School Board Reports Positive Outcomes from Four Day Week Implementation

The Elko County School District (ECSD) Board Meeting held on July 15, 2025, focused on key academic performance indicators and the impact of recent changes in school scheduling. The meeting highlighted significant improvements in graduation rates, student attendance, and reductions in bullying incidents since the district transitioned to a four-day school week.

During the meeting, it was reported that the graduation rate increased by approximately 3% following the shift to a four-day week. Additionally, chronic absenteeism among students decreased by about 2.5%, and incidents of bullying and cyberbullying that resulted in suspensions were cut by nearly half. Teacher attendance also saw a slight improvement, indicating a positive trend in the overall school environment.

The board discussed academic achievement goals set three years prior, specifically targeting proficiency rates in language arts for second and third graders. The goal was to increase the percentage of students projected to be proficient or advanced on the SBAC language arts literacy assessment by 3 points each year. However, the latest data showed a decrease in projected proficiency, despite an increase in actual SBAC scores.

The board plans to continue monitoring these metrics closely and will provide further updates in future reports. The next steps include addressing the decline in projected proficiency and strategizing on how to meet the established academic goals moving forward. Overall, the meeting underscored the district's commitment to improving educational outcomes and fostering a supportive learning environment for students.