The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Billinghurst Middle School
Billinghurst Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in west Reno, within the Washoe County School District. The campus sits on Chesterfield Lane in the 89523 zip code, a residential part of a city that has changed considerably over the past decade. Reno itself is a mid-sized city whose identity has shifted from casino tourism and divorce residency toward a broader economy now shaped by large-scale tech and logistics investment. Companies including Tesla, Amazon, Panasonic, Microsoft, Apple, and Google have made major investments in the metro area, publicly reported as transforming the region into a growing technology center. The University of Nevada, Reno adds an academic and cultural anchor. The city retains its casino core downtown along Virginia Street, with the Truckee River corridor and the Reno Arch as civic landmarks, while the broader urban footprint is sprawling and largely car-dependent. Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada are within easy reach for outdoor recreation.
The school's enrollment is sizable for a middle school, with students distributed fairly evenly across the three grade levels. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic contingent and smaller groups identifying as Asian, two or more races, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is comparatively low, suggesting a student population that is, on the whole, more economically comfortable than at many Nevada public schools. Data on individualized education programs and English learner status was not available, so those populations cannot be characterized here.
On state assessments, Billinghurst posts results that land in a middle band. Roughly half of tested students reach proficiency in English language arts, with math just under that mark and science slightly lower. Participation rates are strong across all three subjects. These are not standout numbers, but they are also not alarming for a school of this size and setting. A parent may want to look into how the school supports students who are approaching proficiency but not yet there, and whether growth data is available from the school directly. Multi-year trend data was not provided, so it is not possible to say whether performance is rising, stable, or declining. Average scale scores were also missing from the available data.
Reno's housing market is expensive relative to both state and national benchmarks. Typical home values in the school's zip code sit well above the Nevada statewide figure and the national median, and rents have been rising. The price-to-income ratio is elevated, meaning ownership is a stretch for many households. For families considering the area around Billinghurst, housing costs are a real factor. Reno's growth, fueled by tech-sector expansion and Bay Area migration seeking lower costs, has put pressure on the residential market. Specific major housing developments near the school were not identified in the available research.
Several categories of information that parents often weigh were absent from the data. No discipline reports, course access details, staffing figures, or attendance rates were provided. Program offerings such as electives, sports, clubs, or advanced coursework were not listed. Title I status was not reported. Civil rights data was not available. Without these pieces, a full picture of the school environment is not possible from this source set alone. A family seriously evaluating Billinghurst would benefit from asking the school directly about its academic support structures, elective and extracurricular offerings, and any climate or discipline data it can share.
What the available information does show is a middle school in a growing, diversifying western city, serving a moderately large student body that is less economically disadvantaged than the state average, producing middle-of-the-road assessment results, and situated in a housing market that demands careful budgeting. The Reno context offers both opportunity and cost: a city with expanding employment options and outdoor access, but rising living expenses that frame every school-choice decision families make.
See more original research from School Decision →