In response to changing demographics, a tightening budget, and drastic achievement gaps (white students outperform Latino students on standardized tests) the Clark County School District in Nevada (the fifth largest district in the country) commissioned, in 2011, an educational and operational efficiency review. The district commissioned the review to understand how to better allocate their resources and make the case with state legislators for increased funding. The American Institutes for Research (AIR), a subcontractor on this project, was responsible for identifying three districts--Broward County, Florida; Miami; and Houston--with similar demographics and financial circumstances and comparing their student achievement to Clark County's. The AIR analysis identified the factors contributing to the disparity between the achievements of those districts and of Clark County. AIR staff also analyzed the districts' student achievement data to isolate areas that need improvement.