Proposed charter schools include Hebrew-language immersion, athletic development programs

A classroom inside a Las Vegas area charter school. (Photo: U.S. Department of Education)

Nevada could see up to 12 new charter schools open in Fall 2026, including a Hebrew-language school in Henderson and a sports-focused school in North Las Vegas with plans to partner with the Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders.

This year’s application cycle is the first in which the cities of Henderson and North Las Vegas are considering approving and overseeing charter schools. Previously, cities and counties were not permitted to be charter school authorizers. That changed in 2023 through legislation sponsored by Gov. Joe Lombardo.

North Las Vegas City Council last week denied two charter school applications. Purpose Leadership Academy and Nevada Early College and Career Academy (NECCA) failed to meet multiple standards set in the city’s application rubric, according to city staff, giving the council little choice but to reject.

Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown and Councilman Isaac Barron, both career educators, emphasized before the unanimous votes to deny the applications that they are supportive of authorizing charter schools and providing more schooling options for residents.

Barron added that Clark County School District, where he worked for decades before retiring last year and whose board of trustees he serves on, has a track record of leaving North Las Vegas behind.

“Right now we have a decision in front of us,” he said. “If it’s just with our hearts, our hearts reach out to NECCA, they reach out to PLA, because we most definitely can identify with that. But we are also charged with being good financial stewards of our cities.”

Representatives for both proposed charter schools indicated they plan to work with city staff to address concerns. The schools have the option to resubmit their applications in the next few weeks for reconsideration in late August.

Both NECCA and Purpose Leadership last year applied to open charter schools under the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) but were denied. This year, Purpose Leadership submitted its application to both North Las Vegas and the SPCSA.

City of Henderson

The City of Henderson received four applications for the 2026-27 school year. The applications are currently under review by city staff and expected to be approved or denied in early August.

Kesher Academy is a proposed Hebrew-language charter school that uses the Hebrew language as “a means of fostering cultural connection, academic engagement, and global citizenship.” It is asking to open with 125 students in kindergarten through second grade, then scale up to 375 students, in kindergarten through seventh grade, over a six-year period.

According to its application, Kesher will be located at Congregation Ner Tamid, a Jewish synagogue in Henderson. The campus currently houses a private school and a preschool, both religiously affiliated. The campus is also listed as the physical location of a “full-time enrichment program for homeschool families,” which is not affiliated with any religious organization.

It is not uncommon for charter schools to operate out of churches, which often have space available and offer cheaper leases than commercial spaces.

Numerous Hebrew-language charter schools exist across the United States. While they have received some pushback because of Hebrew’s close ties to Jewish identity and tradition, they are not considered religious charter schools. Religious charter schools are considered unconstitutional, though there has been a push to change that.

Two of the applications are essentially for new campuses of existing charter schools authorized by the SPCSA. Founders Classical Academy currently operates a campus in Las Vegas and wants to open a campus in Henderson. Signature Preparatory currently operates a K-8 charter school in Henderson near Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Boulevard, and wants to open a K-12 campus in West Henderson.

The third applicant, Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy (PTAA) has twice applied with the SPCSA and been denied. The proposed school then sued the state. That case was dismissed. Last year, PTAA was approved by the SPCSA for a charter school license. That school, located in North Las Vegas, is expected to open in August for the upcoming academic year.

SPCSA

The Nevada State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) is by far the largest authorizer of charter schools in the state. As of this year, the quasi-district enrolls more students than Washoe County School District.

SPCSA received seven applications from schools hoping to open for the 2026-27 academic year, according to materials posted to its website. Those applications are under review by staff and will ultimately be recommended for approval or denial by the state Charter School Board in late August.

Among the SPCSA applications is a proposal for Game Changer Sports Academy, to be located at Hylo Park, a mixed-used “sports and entertainment” district in North Las Vegas on the former site of the Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station casinos. According to its application, the charter school plans to integrate “academic excellence with athletic development” and will involve a partnership with the Vegas Golden Knights, who already operate an ice rink on the property, and the Al Davis-Eddie Robinson Leadership Academy, a partnership between the Las Vegas Raiders and UNLV designed to develop minority coaches and general managers.

While not a fully virtual or remote school, the proposed charter school plans on using an online curriculum complemented by in-person instruction and oversight. It will also operate an “athletic development program” involving strength and agility training 4 to 5 days a week. It hopes to open with 230 middle school students and expand over six years to grades 6-12 and 560 students.

Game Changer Sports Academy currently has a partnership with Delta Academy, an existing charter school authorized by the SPCSA.

The SPCSA is also considering an application for what would be the first charter school in Nye County.

Pahrump Valley Academy previously applied with the SPCSA but was denied. One representative for the proposed school told a town hall in April that the prior denial was “political”in nature and blamed then-Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat.

The other applicants listed by the SPCSA:

• Citizens of the World Charter School in Las Vegas
• Pathways in Education in Clark County
• Purpose Leadership Academy in Clark County
• Northern Nevada Wildfire Montessori in Washoe County
• Somerset Academy of Carson City