Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 377 schools in district

Cowan Academic Center J-SHS

5300 E Russell Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89122CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT →
Federal DataAlternative Education SchoolGrades 06–12Non-Charter
80
Students
Total enrolled
$13,533
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 6% vs nat'l
6.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 57% vs nat'l
41/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 17% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 80 students in grades 06–12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,533 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 41th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Cowan Academic Center J-SHS is a small high in Las Vegas, Nevada, serving grades 06–12 with 80 students. The district invests $13,533 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 6.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Cowan Academic Center J-SHS

80
Total Students
6.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
100%
Free Lunch
12
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution52 male · 28 female
65%
35%
Male 65%Female 35%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility100%
National avg 52% · 80 students
Student Composition
10%
38%
46%
White10%
Hispanic / Latino38%
Black46%
Multiracial5%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 320006000597

Academic Outcomes at Cowan Academic Center J-SHS

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
41
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 41th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 36th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 89122

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,533Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,533
State avg
$18,430
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,954
Student Support$2,571
Administration$1,624
Operations$2,030
Other$1,353
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,533 spent per student, an estimated $5,995 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
66%
17%
State government
65.9%
Local (property tax)
17.1%
Federal programs
17.0%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 6.7:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 100% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeAlternative Education School
LevelHigh
Grades06 – 12
Location—
CountyClark County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictCLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT →
Phone: (702)799-6380
NCES ID: 320006000597
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Las Vegas seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High
Coronado HS
3,365 students · 09–12
● 51 opp100% FRL
High
Arbor View HS
3,251 students · 09–12
● 48 opp100% FRL
High
Shadow Ridge HS
3,243 students · 09–12
● 48 opp100% FRL
High
Liberty HS
3,240 students · 09–12
● 51 opp100% FRL
High
Palo Verde HS
3,186 students · 09–12
● 40 opp100% FRL
High
Desert Pines HS
3,151 students · 09–12
● 43 opp100% FRL
High
NV Learning Academy J-SHS
3,137 students · 06–12
● 39 opp0% FRL
High
Desert Oasis HS
3,131 students · 09–12
● 36 opp100% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
5300 E Russell Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89122
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.