Dec 15 2009
Reno's back to school time is one filled with excitement, trepidation, and uncertainty for both students and parents. With the Washoe County School District (WCSD) on a 12 month schedule, it's hard to know which public schools open when, and even where children in a particular neighborhood are supposed to attend classes. Here is back to school information for the Reno / Sparks area, mostly straight from the source, the Washoe County School District.
About the Washoe County School District
The Washoe County School District operates public K through 12th grade schools in Washoe County, Nevada. WCSD is also responsible for a number of charter schools and othespecial purpose schools. Schools in the district are located in the Reno / Sparks metro area, Incline Village at Lake Tahoe, and the rural communities of Gerlach, Empire, and Wadsworth. Here are some facts about WCSD and some useful links to more schools information.- 64 elementary schools
- 15 middle schools
- 12 high schools
- Truckee Meadows Community College High School (magnet school)
- Washoe High School (alternative school)
- Academy for Arts, Careers and Technology (advanced level occupational classes)
- 8 public charter schools
- A special education school
- School Locator Map
- WCSD Policies & Regulations
- Back-To-School Tips For Parents
Washoe County School District Year-Round Scheduling
Most elementary schools operate on a traditional calendar. However, 11 schools observe a multi-track year-round schedule and 13 accommodate a single-track year-round schedule. To find out which is which, refer to the School Directory. The Directory also contains additional information about each school (address, phone numbers, contact person, schedule, etc.) and is organized in an alphabetical manner by school name. There is also a list of just those schools on year-round schedules.If you aren't used to this, it tends to be mighty confusing. Fortunately, the District website has a whole section of School Year Calendars to help sort it out.
Because of the multi-track schedule, the first day of school differs depending on the track and school. For the majority of elementary schools and all middle and high schools, the first day of the 2009-2010 school year is Monday, August 31.
Which Washoe County School Should My Child Attend?
Obviously, this depends on where you live within the Washoe County School District. An easy way to figure it out is to enter your address in the School Zoning Search page of the WCSD website. If you need assistance, refer to School Zoning Help or call (775) 333-3772.How to Register Children for School
Returning students register at the beginning of the school year. Contact the school your child is attending to find out about dates and times for registration.To register a new student, you will need the following documentation...
- Birth certificate or passport.
- Immunization record from a health care provider.
- Utility bill for proof of residency. If this isn't available, contact the school for other options.
- High school students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Washoe County School District Offices
Washoe County School District425 East Ninth Street
Reno, NV 89520
(775) 348-0200
The WCSD Contact Us web page has a list of other phone numbers, an email form, and link to the WCSD Snow Advisory Procedures.
