News & Announcements

Fernley High School junior Jackson Hohnholz has achieved a milestone no other Lyon County student has before—he has been nationally recognized as a Distinguished Student Leader by the National Association of Student Councils (NASC)! In addition to this prestigious honor, he has been elected to serve as the NASC Secretary for the 2025–2026 school year.

Jackson currently serves as the Student Body President at Fernley High School. He has been actively involved in student leadership since his freshman year, participating in the Leadership program and serving on the student council every year of his high school career.

This national recognition is awarded to student leaders who complete an intensive portfolio process, demonstrating excellence in key areas such as goal setting, team building, decision-making, and civic engagement. Jackson’s dedication, leadership growth, and impact on his school community earned him this national honor. His achievement sets a high bar for student leaders across the district.

The Lyon County School District is proud to celebrate Jackson’s accomplishment. His recognition as a Distinguished Student Leader reflects his hard work, character, and commitment to making a difference. We are honored to have Jackson representing our schools at the national level and look forward to all he will continue to achieve.

 

2025 Lyon County School District Unified Basketball Series

Last Thursday wrapped up the 2025 Lyon County School District Unified Basketball Series! It was an incredible celebration of inclusion, teamwork, and school spirit! This series provided students of all abilities with the opportunity to compete, connect, and experience the joy of the game in a supportive and energetic atmosphere.

A huge thank you goes out to our outstanding Adapted Physical Education teachers, Buddy Lowe and Kelly Frantz, whose dedication has made a lasting impact on our students. Buddy coached the Fernley and Silver Stage teams, while Kelly coached the Dayton and Yerington teams, ensuring that every player had the opportunity to shine on the court! Their passion, commitment, and encouragement created an environment where all players felt valued and supported.

The energy in each gym was electric—players gave it their all, and the crowds were incredible! Students, staff, and families cheered for both teams with unwavering enthusiasm, creating a truly unified atmosphere. The excitement was amplified by the school bands and cheerleaders, who brought an extra level of energy and spirit to the games. Their performances kept the crowd engaged and made the series feel like a true championship experience!

This series was more than just a set of games—it was a reminder of the power of sportsmanship, respect, and the unbreakable spirit of our Lyon County School District schools. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible and to all who came out to support and cheer. You made this series an unforgettable experience for our students!

 

Fernley Elementary's Laina Perez Awarded the LCSD Grow Your Own Scholarship!

Lyon County School District is thrilled to celebrate Laina Perez, a paraprofessional at Fernley Elementary School, as the latest recipient of the Grow Your Own Scholarship. This scholarship supports dedicated classified employees and substitute teachers in their journey toward becoming licensed educators.

Laina is the second recipient of this prestigious scholarship this spring, a testament to her dedication and passion for shaping young minds. Her commitment to student success has not gone unnoticed, and with the help of this scholarship, she is now one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a licensed teacher.

The Grow Your Own Scholarship Program is designed to support LCSD employees who are working toward their teaching credentials by providing financial assistance, professional support, and career development opportunities.

Some Key Benefits:

• Up to $9,700 per year for coursework (for up to two years)
• Financial assistance for textbooks
• Reimbursement for initial Praxis test fees
• Continued health benefits while completing student teaching (when eligible)
• A $1,000 stipend to support unpaid student teaching
• Approved unpaid leave from the current position to complete student teaching

As part of her scholarship award, Laina received a new laptop, backpack, and school supplies to assist her in her studies. She was also honored with a certificate of achievement in front of her colleagues, recognizing her hard work and dedication to education.

LCSD remains committed to fostering future educators from within its own schools, investing in passionate individuals who are already making a difference. The Grow Your Own Scholarship Program not only helps dedicated employees like Laina achieve their career goals but also strengthens the district’s commitment to high-quality education for all students.

For more information on the Grow Your Own Scholarship Program or how to apply, please contact Terri Gahr at Tgahr@lyoncsd.org or visit: www.lyoncsd.org.

Yerington and Dayton High School Students Represent Lyon County on Statewide Advisory Board

Two outstanding Lyon County students, Mari Basaca Fuentes of Yerington High School and Blake Palmer of Dayton High School, have been selected to serve on Nevada’s Superintendent’s Advisory Group of Education (NV SAGE). This prestigious position allows them to provide valuable student perspectives on educational policies and statewide initiatives.

Mari Basaca Fuentes – Yerington High School

For Mari, joining NV SAGE was an opportunity to create meaningful change. To be selected, she completed an extensive application process, answering questions about her qualifications, past contributions, and desire to make an impact in education. Once accepted, she took on an active role in reviewing proposed education bills and providing feedback on how these policies would affect students.

“As part of the Superintendent Advisory Group of Education, I have the role of bettering the education for all students. We go over bills that are trying to be put into motion, and as part of the group, I put my intake of this bill and how it will affect my peers and I. This is done so that the superintendent’s Board has the intake of students themselves.”

Mari’s passion for advocacy stems from her desire to improve her school and ensure that students have a voice in shaping their education. “There are many changes that I would like to make within my school, however, I would never be able to accomplish these goals by sitting around waiting for someone to do it for me. That is why being part of SAGE and having the opportunity to better things for the greater good is very important to me.”

Blake Palmer – Dayton High School

Blake’s journey to NV SAGE also involved a competitive selection process, requiring a written application and recommendations from Lyon County School District Superintendent Tim Logan and Dayton High School Principal Julie Bumgardner. His commitment to education and leadership qualities set him apart as a strong candidate.

As an advisory board member, Blake represents both DHS and Lyon County, sharing insights on the differences between rural and urban school experiences. Recently, he and his fellow NV SAGE members have been focusing on key legislative issues, including competency-based education, licensure requirements for educators, and student representation on school boards.

“My roles for NV SAGE mostly include representing DHS and Lyon County among other Nevada students. I share opinions on similarities and differences between rural and urban areas, experiences with issues in education, and gaining solutions from discussion. Recently, with the start of Nevada’s 83rd legislative session, we have been focusing on four education bills: AB24, competency-based education; SB59, Educational personnel licensure; SB81, Department’s omnibus bill; and AB316, student trustees on each school board. We also reviewed the Statewide Plan for the Improvement of Pupils (STIP) draft, in which we gave feedback. Finally, we are to write our own testimonials for two of the above bills on NELIS, Nevada’s legislative bill tracker, and some of us will testify in Carson during the discussion of these bills.”

Blake’s passion for education is evident in his extensive involvement. He has taken multiple education courses through Western Nevada College and has completed over 75 hours of internship experience. His dedication to student advocacy ensures that Lyon County’s voice is heard at the state level.

What is NV SAGE?

The Nevada Superintendent’s Advisory Group of Education (NV SAGE) is a select group of students from across the state who collaborate to provide direct input on educational policies and student experiences. Members engage in discussions with education leaders, review legislative proposals, and advocate for improvements that impact Nevada schools. Their work helps shape decisions that affect students statewide, ensuring that student voices are represented in policymaking.

Both Mari and Blake exemplify leadership, dedication, and a commitment to improving education for all Nevada students. Their participation in NV SAGE not only benefits Lyon County but also contributes to the broader conversation on the future of education in the state. Congratulations to these exceptional students for making a difference!

During the Nov. 19 Board of Trustees meeting, James Gianotti, Executive Director for Educational Services, presented the 2024 graduation rate, which rose to 87.77%, marking another year of improvement for Lyon County School District (LyonCSD). This trend underscores the district's vision of Graduating all students to college, career, and life successful.

The Nevada Department of Education calculated the 2024 Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate on Nov. 1. This metric accounts for students who begin as part of a high school cohort and earn a standard diploma within four years, with adjustments for transfers and non-graduates.

LyonCSD's focus on personalized support has contributed to steady gains across most high schools. The 2024 graduation rates for each school compared to prior years are as follows:

Dayton High School

2024: 92.64%
2023: 91.93%
2022: 85.89%
2021: 89.86%
2020: 86.36%

Fernley High School

2024: 87.04%
2023: 87.94%
2022: 84.35%
2021: 84.62%
2020: 86.19%

Silver Stage High School

2024: 89.55%
2023: 83.91%
2022: 91.78%
2021: 90.54%
2020: 95.45%

Smith Valley High School

2024: 100%
2023: 100%
2022: 100%
2021: 100%
2020: 85.71%

Yerington High School

2024: 94.68%
2023: 86.17%
2022: 86.46%
2021: 90.11%
2020: 85.29%

The overall district graduation rate of 87.77% for 2024 reflects a steady climb from prior years:

2023: 86.41%
2022: 84.57%
2021: 87.82%
2020: 86.58%
2019: 86.46%

By comparison, the state graduation rate for 2024 is 81.6%, slightly higher than the 2023 rate of 81.39%. In previous years, the state rate was 81.72% in 2022, 81.31% in 2021, and 82.57% in 2020.

The district’s success is attributed to efforts like the college and career interventionists, who work closely with students facing academic challenges. These specialists focus on the bottom 25% of performers at each school, helping them overcome barriers like absenteeism or credit deficiencies. Counselors also support students by maintaining four-year academic plans tailored to individual needs.

Graduation rates reflect more than just numbers; they demonstrate the district’s commitment to ensuring every student has the tools and resources they need to succeed. Programs such as LyOnline and adult education offer alternative pathways, ensuring students have every opportunity to complete their diplomas.

As of November, LCSD’s 87.77% graduation rate significantly surpasses the state average of 81.6%, reflecting its commitment to preparing students for bright futures.

Unfortunately, our graduation rate does not take into account any Adjusted Diplomas or Adult Education/High School Equivalency graduates.  If it did...