Las Vegas Middle School Inside A Mall On The Third Floor

Do you remember dragging your feet on the way to school. What happened to the joy of learning? Well maybe it wasn't entirely your fault, maybe the school was built on an ancient anxiety burial ground.

A Middle School in the Mall?

What if you went to school in the mall? The Western Youth Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment Middle School—better known as WYLEES—is kicking off its second school year inside one of the most unexpected locations in Las Vegas: the third floor of the former Macy’s at Boulevard Mall. After completing construction last year, the school has settled into its unconventional home and is already building a reputation for creativity, accessibility, and a family‑style atmosphere.

️ Learning With a Mall‑Side Twist

Head of school Mike Taack says the mall setting isn’t just a quirky backdrop—it’s part of the experience. Instead of traditional end‑of‑year exams, students last spring wrapped up assessments early and celebrated with a movie trip downstairs.

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I love this idea. The creativity, the fun‑loving energy, the whole fresh‑air vs. stuffy-classroom vibe absolutely delights the younger me. We get stuck doing things the way they’ve always been done and forget that learning can actually feel like an adventure instead of a chore.

Added bonus, imagine the social reinforcement you’d get from going to school in a mall. You act up, and it’s not just your teacher giving you the side‑eye — it’s the entire mall ecosystem. The pretzel guy. The kiosk lady. The cool older mall‑walkers. One collective look of disappointment, and boom, you’re shamed right back into being a productive member of society.

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Taack admits his first reaction to the idea was, “School at the mall?” But the location has proven intentional and effective. Families find it easy to access, and the results show it: about 90% of students returned from last year, and enrollment has grown by roughly 50%. WYLEES currently serves about 250 students and still has room to welcome more.