Students in the Clark County School District returned to classrooms this week as the new academic year commenced on August 14, 2023. School officials have reiterated the importance of adhering to speed limits in school zones, particularly in light of a tragic incident in May that resulted in the death of a student from Arbor View High School. This school year marks the first full year under the leadership of Superintendent Jhone Ebert, who assumed her role in March 2023.
Ebert faces the significant challenge of improving the district’s academic standing, which has been the subject of scrutiny. In her remarks at the start of the year, she emphasized the district’s commitment to fostering both academic success and student enjoyment in the classroom. “We want to make sure that we have academic success and that we have joy in the classroom,” Ebert stated. She acknowledged that only about 30 percent of students pursue college, stressing the necessity of equipping them with skills for success in the workforce within Clark County.
Under Ebert’s leadership, the district has made notable progress in attracting and retaining qualified teachers. The teacher retention rate has increased by 6 percentage points, with 97 percent of classrooms now staffed by licensed educators, a marked improvement compared to the previous year. The district recently reached a tentative agreement with the Clark County Education Association, which is expected to foster a stable working environment for educators.
As the school year begins, Ebert has set ambitious goals, including a commitment to surpass pre-pandemic academic proficiency rates. She believes that the expansion of pre-kindergarten education will lead to improved reading scores in third grade, despite mixed evidence regarding the long-term benefits of such programs.
Despite these positive developments, serious concerns regarding academic achievement persist. Preliminary test scores for the 2023-24 academic year indicate that fewer than one-third of students in grades three through eight demonstrated proficiency in mathematics, while only 39 percent met the standard in English language arts. The situation appears even more troubling at the high school level, where just 19.4 percent of students scored proficient in math.
ACT scores, which assess college readiness, reveal that only 20 percent of 11th-graders in the district met the threshold in mathematics, and fewer than half achieved proficiency in English language arts.
Ebert’s extensive experience in education, both as a local teacher and as a former state superintendent, positions her well to address these challenges. However, realizing her vision for improved student performance may require her to navigate the complexities of the established educational system. As the new school year unfolds, Ebert’s leadership will be closely watched by educators, parents, and the broader community, all eager to see positive change in the Clark County School District.
