The Clark County School District (CCSD) has initiated a revitalized program aimed at increasing student enrollment. Volunteers and district employees recently gathered at Mack Middle School in east Las Vegas to participate in a door-knocking campaign designed to encourage families to re-enroll their children. Dubbed the Bright Futures Walk, the initiative targets approximately 500 families whose children were enrolled in the previous academic year but have not returned for the current one.
Superintendent Jhone Ebert noted that the reasons for students not re-enrolling vary. Some families have relocated, while others may be unaware of the new school year’s start date. “This is the third week of school. We want to make sure that they know that we’re ready to welcome them with open arms into the classroom,” Ebert stated.
Declining enrollment has been a persistent issue for the school district, which saw its student population decrease from a peak of 330,227 in the 2018-2019 school year. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, enrollment dropped by over 8 percent between the 2019-2020 and 2024-2025 school years, while charter school enrollment surged by 26 percent. Projections for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year estimate a total of 285,707 students, marking the lowest enrollment in over 20 years.
As of August 3, the district reported 284,316 registered students. Officials anticipate fluctuations in this figure as the enrollment campaign continues. The initiative echoes a similar program from over a decade ago, which Ebert reintroduced this year, emphasizing that “every single child in our community matters.”
During the Bright Futures Walk, Trustee Lorena Biassotti, who recently enrolled her children in the district, expressed her optimism for the program’s impact. “I believe that we are going to make great progress. I have faith in our new leadership and our new board, and so I can relate to all of the parents,” Biassotti remarked. She highlighted the significance of showing families that the district cares about their children’s education.
The campaign involved Ebert, Biassotti, Mack principal Brentley Garbutt, and executive director of family engagement Denise Diaz. The group visited homes in the vicinity of Mack Middle School, located near South Lamb Boulevard and East Sahara Avenue. If no one was at home, volunteers left informational door hangers to communicate the district’s commitment to welcoming back students.
Ebert emphasized the necessity of school attendance, stating, “They need to be in school. We know that there are other issues that may happen, but we need to have a well-educated community to make sure that our entire community is successful.” The initiative is set to continue through Wednesday, with over 200 volunteers and school district staff reaching out to families of unenrolled students.
This proactive approach reflects a concerted effort by the Clark County School District to address enrollment challenges and reinforce its commitment to education in the community.
