title I status recorded, no discipline or attendance data, no staffing figures, and no program offerings listed. Civil-rights data and a neighbor comparison set were also not available. The district brief for Washoe County returned no specific curriculum or strategic changes. These gaps mean the portrait here is built mainly from assessment results, demographics, and the surrounding community context. A family considering Alice Maxwell would benefit from a direct conversation with the school about its instructional approach, support services, and any enrichment or intervention programs that the state and federal data sources did not capture.
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