This Las Vegas school went from 1 to 5 stars in 2 years. Here’s how.

Darnell Elementary School in Las Vegas’ northwest valley rose from a one‑star rating to a five‑star designation in just two years, according to the Nevada Department of Education, which bases its star system on assessment results, chronic absenteeism and graduation rates. Principal Kim Gray arrived at the campus three years ago with two guiding questions: “What do our kids need?” and “What do our teachers need?” She determined that student success depended on teachers becoming more familiar with the high‑quality instructional materials already supplied. By refining her staff’s instructional practices, Gray said, students began to show measurable progress. “Teaching is an art, and anyone can present a curriculum, but these teachers who come to us as professionals have the ability to make sure that they’re implementing strategies, supports and scaffolds for kids that are effective,” Gray said. “Our maturation successful our proficiency are definitely outcomes of that purposeful work.” Academic gains followed. Third‑, fourth‑ and fifth‑grade pupils lifted their mathematics proficiency to 61.1 percent last year, an increase of roughly 22 percentage points from two years prior. Their English Language Arts proficiency climbed 21 points to reach 64.7 percent over the same period. Reflecting on the turnaround, Gray recalled her first day on campus. “From my first day on this campus, I knew this was not a one‑star school,” Gray said. “We person the same educators. We are successful the same community. Nothing truly has changed different than providing everyone what they needed.” She added: “These teachers person ever built unthinkable relationships with our community, our kids and our parents.” The improvement delighted Patsy Darnell, widow of the school’s namesake, Marshall Darnell, who served roughly three decades as a Clark County School District educator and administrator. A former high‑school worker in Las Vegas, Patsy Darnell noted how pivotal elementary years are for a child’s future. “The archetypal fewer years is simply a instauration that means everything to the pupil for the remainder of their life,” she said. “I’m conscionable truthful arrogant of them.” To acknowledge the advances, the College Football Playoff Foundation provided lunch for the staff and awarded first‑place teacher Christine O’Neal $1,000 for classroom supplies. Gray described O’Neal as “one of the heartbeats of the school.” O’Neal, a Clark County School District employee for 31 years, said her recent mathematics instruction concentrates on building students’ confidence with numbers, while her English lessons focus on phonics. She plans to use the grant to purchase prizes for student achievement. “I deliberation the occurrence present is due to the fact that the teachers truly each are moving together, and we person a precise supportive administration. If we didn’t person that, I don’t deliber