LAS VEGAS -- Real estate officials have tough time bragging about the schools in the Las Vegas Valley, especially after Nevada ranks last nationally in high school graduates receiving diplomas.
That’s why members of the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Certified Commercial Investment Members were at a luncheon to hear from top leaders of education in Las Vegas.
“I want to tell them hey we're here, now we're here. This is where we were. This is where we're going,” said Brian Sorrentino of CCIM.
Dwight Jones, Superintendent of Clark County Schools says to tackle the graduation problem, you have to start early.
“That's why I like the education conversation we're going to have with the legislators this year about if kids aren't reading by third grade let's intervene right now. Let’s not move kids throughout the system,” Jones said.
That is one way he suggest dealing with reading. However, there are other issues, especially with math in the middle schools; specifically algebra.
“Kids need to complete algebra in 8th grade, and I’ve got parents that call me saying it's too hard. My kid can't complete algebra in 8th grade. I’ll tell you they do it in all the other states. And I’ll tell you we've got to have that level of expectation in Nevada,” Jones said.
He says in Clark County there are 72 schools that are 5-star ranking. Not one of them is a middle school.
Meanwhile college presidents say they have much to offer in terms of a workforce in a changing economy, but Jones says he has the challenge of changing a culture of low expectations from parents who must instill in their children that college is an option.
