How Boys Town is Supporting Students in One of the Nation's Largest School Districts

When you think about education in America, the challenges of scale and diversity are often most visible in our largest school districts. Clark County School District in Nevada is the fifth largest in the nation, serving more than 300,000 students across Las Vegas and surrounding communities. With over 80% minority enrollment and more than 60% of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, CCSD represents both the tremendous potential and the unique challenges of public education today.

For nearly a decade, Boys Tow n has been a committed partner to CCSD, working through its Lift with Boys Town initiative, and more recently, the School Support Specialist (SSS) program, to help students overcome barriers that stand between them and academic success.

A Program Designed for Students Who Need it Most

The SSS program targets students at risk of falling behind due to behavioral challenges, absenteeism, or emotional stressors. Specialists work directly in schools, providing one-on-one coaching, skill-building, and family engagement. The program emphasizes positive reinforcement, social skills training and relationship building which are all critical elements for students facing complex challenges at home and in the classroom.

During the 2022-2023 school year, Boys Town's SSS program reached over 5,000 students across 48 schools in CCSD. That kind of scale means thousands of students received personalized attention in a district with high student-to-teacher ratios and resource limitations often make it difficult to teach individual needs.

Tackling Absenteeism Head-On

An independent evaluation conducted by researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, revealed that Boys Town's SSS program has made a measurable difference

52% fewer unexcused absences were recorded among students who received Boys Town's support compared to peers.
Major and minor behavioral incidents remained minimal for students in the program, underscoring SSS's role in keeping students engaged.
While academic gains (in reading and math scores) were modest, the research team noted that changes in academic performance often take more time to fully materialize.

Absenteeism is one of the most critical predictors of long-term academic outcomes. Students who are chronically absent are more likely to struggle academically, become. disengaged and even drop out of school altogether. By directly addressing attendance, Boys Town is helping ensure that students are in class, where learning and growth can happen.

Meeting Students Where They Are

The students Boys Town serves in CCSD reflect the district's incredible diversity. In a large and complex district, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work. Boys Town's SSS program is built around the idea that every student deserves personalized support, whether it's a skills lesson during class, social coaching after an office referral or engaging parents to strengthen consistency at home.

A Long-Term Commitment

Boys Town is committed to working alongside CCSD to refine its programs, strengthen academic supports, and expand strategies proven to boost attendance and student engagement.

In one of the nation's largest and most diverse school districts, Boys Town's impact is clear. By focusing on the fundamentals such as attendance, behavior, and student well-being, Boys Town is helping CCSD students take meaningful steps toward brighter futures.