Coronado Celebrates 25 Years With Five Stars

Five Stars of Excellence // Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Coronado has a new five-star rating in the Nevada School Performance Framework. This marks a major achievement for the Cougar community. (Photo by Stuti Joshi)

As Coronado High School celebrates its 25th anniversary, the school has another major reason to celebrate. Coronado recently earned yet another five-star rating on the Nevada School Performance Framework, along with the highest score ever earned by a comprehensive high school in Southern Nevada. This achievement gives the Cougar community a special way to celebrate how far the school has come.

Earning five stars is not something that happens from one good test score or one successful school year. The Nevada School Performance Framework looks at different parts of a school's performance, including student achievement, graduation, college and career readiness, and student growth. A five-star rating is the highest rating a school can receive, showing that Coronado has been successful in several different areas.

There are many accomplishments that helped Coronado reach this point. The Class of 2026 earned $28 million in scholarships. Along with that, Coronado had 517 Advanced Placement Scholars with an average Advanced Placement exam score of 3.79. The school also improved its Career and Technical Education results and reduced chronic absenteeism. These achievements show the work students and staff have put in throughout the year.

A big part of Coronado's success comes from the academic opportunities students have. Students can take honors and Advanced Placement courses that challenge them and help prepare them for college. There are also Career and Technical Education programs and electives that allow students to explore subjects they may want to continue studying in the future. Having different options gives students the chance to find classes that match their interests while still challenging themselves academically.

“The 5- star rating for Coronado is huge. The history of the document will show that we are the highest- rated comprehensive high school in the state of Nevada,” Robert Kalinowski, Assistant Principal, said. “Which is a testament to our teachers and our students, and how hard they work to make sure that education and student success are number one.”

However, Coronado is not only about what happens inside the classroom. Students have many ways to get involved through clubs, sports, activities, fine arts, and other programs. These activities allow students to meet new people, build leadership skills, volunteer, compete, and become more involved in the school community. High school is not only about getting good grades, and having these opportunities can help students figure out what they enjoy and what they might want to do in the future.

The five-star achievement also represents the work of more than just the students. Teachers spend every day helping students understand difficult material and encouraging them to improve. Staff members help keep the school running, while families support students outside of school. Coronado said the rating reflects the combined efforts of its students, staff, families, and community. 

“I'm proud of us accomplishing a five-star rating because of what it shows about the hard work of the students and their families,” Mr.Cooke, AP Seminar, said. “The students and staff are focusing on academic success and doing whatever it takes to meet the standard."

Reaching this achievement during Coronado's 25th anniversary makes the year even more meaningful. For 25 years, students have taken classes, played sports, joined clubs, made friendships, and graduated from Coronado. Each class has contributed something different to the school, helping Coronado become what it is today.

For current students, earning five stars can also create a sense of pride. Walking into school every morning may feel normal, but this rating is a reminder that the work happening in those classrooms matters. Every difficult assignment, Advanced Placement exam, school activity, competition, and graduation adds to the success of the school.

“I’m proud of the school because it means that we, as a community in the school, all worked hard in order to earn this five-star rating,”  Parker Scroggie, 10, said.

The celebration is about more than having five stars next to the school's name. It represents the students who worked hard in challenging classes, teachers who helped them succeed, athletes and club members who represented Coronado, and families who supported them along the way. It recognizes what past and current Cougars have accomplished while giving future students something to continue.