LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) has taken over a troubled Las Vegas-area school, seeking to correct financial and academic problems.
SPCSA declined last Friday to renew the license for Nevada Prep Charter School, effectively setting them up for closure. However, a document leaked to 8 News Now shows disciplinary issues at the school are also at the center of an investigation.
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The leaked report documented hundreds of incidents of bad student behavior at the kindergarten through eighth-grade school.
Students threatened to kill other students, were caught vaping or with marijuana, and repeatedly used racial slurs, including the N-word.
In response, emailed to 8 News Now, SPCSA Executive Director Melissa Mackedon said the disclosure violates FERPA, which stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and is under “active investigation.”
According to the leaked report, a fifth grader who was listed as a problem child shoved a kid into a wall, pulled down their pants, and said he was going to “Diddy him and do freaky things.” Teachers also said the child’s screensaver was a picture of the Ku Klux Klan.
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A fourth grader, who had 16-pages worth of complaints, reportedly destroyed classrooms, assaulted teachers, and threatened to kill students. An eighth grader reportedly showed others threatening videos, including one of a beheading with a machete, and said he would do that to them.
Mackedon stated over email that Nevada Prep’s “leadership is no longer in place,” and an experienced administrator named Joshua Kern has been appointed to close the school out.
“Mr. Kern has significant experience negotiating with vendors and resolving outstanding financial obligations, which is a critical component of an orderly and fiscally responsible school closure,” Samantha King Powell, the general counsel for the State Public Charter School Authority said.
According to documents from SPCSA, Nevada Prep is “experiencing a significant and sustained decline in academic performance over the past two years.” Nevada Prep’s elementary and middle schools went from a three-star rating to one star.
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The State Public Charter School Authority has a meeting scheduled for Jan. 23, 2026, to discuss the next steps for Nevada Prep.
In response to the disciplinary reports, Nevada Prep told 8 News Now the documents were leaked as a smear campaign and that the kids with bad behavior were transferred out of the school.
According to Mackedon, the State Public Charter School Authority intends to reopen Nevada Prep under a new charter organization, Academies of Math and Science. That process would still be subject to approval.
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