Frequently Asked Questions

Nevada State High School is a tuition-free dual-credit public charter school. At this state-funded high school, juniors and seniors take real college courses with real professors on real college and university locations in Nevada. These courses count for both high school and college credit, making it possible for our students to earn their high school diplomas while getting a head start on their college degrees.

Students attend NSHS for free, and NSHS pays college tuition and fees for three to five college classes per student each semester.

Students entering 11th grade with 11+ credits or entering 12th grade with 17+ credits are eligible to apply.

For the 2018–2019 school year, NSHS has more than 700 students enrolled between its six locations.

All types of students attend NSHS looking for a challenge, including valedictorians, students from magnet programs, private school students, and any 11^th or 12^th grader who wants to save money on their college education. In general, NSHS students are made up of those who are motivated to begin college early. Students are given a large amount of freedom just by being in a college setting. NSHS staff assists and guides students, but it is ultimately their responsibility to attend classes, keep up with the workload, and exhibit mature behavior. Students who succeed at NSHS are motivated to learn and self-disciplined.

To some extent, yes. NSHS students are fully immersed in a college environment. NSHS does have its own student government that plans for high school activities and events, such as prom. Students can be as involved as they choose, and they also have the opportunity to remain involved at their zoned school. (See next question.)

NSHS has no sports teams or extracurricular activities other than the student government, the yearbook committee, and the prom committee. Under NRS 386.560, students may petition their zoned school to participate in sports and other activities not conducted at NSHS. Learn more about this opportunity.

NSHS does not provide transportation. Students can drive themselves, get a ride from friends or family, or take public transit. If students have difficulty with transportation, they are encouraged to contact NSHS administration for more information on alternatives.

The registration process begins with the online registration form. Learn more about the process and the steps required to enroll as a student at NSHS.

No, only 11th and 12th grade students can attend. As a dual-credit high school, NSHS does not have high school core teachers and classes to fulfill the required 9th and 10th grade high school curriculum.

Yes! Home-schooled students can attend NSHS as long as they have a valid transcript showing they meet the minimum qualifications for admittance. If students are coming from a home-schooled environment and have utilized various curriculum methods that have resulted in their educational records not being on one comprehensive transcript, they must have their proctor create one for them. For the transcript to be valid, the student must also bring in the notebook/textbook/supplemental material with documented curriculum from each class listed on their transcript for NSHS validation. Finally, home-schooled students must provide documentation that shows they were not truant in accordance with state law.

As a public education institution funded by the State of Nevada, NSHS cannot give students core class credit for religious classes.

Yes, students are completely integrated in the college experience.

Students take classes at local colleges that can be in-person or online. Students in Southern Nevada can attend any of the College of Southern Nevada locations (Cheyenne, Charleston, or Henderson) or Great Basin College. Students in Northern Nevada take classes at Truckee Meadows Community College or Western Nevada College.

For those that qualify, on a very limited basis, there is an option to take classes at Nevada State College and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  Students must be preapproved and must pay the cost difference for the course. Please review the Student/Parent Handbook for more details and qualifications.

Students arrange their schedule based on available college classes, which typically are held Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday or are run online. Courses may be offered in the morning, afternoon, evening, or even on the weekend to accommodate various schedules. Students attend school from mid-August to mid-December and from the end of January to mid-May.

NSHS students are required to attend a two-week course designed to teach them how to successfully transition from high school to college. This Introduction to College course takes place prior to the start of college classes, and once classes begin, students are enrolled in Study Skills to continue to learn how to be successful in college. Learn more about these essential classes.

In addition to the mandatory classes that guide students through creating their own pathway for college into their careers and beyond, NSHS offers many other student supports. NSHS students have access to free on-site tutoring, office hours with administration and staff, and test preparation for the ACT® test and ACT WorkKeys® assessments. NSHS assists with college and career planning and also hosts financial planning workshops for students and their families. Learn more about the student supports provided by NSHS. 

Students at NSHS traditionally earn the grades they were receiving when taking courses in high school. Students who were not committed in high school find it difficult to focus in college, too. However, some students take the initiative to receive extra support that NSHS provides, and these students show great improvement in their academics by being committed!

Nearly all of the students’ college credits transfer to in-state colleges. NSHS teaches students how to track college credits toward a degree to ensure the best transfer decisions are made for each student. Students who plan to transfer out-of-state are encouraged to contact the college of their choice first to see which credits will transfer.