By Robert Perea
The Lyon County School District reported strong academic results from the district’s Jump Start and dual‑credit programs Tuesday night, and trustees said the next challenge is making sure families understand the pathway early enough for more students to take advantage of it.
Executive Director of Education Services Jim Giannotti told the Board of Trustees that 351 students were enrolled in college courses during the fall 2024 semester, including 104 in the Western Nevada College Jump Start program. Ninety‑three percent of those students earned passing grades of A, B or C, and the district expects 49 students to graduate this spring with an associate degree.
“I can proudly say that Lyon County School District students continue to show their abilities to enroll and successfully complete college coursework while enrolled in our high schools,” Giannotti said.
Trustees praised the results but said many families don’t learn soon enough what it takes to qualify for the program. Trustee Darin Farr noted that the academic track often begins as early as seventh grade, when students must complete advanced math to stay on pace for algebra in eighth grade.
“I don’t know if enough of the public, or parents in this case, are aware that this starts back around seventh grade,” he said.
Farr noted that the district is started to promote its Career and Technical Educations opportunities to middle schoolers, but said the district needs to do a better job of promoting the Jump Start and other dual credit opportunities.
Giannotti agreed that the district could strengthen coordination between middle and high schools and explore sending information home to sixth‑grade families outlining the decisions that shape future eligibility.
“Those efforts are largely done at the site level but we can certainly make a more concerted effort to get the word out,” Gianotti said.
Trustees also discussed using current Jump Start students as ambassadors during middle‑school career fairs, similar to how high school CTE students help promote their programs.
Trustee Sherry Parsons noted that students have to have high enough test scores to qualify for the programs. Gianotti said if more parents were aware, they might put more emphasis on their students to perform better to qualify for those advanced courses.
“The opportunity is there for any student who truly wants to do it,” Giannotti said. “The key is getting the word out to parents and students at an earlier age.”
After discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve the report on the fall 2025 Jump Start and dual‑enrollment results.
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