Families who live in Henderson, Nevada, including the popular master-planned communities of MacDonald Ranch, Green Valley, Anthem and Inspirada, have many quality educational choices available for their kids. The public schools are highly rated in this area, but alternate choices may be more appealing for you, including the varied selection of top-notch charter and private schools

Charter Schools

Charter schools are set up by a committee with a goal to better meet the needs of certain students while providing parents an additional choice in public education. They are free to attend because they’re sponsored by either the Clark County School District or the State of Nevada. Admittance is based on a lottery system and limited to the number of students the charter school plans for, as opposed to public schools which must accept everyone living in their zone.

Charter schools don’t always provide the services and amenities that parents may expect from public schools, including libraries, cafeterias, hot lunches, free or reduced lunch programs, before and after school care, and bus transportation. However, they are able to create their own curriculum and philosophy that’s unique from traditional public education. Charter schools may offer education through 5^th grade or expanded programs through 8^th grade, but are only rarely available for high school students.

Silver Sands Montessori Charter School

While some Montessori schools are private, including the tuition-based Foothills Montessori school in Henderson, Silver Sands Montessori Charter School is not. In fact, it’s the only tuition-free school in southern Nevada providing education in a Montessori environment, while adhering to Common Core standards and subject to state testing. Students can attend from Kindergarten through 8^th grade.

A Montessori Environment teaches to the whole child, in a stimulating multi-age class setting, which allows for movement, hands-on learning, individual responsibility and choices. Their goal is to prepare kids for life through community, character building and mutual respect. The student experience at Silver Sands Montessori Charter School includes a diverse range of cultures, curricula, and extracurricular activities that students can choose from, designing their own educational path while meeting the core curriculum’s high standards.

Coral Academy of Science

The Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas (CASLV) is a K-12 school with six campuses throughout the valley. The three locations closest to Henderson residents are the Eastgate Campus (K-7), Windmill Campus (5-7) and Sandy Ridge Campus (8-12), located between MacDonald Ranch and Anthem. U.S. News rated CAS Sandy Ridge #1 in Charter High Schools, #3 in Las Vegas Metro Area High Schools and #4 in Nevada High Schools in 2020.

CASLV has a mission to provide a safe, rigorous college prep environment promoting social responsibility. Their culturally diverse community is dedicated to becoming lifelong learners bound for success. The school curriculum focuses on STEM Education (Science, Technology, Education and Math) and students have won awards at numerous academic competitions, including Science Olympiads, Science Fairs, statewide Science Bowls, Math Counts competitions, and Lego Robotics competitions.

Pinecrest Academy

Pinecrest Academy has schools in five Florida counties, Idaho, and Clark County, NV. All Pinecrest Academy schools implement research-based instructional strategies and innovative resources in technology-rich environments in order to maximize learning for all students. Pinecrest Academy of Nevada’s mission is to unite the community to prepare students for college and career, and they have five campuses to fulfill that mandate, all in the Henderson area.

The Nationally STEM Certified schools all cater to elementary grades, but only two offer high school level education; and two offer Pre-K as well. Each is conveniently located for residents from MacDonald Ranch to Inspirada, and your choices include Horizon Campus (PK-5), Inspirada Campus (K-8), St. Rose Campus (K-8), Sloan Canyon Campus (K-10), and Cadence Campus (PK-12).

Somerset Academy

Somerset is a sister school to Pinecrest, and Henderson’s Stephanie Campus accommodates students from K-8. The first Somerset Academy opened in Florida in 1997, and the Somerset Academy of Las Vegas schools are affiliates of the Somerset System, implementing the same best practices and committing to meet the same quality indicators and standards.

Somerset Academy’s multi-tier system (management, assessment, instruction and professional development) integrates technology into the core curriculum to achieve increased performance across all student populations and subgroups. The school puts high value on athletics as well, including football, volleyball, basketball and soccer. All school athletes are expected to follow the Somerset Shark Sportsmanship and Citizenship Checklist, vowing to be respectful, responsible, play safely and fair.

Nevada State High School

Nevada State High School (NSHS) is an early college charter high school for juniors and seniors. It has two convenient Henderson locations; the Henderson Campus on North Stephanie Street and the Downtown Henderson Campus on South Water Street.

NSHS students in 11^th and 12^th grade get the opportunity to take real college courses, which count for both high school and college credit, with real professors on real college and university campuses. This strategy makes it possible for students to earn their high school diplomas while getting a head start on their college degrees. Tuition and fees are completely covered for up to five classes per semester.

Private Schools

Private schools are supported by a private organization or individuals rather than the government, and as such usually require a financial investment for tuition. They are independent when it comes to finances and governance, so they are sometimes referred to as independent, non-governmental, or non-state schools. Some of them are faith-based, and they can serve students in elementary, middle school and high school levels. In fact, it’s not uncommon for kids to attend the same private school all the way from kindergarten through high school graduation.

Foothills Montessori

Foothills Montessori is the private school option for Montessori enthusiasts in Henderson, offering education from Preschool through 8^th grade. Each Montessori school is built upon the educational legacy of Dr. Maria Montessori, whose influential work began over a century ago. Her approach to learning addresses all aspects of growth: cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual.

This school offers a wide range of engaging experiences and enrichment programs designed to stimulate the developing mind and create a cultured, knowledgeable, well-rounded individual. Their exciting, active curriculum transforms students into confident, thriving, capable adults by exposing them to opportunities including athletics, art, performing arts, student government, outdoor classroom with greenhouse, and field trips.

Challenger School

Challenger School was established in 1960 by first grade public school teacher Barbara Baker, who felt students weren’t getting adequate education. Challenger promotes individual and independent thinking through teaching traditional American history and values. They emphasize the bedrock of knowledge: reading, composition, math, history, and logic.

Challenger now has 27 campuses in five western states, including four in the Las Vegas Valley. The Silverado Campus is one that serves all levels of students, from preschool through 8^th grade. With close freeway access from the I-215 Beltway and St. Rose Parkway, this location is convenient for families in Green Valley, Silverado Ranch, Seven Hills and Anthem.

Henderson International School

Henderson International, located at the edge of Anthem, is a private school accommodating preschool through 8th grade students. Their programs are tailored to the individual student for a truly differentiated approach where children can thrive. Small classes average 15 students, so teachers can create engaging personalized learning plans and get to know each child individually. This personalized approach translates into academic advancement, increased confidence, and measurable growth.

They believe the values they instill, like compassion, integrity, respect, and cultural inclusivity, are as important as the curriculum they teach for allowing students to become confident, well-rounded leaders. Their vibrant community promotes growth, celebrates achievements, and feels like a family, preparing students to succeed not just in the classroom but in life.

American Heritage Academy

American Heritage Academy (AHA) grew from a small homeschool group into a robust private school with students from pre-kindergarten to high school. They accept all scholars, regardless of race, religion, gender or national origin. The school aims to foster exceptional character and personality development through a safe, disciplined environment where students take personal responsibility for their own education and academic excellence.

Small class sizes, averaging 8 students per teacher, allow for greater interaction between teachers and kids. They promote a lifelong love for learning, and AHA scholars consistently test in the top 10% of the nation academically, while 100% of high school graduates get accepted into college.

Lake Mead Christian Academy

Lake Mead Christian Academy (LMCA) is the first and oldest K-12 private school in Henderson, serving the community since 1989 and adding early education in 2006. Their core values of love, security, quality, accessibility and stewardship guide all practices of this academy.

This school provides a quality Christian education where students can thrive in a secure environment. They also partner with parents to influence kids to be a driving force for change, both academically and spiritually. Their ambition is to graduate students with a sound and applicable biblical worldview that exemplifies four distinctives of the whole student: academic, social, spiritual and physical. Academics, athletics and fine arts are all valued and encouraged here.

GV Christian School

GV Christian School (GVCS) in Green Valley offers faith-based academics for preschoolers through 12^th grade. It was voted Best Private School and Best Preschool in the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Best of Las Vegas awards for 2020. A wide range of athletics programs are also offered, including basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, cross country and track & field.

GV Christian Preschool was founded in 1990 and quickly achieved an excellent reputation. Parents wanted the same standard for their children as they grew, so in 1993 the next phase of GV Christian School was launched with Kindergarten. Grade levels have continued to be added over the years at a rate that allowed the school to maintain their high standard of education and spiritual guidance. The school is also a ministry of GV Christian Center.