More Than 300 Kids Spent a Saturday Doing Hands-On STEM at CCSD's Family STEM Day

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

News 3 Las Vegas reporter Lourdes Trimidal covered the event. She reported that more than 300 students came out to learn about science and technology fields at the CCSD Magnet Schools Family STEM Day.

The event was held at Northeast Career and Technical Academy, the magnet high school most people call NECTA. CCSD partnered with Google and Discovery Education. Students moved through interactive, tech-based activities built to spark curiosity. Some of the problem-solving activities were developed by tech companies, including Google.

This was a family event, which matters. Parents were there with their kids, seeing the same activities and hearing about magnet programs in person. That is a very different experience from reading a brochure or scrolling a website late at night trying to figure out which school to pick.

News 3 did not list every activity, the number of companies involved or how many staff and volunteers helped. Whether the event was free to attend is NOT VERIFIED, so check with CCSD's magnet office before you plan for future events like this one.

A student taking part in a hands-on technology activity at CCSD Family STEM Day in North Las Vegas, from News 3 Las Vegas coverage

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

The biggest reason this matters is the calendar. CCSD's school choice window for the 2027-2028 school year is open right now. FOX5 reported that the deadline for open enrollment, magnet programs and the Central Technical Training Academy is Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027. Events like STEM Day are designed to help families make that choice with real information.

Magnet schools are a big part of how many Las Vegas families think about education. FOX5 reported CCSD magnet themes include International Baccalaureate, performing and creative arts, STEM, and leadership and communications. Busing is available within designated magnet transportation zones. That is different from open enrollment, where FOX5 reported no transportation is provided.

STEM programs in particular connect to the local economy. Fields like technology, health care and manufacturing all lean on science and math skills. Kids who get excited about science and tech early are more likely to take the harder classes in middle and high school that open those doors later.

For families who are moving to the valley, or moving within it, school choice also plays into where they live. Some parents look for a home near a zoned school they like. Others pick a home first and then use magnet or open enrollment options to find the right fit. Knowing how the magnet system works gives you more freedom when you are choosing a neighborhood.

And for the kids themselves, a Saturday of building and problem solving is just good for them. It shows them that science is not only a textbook subject. It is something they can do with their hands, with their parents standing next to them.

Background and History

Northeast Career and Technical Academy is a fairly new school. 8 News Now reported it opened in August 2023 in North Las Vegas, at Deer Springs and North 5th Street. The campus cost about $200 million. About 700 students started on the first day, and the school planned to add a grade each year until it reached 2,000 students.

NECTA is a magnet school focused on careers in the trades. When it opened, 8 News Now reported students could choose from 10 STEM programs, each built around different jobs. At the opening, the principal told students they were choosing their first job, not their forever job. That idea fits a STEM Day well. The goal is not to lock a 10-year-old into a career. It is to let them try things and see what clicks.

Using a career academy as the host site also makes sense. Families who walked the halls saw labs and shops that older students use every day. For a parent of a middle schooler, that can make a magnet high school feel real instead of abstract.

Partnerships with companies are also a common part of STEM outreach. Google and Discovery Education brought activities designed to feel like real problem solving. That gives students a small taste of what working in tech is like, beyond the classroom.

CCSD has also been adding STEM spaces in other schools. We wrote about one of those in our story on the Canarelli Middle School STEM lab, linked at the top of this page. Taken together, the district's message to parents is clear: STEM is not only for a few select schools. It is spreading across the valley.

STEM at Home, by Age

You do not need a lab to keep the curiosity from STEM Day going. Here are some simple ideas that cost little or nothing.

Ages 5 to 7: Sort and count things around the house, build towers out of cups or blocks, and test which toys sink or float in the bathtub. Ask, "What do you think will happen?" before each test.
Ages 8 to 10: Try a free beginner coding app, build a paper airplane and change one thing at a time to see what makes it fly farther, or grow a plant from a seed and keep a simple chart.
Ages 11 to 13: Take apart an old gadget with a grown-up, build a simple circuit kit, or plan a family budget for a trip using a spreadsheet.
Teens: Look for free online courses, robotics clubs, library maker spaces and summer programs. If they like hands-on work, ask about career and technical programs in high school.

The point is not to turn every weekend into school. It is to show kids that science and math are tools for solving real problems, which is exactly what STEM Day was built to do.

What Happens Next

The next big date on the calendar is the CCSD Magnet Schools Fair. FOX5 reported it is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at South Career and Technical Academy. If your family missed STEM Day, the fair is the next good chance to talk to magnet schools face to face.

After that, the key date is the application deadline: Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027. Applications and program requirements are at magnet.ccsd.net, and more school choice information is at itsyourchoice.ccsd.net, according to FOX5. Some programs have extra steps or requirements, so do not wait until the last week to look.

FOX5 also reported the Central Technical Training Academy is taking applications from incoming 11th and 12th graders interested in construction and manufacturing training. If you have an older teen who likes hands-on work, that is another option to look at before Jan. 12.

We do not know yet whether CCSD will hold another Family STEM Day this school year. If it does, it is worth watching the district's social media and magnet website so you can sign up early.

Is a STEM Magnet Right for Your Child?

A STEM magnet can be a great fit, but it is not the right choice for every kid. Here are a few signs it might be a good match:

Your child likes to build, tinker or take things apart to see how they work.
They enjoy puzzles, logic games or coding apps, even when nobody asks them to.
They ask a lot of "why" and "how" questions about the world around them.
They stick with a hard problem instead of giving up right away.
They get excited about hands-on projects more than worksheets.

If that sounds like your child, a STEM program could keep them engaged. If your child lights up more around music, art, writing or public speaking, CCSD also offers magnet themes in performing and creative arts and in leadership and communications, per FOX5. The best program is the one your child will be excited to show up for every day.

It also helps to think about the whole day, not just the classes. How long is the commute? Is the school in a magnet transportation zone for your address? Will your child be leaving friends behind? These are fair questions to weigh alongside the program itself.

How to Get the Most Out of the Magnet Schools Fair

If you go to the fair on Nov. 14, a little planning helps. Make a short list of three to five programs before you go so you do not spend the whole morning wandering. Bring your child, and let them ask at least one question at each table. Write down the answers, because after a few booths everything starts to blend together.

Good questions to ask at each table include: What does a normal day look like for students here? What do students do after graduating from this program? Are there entry requirements or steps beyond the application? How does transportation work for our address? What do families say they wish they had known before applying?

When you get home, sit down with your child and rank the programs together. Then put the Jan. 12 deadline on the fridge, the family calendar and your phone.

Ryan's Take

I talk with a lot of families who are moving to Las Vegas or moving across town, and schools come up in almost every conversation. What surprises many of them is how much choice CCSD offers through magnet programs. Your zoned school is not your only option. That can take some pressure off when you are picking a home, because you are not always limited to one attendance zone.

That said, magnet seats are not guaranteed, and transportation depends on where you live. So I always tell parents to look at both: the zoned schools near a home and the magnet programs that home can reach. A STEM Day with 300 kids tells me there is real demand for these programs. If your child is one of those kids who lights up when they get to build something, take the application seriously and give yourself a backup plan too.

What You Can Do

Here is a simple plan for parents before the deadline:

Talk with your child. Ask what they liked most in school this year, and what they would want to learn more about. Their answer can point you toward a theme like STEM, arts, IB or leadership.
Browse magnet.ccsd.net. Look at programs by theme and read each one's requirements.
Check transportation. Find out whether your address is inside a magnet transportation zone for the programs you like. Remember, open enrollment does not include busing, per FOX5.
Go to the Magnet Schools Fair. Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to noon, at South Career and Technical Academy.
Apply early. The deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027. Do not leave it for the last day.
Have a backup. Know your zoned school options too, in case a magnet seat does not come through.

You can also keep the STEM spark going at home. Building kits, simple coding apps, a trip to a local science museum or library program, or just letting your kid take apart an old gadget can go a long way. The goal is the same as STEM Day: let them try, fail, fix it and try again.

A Quick Guide to CCSD School Choice Terms

The school choice process has a few terms that trip up new families. Here is what they mean in plain words, based on FOX5's reporting.

Zoned school: The school assigned to your home address. Your child can attend without applying.
Open enrollment: A way to attend a school outside your zone if it has open seats. A list of participating schools is posted online. No transportation is provided.
Magnet program: A program built around a theme, like STEM or the arts. You apply, and there are requirements. Busing is available inside designated magnet transportation zones.
Career and technical academy: A magnet high school built around career fields, like NECTA, SECTA or other CTAs across the valley.
Central Technical Training Academy: A training option for incoming 11th and 12th graders interested in construction and manufacturing.

All three application types share the same deadline this cycle: Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027.

Common Questions

When is the CCSD magnet application deadline? Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027, for the 2027-2028 school year, per FOX5.

Where do I apply? Magnet applications and requirements are at magnet.ccsd.net. General school choice information is at itsyourchoice.ccsd.net.

Is there busing to magnet schools? Busing is available within designated magnet transportation zones, per FOX5. Open enrollment does not include transportation.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com