LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) has taken over a troubled Las Vegas-area school, seeking to address financial and academic issues.
The SPCSA on Friday refused to renew the Nevada Prep Charter School’s license, effectively putting the school at risk of closing. However, a document leaked to 8 News Now shows disciplinary issues at the school are also at the heart of the investigation.
‘Lying to him, doing weird things’: Leaked report reveals bad behavior among Las Vegas charter school students
Leaked reports document hundreds of incidents of student misbehavior in schools ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Students threatened to kill other students, were caught vaping or smoking marijuana, and repeatedly used racial slurs, including the “N” word.
In response, SPCSA Executive Director Melissa Mackedon said in an email to 8 News Now that the disclosure violated FERPA, which stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and was under “active investigation.”
A fifth-grader classified as a troubled child pushed a child against a wall, pulled down their pants and said he was going to “trick him and do some weird stuff,” according to leaked reports. Teachers also said the children’s screensavers were pictures of the Ku Klux Klan.
The complaint from a fourth-grade student, who reportedly vandalized classrooms, assaulted teachers and threatened to kill students, is 16 pages long. An eighth-grader reportedly showed others threatening videos, including one of beheadings with a machete, and said he would do it to them.
McDonough said in an email that Nevada Prep’s “leadership is no longer in place” and that a veteran administrator named Joshua Kern has been appointed to close the school.
“Mr. Cohen has extensive experience negotiating with vendors and resolving outstanding financial obligations, a critical component of orderly and responsible school closings,” said Samantha King Powell, general counsel for the state Public Charter School Authority.
According to SPCSA documents, Nevada Preparatory School has “sustained significant declines in academic performance over the past two years.” Nevada Prep’s elementary and middle school ratings improved from three stars to one star.
The state Public Charter School Authority is scheduled to meet on January 23, 2026, to discuss next steps for Nevada Prep.
In response to the disciplinary report, Nevada Prep told 8 News Now that the documents were leaked as a smear campaign and that children with bad behavior had been removed from the school.
The state Public Charter School Authority intends to reopen Nevada Preparatory School under a new charter organization, the Math and Science Academy, according to Mackedon. The process still requires approval.
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