The Washoe County School District will welcome most students back to classrooms Monday as the 2026-27 school year begins, including the opening of two new schools and several changes affecting students and families.
Stead Elementary School and Vaughn Middle School will open for their first school year when classes begin August 10. Students attending Incline Village schools will return one week later, with classes starting Monday, August 17.
“We are excited to welcome our families and students back for another school year,” WCSD Board President Adam Mayberry said. “The first day is such a special time as our students start new classes with new teachers and friends. We look forward to another year of teaching and learning in our classrooms, especially as we are opening two new state-of-the-art schools this year.”
District Superintendent Tiffany McMaster said staff spent the summer preparing schools and classrooms for students' return.
“All of us at WCSD have worked hard through the summer to prepare our buildings and classrooms for the new school year, and to ensure each of our students receives the resources and support they need to succeed,” McMaster said. “As a former teacher and principal, I have many fond memories of the first day of school, and I am eager to welcome our students, staff members, and families back to school.”
The district said it invested about $35.9 million over the summer in more than 80 capital renewal projects across its schools. The work included completing construction on the two new campuses, continuing modernization projects, and maintaining existing schools while adding new facilities to help address overcrowding and provide learning spaces for the district's 59,000 students.
Beginning this school year, students enrolled in prekindergarten and kindergarten will start classes on the same day as all other students. The district said the change expands instructional time, removes barriers for families, strengthens early routines and supports early literacy.
The district also is immediately implementing a calendar change approved by the Nevada Department of Education that builds three contingency days into the Balanced and Incline calendars. Those days, which have typically been used to make up school missed because of weather, will now serve as instructional days to provide greater clarity for students, families and staff.
Under the revised calendars, the last day of school for students on the Balanced Calendar will be Friday, June 4, 2027. Students on the Incline Calendar will finish the school year Wednesday, June 9, 2027, regardless of weather-related closures or other emergencies. The change does not affect TMCC High School or Gerlach K-12 School, which will continue operating under their existing calendars.
