Schools in Las Vegas suffer from overcrowding; repurposing proposed to relieve pressure

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As Las Vegas continues to grow rapidly, the Clark County School District Attendance Zone Advisory Commission is addressing the challenge of overcrowded schools.

Tracy Murphy, director of Demographics, Zoning and GIS for CCSD, highlighted the issue at a recent zoning commission meeting, noting that Liberty High School is operating at 128.10% capacity, with 3,213 students enrolled in a facility which is designed for 2,509 students.

Murphy said the committee is considering repurposing options to alleviate pressure on Liberty High School, which could mean transferring some students to Silverado High School, which is currently at 78% capacity. In addition, the new Career and Technical Academy South, expected to open next year, is expected to provide further relief.

“It will provide relief to that entire area,” said Nicholas Fedei, chairman of the Attendance Zone Advisory Commission. He acknowledged that decisions about other high schools are beyond the committee’s current scope.

The committee is also investigating the repurposing of several primary and secondary schools due to ongoing housing developments.

Prospective students from Wayne Tanaka and Judith Steele Elementary Schools may be rezoned to Shelley Berkley and Dee Snyder Elementary Schools. Del Webb and Charles Silvestri Middle Schools could also see zone changes to reduce overcrowding at Del Webb.

Fedei emphasized that current students would be included in any new zoning change, stating, “We would take a phased approach so that they would remain at that school, and only new students moving in would transfer.”

The committee is asking for community input before making a decision. “Our biggest goal here is to try to align all those students so that they stay together wherever they go, and move them around so that they stay as a group,” Fedei said.

A vote on the proposed rezoning for elementary and middle schools could take place at the commission’s Oct. 29 meeting, while the Silverado/Liberty rezoning option could be decided at a later date.