LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Hundreds of CCSD schools face looming budget cuts after a forecasted decline of thousands of students for the 2026-2027 school year, and many families are learning how many staff members could face cuts at their school.
In a memo with questions and answers for parents, enrollment is expected to decrease by 5,151 students by next fall. CCSD received base funding of $9,051 per student from the state of Nevada for the 2025-26 school year, the memo said.
The decreases will lead to $50 million less in available school funding, the memo states. Out of 375 schools across CCSD, 284 schools face budget reductions.
The memo explained a variety of causes for enrollment drops and budget challenges: enrollment has been dropping across schools in the state and the country as the U.S. experiences a decline in birth rates. The current Kindergarten cohort for CCSD has 17,618 students, which is almost 30% smaller than the current senior class of 24,505 students.
Other budgetary challenges include shifts in federal grant funding, funding for “weighted” students (English learners, gifted students, at-risk students, and more,) and a rise in salary costs. Salaries account for 84% of the CCSD budget, according to a spokesperson.
Teachers and families have been learning over the past few days how much funding will be cut from their school’s budget, and how that could impact various positions or programs.
“There are a surprising number of schools that are cutting 10-plus staff positions, and in some cases, that’s close to 10% of their staff. That’s a huge impact,” said Rebecca Dirks Garcia, president-elect of Nevada PTA.
Both of her children attend schools where more than a dozen positions face cuts, Dirks Garcia tells FOX5.
“I’m actually just coming from an IEP meeting at my kids’ school, and she really needs those supports and services- and I think all kids do, but especially those that are already struggling to learn. It makes me really concerned when we’re cutting staff, when really just about every one of our schools needs more people, not less,” Dirks Garcia said.
Parents and teachers have concerns about the impact on class sizes.
“My own daughter is going to be going to school. She’s now not having the kind of support that she had. She’s going to be in larger classes. I’m going to probably teach larger classes, more students,” CCSD parent and Von Tobel middle school teacher Jessica Kovacs tells FOX5.
The school may lose ten positions, Kovacs said. The school already cut five positions in August.
“I also have friends that are teachers that are finding out they’re not going to have a position next year…are they even going to be able to find positions?” she tells FOX5.
CCSD released the following statement in the memo regarding class size concerns:
Principals must submit their proposed budgets by Thursday.
Parents with questions can reach out to their administration or their School Organizational Team (SOT) for their individual school. SOTs will provide feedback on their school’s budget proposals.
The District will not have the total number of positions proposed to be eliminated until budgets are submitted.
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