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2015-10-30 10 09 36 View west along Main Street (Nevada State Route 427) in Fernley, NevadaPhoto: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Fernley · Lyon County School District

Fernley’s public schools score below 58% of Nevada districts on tests and graduation

35% of students in Fernley’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the Nevada average (44%). The grade covers the public school district serving Fernley, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Nevada, not nationally.

#18of 42 Nevada townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Nevada state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
35%
▼ 8 pts vs NV 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
25%
▼ 3 pts vs NV 28%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▲ 5 pts vs NV 81%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.1K
▲ 1% vs NV $14.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
20.1
NV 19.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
4,194 students on the public path
In brief

Fernley’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 53 Nevada towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fernley’s, its schools beat 51%, higher than their 42% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 25% in math, against 44% and 28% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 81% across Nevada. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,090 per student, against $14,868 across Nevada (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Silverland Middle School, then Fernley High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

A Step Ahead (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Fernley’s grade

C Test scoresB+ Graduation

C+: better than 42% of Nevada school districts, #18 of 42 Nevada towns. Graduation is above the Nevada average; test scores are below it.

Nevada school districts we grade (19)Better than 42%
Lower resultsHigher results
Nevada towns with similar household incomes (53)Better than 51%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,554 test results and a graduating class of 659 could put Fernley anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Fernley’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,553 in math, 4,554 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fernley, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–43 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B+
7–8Silverland Middle SchoolLyon County School DistrictC+
9–12Fernley High SchoolLyon County School DistrictC+

Fernley’s public schools are run by Lyon County School District, which also serves Yerington. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Lyon County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 19 schools · 9,169 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 20.1 per teacher (NV 19.3)
$15,090NV $14,868 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading35%
State average 43.5% · 4554 students tested
Math25%
State average 28.4% · 4553 students tested

Fernley vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Nevada towns that share Fernley’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
FernleyC+Lyon County

Every school in Fernley

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Nevada’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Fernleyby address
Cottonwood Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
C+
572 students20:1Rate it →
East Valley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B+
518 students22:1Rate it →
Fernley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
C+
442 students16:1Rate it →
Fernley Intermediate School
Middle · Grades 5–6
B
658 students24:1Rate it →
Silverland Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
C+
677 students23:1Rate it →
Fernley High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
1,327 students24:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
A Step Ahead
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
92 studentsRate it →

Questions about Fernley’s schools

Are Fernley’s schools good?

On Nevada’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Fernley children attend score below 58% of Nevada’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #18 of 42 Nevada towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 51%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Fernley in?

Lyon County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 9,169 students in 19 schools (2024–25).

Where do Fernley kids go to high school?

Fernley High School, with 1,327 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Fernley’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Lyon County School District graduated in four years, against 81% across Nevada.

How much does Fernley spend per student?

$15,090 in Lyon County School District (FY2024), against $14,868 across Nevada. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Fernley?

Yes: A Step Ahead (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 92 students).

Parents talk

What Fernley families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fernley → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Nevada. Stars are from neighbors.