Las Vegas expands crossing guard program to protect more students
The City of Las Vegas has approved significant funding to expand its crossing guard program to all 16 middle schools and three high schools within city limits, marking a major shift in student safety measures for the 2025-26 school year.
City council approves $415,000 expansion
During Wednesday’s Las Vegas City Council meeting, officials approved an additional $415,000 in annual funding to supplement the existing $2.87 million budget that currently covers 287 crossing guards at 72 elementary schools. This expansion represents the city’s response to growing community concerns about traffic safety near schools, particularly following the tragic death of Arbor View High School senior McKenzie Scott in May 2025.
The hiring process for these new positions has already begun, though city officials acknowledge that crossing guards won’t be in place for the start of school on Monday. As new guards are hired, they’ll first be deployed to middle schools in the most hazardous traffic corridors before expanding to cover all locations.
Pilot program shows promising results
The decision follows a successful pilot program conducted between November 2024 and May 2025 at Gibson Middle School and Cimarron-Memorial High School. According to city data, the pilot demonstrated improved compliance with traffic laws and increased pedestrian comfort when crossing guards were present.
“The pilot showed that there was better compliance to traffic laws for vehicles and pedestrians when a crossing guard was present,” city spokesman Jace Radke confirmed. Survey respondents also reported feeling safer when crossing guards were stationed at intersections.
High schools receive limited coverage
While all middle schools will receive crossing guards, only three high schools will benefit from the program this year: Cimarron-Memorial, Arbor View, and Palo Verde. These locations were selected due to higher traffic incident rates. The addition of crossing guards to Arbor View is particularly significant, as it comes after months of advocacy by parents and the creation of WalkSafelyLV, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving road safety around schools.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley noted that the city could potentially expand to all high schools in the future, pending funding availability. Currently, Las Vegas is the only jurisdiction in the valley to station crossing guards at high schools.
Regional success drives expansion
The city’s decision follows successful implementations in neighboring jurisdictions. Clark County, which added crossing guards to middle schools last year, reported a 69% reduction in crashes involving middle school students. Similarly impressive results were seen across different school levels in unincorporated Clark County:
- Elementary schools: 64% decrease in student-involved crashes
- Middle schools: 69% decrease
- High schools: 13% decrease
Henderson and North Las Vegas have also added crossing guards to their middle schools, though neither jurisdiction currently covers high schools.
Community advocacy makes the difference
The expansion represents a victory for parent advocates who have pushed for enhanced safety measures since McKenzie Scott’s death. Members of WalkSafelyLV, who volunteered as crossing guards through the end of the last school year, plan to continue their efforts until permanent guards are in place.
“I am so incredibly excited we are getting an official crossing guard,” said one WalkSafelyLV parent. “After months of raising awareness, countless emails, meetings and community support, it’s truly amazing to see the city step up and respond to the needs of our students and families.”
As Las Vegas Valley continues to address traffic safety concerns, the expansion of crossing guard programs represents a significant investment in protecting students during their daily commutes to and from school.
Category: Education
Subcategory: School Safety
Date: 08/07/2025
