Around 200 middle school students now attend the Western Youth Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment Middle School (WYLEES), which opened this month inside the former Macy’s department store at Boulevard Mall. The charter school occupies 46,000 square feet of repurposed retail space converted into classrooms.
Coming here isn't like going to a shopping mall, but "like Hogwarts," according to Las Vegas Sun, as described by Mike Taack, WYLEES's founder and head of school. Students reach their classrooms by entering through ground-floor side doors, then taking stairs or an elevator to the secured school space on what was once the retail floor of the department store anchor.
The school represents a departure from traditional educational models, focusing exclusively on grades 6-8 with a project-based learning approach. X1075 Las Vegas reports that founder Mike Taack, a former Clark County School District teacher, developed this approach after recognizing students' need to understand practical applications of their studies. "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 philosophy.
Addressing Safety and Security Concerns
The unconventional location initially raised concerns among prospective families about safety and accessibility. However, Nevada News & Views notes that parent Danielle Norris's security concerns were alleviated after learning about the school's safety measures, including auto-locking doors and a single point of entry. The school cannot be accessed through the mall itself, with security guards controlling entry at the street-level entrance.
WYLEES joins other educational institutions that have found a home at Boulevard Mall, including UEI College and a barber school. Vegas Family Events indicates that Las Vegas charter schools are becoming increasingly popular, with institutions sponsored by either Clark County School District or the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority.
Mall's Retail-to-Education Transformation
The school's location reflects broader changes in American retail spaces and the Boulevard Mall's own evolution. As the oldest shopping mall in the Las Vegas Valley, Boulevard Mall experienced significant decline after major anchor stores closed—Macy's and JCPenney in 2017, followed by Sears in 2019. According to Nevada News & Views, general manager Timo Kuusela described the situation a few years ago as feeling "like a sinking boat that was on fire."
The mall has since undergone deliberate transformation, with various tenants occupying former anchor spaces for uses including call centers and educational facilities.
Future Growth and Community Impact
As reported by Las Vegas Sun, WYLEES opened this month and families are already asking about potential expansion to include a high school. While Taack hasn't committed to this yet, he's looking forward to reaching the school's 500-student capacity within five years, with plans for outdoor recreation space and improved drop-off facilities.
The school's central Las Vegas location isn't just about convenience—Taack believes it can help encourage civic engagement and community collaboration. Teacher Miranda Garcia plans to incorporate the school's unique mall location into her lesson plans, making the unconventional setting part of the educational experience.
With classes underway at 3528 South Maryland Parkway, WYLEES operates within the repurposed retail space of the former Macy’s at Boulevard Mall, serving Las Vegas families in its newly established campus.
