A former Macy’s store at the Boulevard Mall in Las Vegas is undergoing a transformation into WYLEES, a new charter school set to open in August 2025. Wylees, which stands for Western Youth Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment School, will serve middle school students in grades 6 through 8, with an expected capacity of approximately 300 students.
Founded by Mike Taack, a former CCSD teacher, the school will emphasize project-based learning, encouraging students to engage in hands-on, interactive experiences that enhance knowledge retention. “Students are going to be learning through projects, hands-on learning — I find that very beneficial. I was in the classroom before. I found that when there is a project tied to a lesson, students would retain it,” said Xennia Diaz, also a former CCSD teacher, explaining their academic approach.
The curriculum at Wylees will focus on helping students understand why subjects matter, creating a proactive and engaging educational experience. The school will include 22 classrooms and a library, with a four-day school week from Monday to Thursday, featuring longer school days. Fridays will be reserved for teachers’ office work…