Ed W. Clark High School

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Ed W. Clark High School
EdClarkHigh.jpg
Ed W. Clark High School
4291 Pennwood Avenue,
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102
Information
TypePublic
MottoEducating Today... for Tomorrow.
Established1965;60 years ago (1965)
PrincipalZeola Braxton
Teaching staff146.00 (FTE) [1]
Enrollment2,835 (2023-2024) [1]
Student to teacher ratio19.42 [1]
CampusMetropolitan
Color(s)Black and Gold   
Nickname Chargers
Website www.clarkchargers.org

Ed W. Clark High School is a public high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, that is part of the Clark County School District. Opened in 1965, it serves grades 9 - 12 on a traditional nine-month schedule. The school offers several specialized programs, including the Academy of Mathematics, Science, Arts and Technology (A.M.S.A.T), Teacher Education at Clark High (T.E.A.C.H) and Academy of Finance (A.O.F). Clark has been recognized for both academic and extracurricular achievements, and its magnet programs draw students from across the Las Vegas Valley.

Contents

History

Ed W. Clark High School opened in 1965 to serve the growing population of the central Las Vegas Valley. The school was designed by the architectural firm Zick & Sharp and built by the Del E. Webb corporation, a major contractor responsible for numerous projects in Nevada and the American West. It was named in honor of Ed W. Clark, a Nevada banker, businessman, and civic leader who played a significant role in the states economic development during the early 20th century.

During its early decades, Clark functioned as a comprehensive neighborhood high school, offering general academic and extracurricular programs to students in its attendance zone. Beginning in the late 20th century, the school expanded its curriculum with the addition of magnet academics, aligning with the Clark County School Districts efforts to increase specialized educational opportunities.

The Academy of Mathematics, Science, Arts and Technology (A.M.S.A.T) and the Academy of Finance (A.O.F) were among the first magnet programs established at the school, followed by Teacher Education at Clark High (T.E.A.C.H). These programs attracted students from across the Las Vegas metropolitan area and contributed to Clark's recognition as a Magnet School of Excellence.

Over time, the campus has grown to accommodate rising enrollment, with facilities for academics, athletics, and performing arts. By the 21st century, Clark High School had become one of the largest schools in the district, serving somewhere between 2,500 to 3,000 students annually.

In 2023 a Jewish student with autism had an apparent swastika scratched onto his back at school, according to the victim's mother. The school district and local police investigated the incident but found "no evidence that would indicate the origin of the injuries". [2] [3] [4]

Magnet programs

Notable alumni

Performing arts

Clark High School Performing Arts Center. ClarkHighTheater.jpg
Clark High School Performing Arts Center.
Jesus Christ Superstar Marquee. JCSClarkHigh.jpg
Jesus Christ Superstar Marquee.

Clark High School is home to a number of performing groups, including the orchestra, band, mariachi, and choir.

There is a beginning orchestra for any student wishing to learn to play a classical string instrument, and intermediate and advanced orchestras for more experienced players. More proficient musicians may opt to audition for the chamber orchestra, which challenges students with a considerably advanced repertoire.

Once marching season ends the marching band divides into two bands for the winter and spring seasons: the symphonic band (for intermediate musicians) and the wind ensemble (for advanced musicians). A drumline performs during the winter season, and there is a jazz band which has performed at Disneyland and on KLVX's Inside Education.

The chorus consists of several different groups. These include: all-men, all-women, jazz, concert, advanced, and chamber choirs.

Clark's full orchestra (consisting of orchestra and band) performed at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2008, 2012, and 2019. [20] In March 2015, Clark's chamber orchestra performed at an ASTA national competition at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. [21] They placed as national and grand champions.

Weekend programs

Las Vegas Gakuen (ラスベガス学園), a Japanese weekend supplementary school, is held every Saturday at Clark High School. It was founded in September 1995. [22]

International sport

In March 2024, the school hosted a test match between the United States and Canada national rugby league team. [23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ed W Clark High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  2. ↑ Wootton-Greener, Julie; Wilson, David. "Jewish student has apparent swastika scratched onto his back while at school". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ Kean, Tricia (April 21, 2023). "Swastika found 'carved into back' of Jewish student at Las Vegas high school". KTNV Las Vegas. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Rahman, Khaleda (April 20, 2023). "Swastika Carved into Back of Jewish Teenager Sparks FBI Probe". Newsweek. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Assemblyman Paul Anderson".
  6. ↑ Review-Journal, John L. Smith Las Vegas (January 31, 2014). "Las Vegas City Councilman Beers gets early start against Harry Reid". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Nick Bell - Iowa Hawkeyes Player Profile | Football". Hawkeye Recap. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Legislative Biography—Shirley A. Breeden" (PDF). Nevada Legislature . 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 20, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ Cloud, Bob; Carp, Steve (June 5, 1996). "GV's Myers gets Royal treatment". Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ Staff, Las Vegas Weekly (July 30, 2009). "A John Ensign timeline". Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ Juipe, Dean (October 15, 1999). "Gamez still struggling". Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ Graham, Tim (April 21, 1999). "Ex-Clark High star Glover set to fulfill dream". Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Horsford, Steven". History, Art & Archives. United States House of Representatives . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Callahan, Bryan (November 22, 2018). "Scholars becoming the norm at Clark High". KTNV . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ron Merkerson - Football". University of Colorado Athletics. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ Bern, Taylor (July 31, 2012). "Clark High grad Uhunoma Osazuwa ready to compete for Nigeria in women's heptathlon". Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  17. ↑ "From High School To High Courts..." Vegas Legal Magazine. March 30, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ Kantowski, Ron (March 26, 2015). "Ex-Clark High star Ron Riley got taste of Sweet 16 20 years ago". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  19. ↑ Kantowskilas, Ron (September 1, 2013). "Commentary: Times change, but Clark, Rancho pride still strong under Friday Night Lights". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  20. ↑ Spacek, Rachel (April 24, 2019). "Clark High musicians play to Carnegie Hall audience". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  21. ↑ fta (May 8, 2015). Clark High School Chamber Orchestra - ASTA 2015 . Retrieved August 28, 2025– via YouTube.
  22. ↑ "School info & Admission Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine ." Las Vegas Gakuen. Retrieved on April 1, 2015. "School starts at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The school is located at Clark High School on Arville and Pennwood."
  23. ↑ "USA To take on Canada in Vegas". European Rugby League. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

36°08′10″N115°11′51″W / 36.13623°N 115.1976°W / 36.13623; -115.1976

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