Dean Petersen Elementary School

A zoned PK–5 neighborhood elementary school in the Midtown and UNLV area.

Dean Petersen RISE Academy · Respect, Improvement, Scholarship, Excellence · RISE is a school identity, not a magnet program

Grades: PK–5
How to get in: Zoned by home address
School day: Confirm the live bell schedule

Dean Petersen is a traditional CCSD zoned elementary school serving the Midtown and UNLV area. The campus uses the RISE values of Respect, Improvement, Scholarship, and Excellence. Programs, activities, schedules, and out-of-zone availability can change.

3650 Cambridge St., Las Vegas, NV 89169

Official starting points

School Choice:(702) 799-5000 schoolchoice@nv.ccsd.net

About Dean Petersen Elementary

Petersen is a neighborhood PK–5 school with core elementary academics, grade-level activities, clubs, and elementary athletics or intramurals when offered.

The school site uses the name Dean Petersen RISE Academy. RISE stands for Respect, Improvement, Scholarship, and Excellence. It is school branding, not a district magnet seat or separate application.

The campus is not listed as a district STEM, IB, arts, or STEAM elementary magnet. Families seeking a magnet theme should compare current options through the CCSD magnet catalog.

School leadership

Confirm with the school office

The guide does not identify the current principal. Contact the school office for current leadership information, since staffing can change.

School details

Address: 3650 Cambridge St., Las Vegas, NV 89169
Phone: (702) 799-1120
Official CCSD site: School website(opens in a new tab)

The CCSD directory lists the school as Dean Petersen ES.
The school website uses Dean Petersen RISE Academy.
The directory shows K–5, while the school schedule includes AM and PM Pre-K sessions. Confirm current Pre-K placement and times.

How families get in

Petersen is a zoned CCSD elementary school. Assignment is based on the home address, so families should check the exact address before enrolling or moving.

Look up the exact home address through the CCSD zoning tool.
Register through standard CCSD enrollment for the assigned zoned school.
Out-of-zone enrollment or a zone variance, if offered, follows current CCSD Choice rules and depends on campus capacity.
RISE is the school's identity and does not require a magnet application.

Pre-K placement

Pre-K is not assigned through kindergarten registration.
Families complete the CCSD Pre-K interest form.
CCSD's Early Childhood Department handles placement and may offer a seat at the zoned school when one is available.

Zoning, capacity, and Choice rules can change. Transportation and out-of-zone access are not guaranteed. Confirm current rules with CCSD and the school.

Who it tends to fit

A good match when

You live in the Petersen attendance zone or plan to move there.
You want a neighborhood elementary school rather than a commute to a magnet hub.
You are prioritizing school culture, daily logistics, and classroom feel.
You are comfortable confirming current clubs, activities, and supports during a visit.

Think twice when

Your address is outside the zone and you are relying on open enrollment.
You specifically want a district STEM, IB, arts, or STEAM magnet pathway.
A busy or large-elementary environment would be a concern without first visiting the campus.

Fit depends on the current attendance zone, capacity, staffing, schedule, and program offerings. Confirm details directly with the school and CCSD.

Students

The guide reports about 702 students in an NCES 2024–25 snapshot. Enrollment and group counts can shift from year to year.

Diversity index

Not provided in the guide

The reported race and ethnicity mix was about 47% Hispanic, 37% Black, 6% two or more races, 5% White, and 2% Asian, with other groups at smaller shares. Exact group counts were not provided.

Gender: Not provided in the guide Confirm current student data through the Nevada Report Card or school office.

Total enrollment was reported as about 702 students in the NCES 2024–25 snapshot.

Academics

Petersen provides standard elementary academics. Families should ask the school for the current classroom model, intervention options, specials schedule, and English learner services.

Core subjects include literacy, math, science, and social studies.
PE, art, music, and library or media are common CCSD elementary patterns, but the current schedule should be confirmed.
School materials describe RISE values and recognition programs, including examples such as Days of Excellence point systems.
The school site links Communities In Schools, food-assistance partners, and an After-School All-Stars program. Ask which supports operate this year.
The site retains a Zoom School label from an earlier Nevada English learner funding program. Ask what English learner services are currently available.
Clubs, activities, athletics, intramurals, and spirit programs may be offered. These are elementary activities, not middle-school NIAA varsity programs.

Awards and recognition

Location and daily life

The campus is on Cambridge Street in the Midtown and UNLV area.

Families should expect typical elementary arrival and dismissal traffic.

The school day has run on a different schedule from many CCSD elementary schools, so confirm current start, dismissal, and Pre-K session times.

Always recheck zoning for a specific address before committing to a home.

Compare before you commit

Paradise Professional Development Elementary SchoolA nearby UNLV-campus zoned elementary school.
Robert E. Lake Elementary SchoolA nearby zoned campus in the 89169 area.
George E. Harris Elementary SchoolAn east-of-Strip zoned elementary campus.
Roger D. Gehring Academy of Science and TechnologyA full STEM magnet to compare if you specifically want a magnet lottery seat.

Questions to ask on a tour

1.What does a typical day look like for a new Pre-K or kindergarten student compared with an upper-elementary student?
2.How do RISE expectations appear in classrooms from day to day?
3.What are the current start and dismissal times, including AM and PM Pre-K sessions?
4.What academic and English-language supports are available when a student needs help catching up?
5.Which clubs, after-school programs, intramurals, and family supports are operating this year?
6.How does the school manage arrival, dismissal, and traffic around Cambridge Street?

What to do next

1.Check the exact home address with the CCSD zoning lookup.
2.Review the current school website for schedules, calendars, and school updates.
3.Use the Nevada Report Card for official accountability information.
4.Ask CCSD about current enrollment, Choice, and Pre-K placement rules.
5.Tour the campus if possible and ask about RISE culture, classroom supports, traffic, and the live bell schedule.