These 15 Cities In Idaho Have The Best Schools

Idaho has struggled throughout history to foster a public school system that fairly and completely serves the youth of our state, ranking overall by Education Week at #46 in the country – a “D+” ranking, in alphabetic terms. But whatever your perspective on the achievements and/or flaws of Idaho’s education system, there’s no doubt that there are certain school districts that seem to have the right combination of ingredients when it comes to pupil success. Whether you’re relocating, browsing, or finally have children of school-age, knowing where – statistically – the best of the best is is good information to know.

We scoured the internet for a comprehensive ranking of Idaho’s best schools that wasn’t solely based on highly-contested test scores or overly biased based on population. Niche just put together an updated list of Idaho’s top-rated school systems for 2017 based on the weighted factors of Academics (state assessments, SAT/ACT scores), Overall Culture & Diversity, Heath & Safety (absenteeism and negative behavior trends), Parent/Student “First-Hand” Quality Surveys, Teacher Quality, Resources & Facilities, Clubs & Activities, and Sports. Combined, these educational factors provide a well-rounded picture of our state’s top school districts.

Workandpix/CC0

Including both the Juliaette Elementary School and the Kendrick Jr//Sr. High School, Kendrick's schools -- home of the Tigers -- earned a solid 'B' ranking in every category.

Academics Grade: B
Culture & Diversity Grade: B-
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 3.7 out of 5
Teachers Grade: B+

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Home of the Pilgrims, the largest horseshoe-shaped town in the world also boasts an excellent school system, with particularly high student and parent rankings, as well as an 'A' for health and safety.

Academics Grade: B-
Health & Safety Grade: A
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.2 out of 5
Teachers Grade: B-
Resources & Facilities Grade: C+

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Genesee School District 282/Facebook

Snugly tucked away in Idaho's Palouse, the Genesee Bulldogs have notably high academic performance both nationally and in-state, but are particularly known for having high-quality teachers and curriculums.

Academics Grade: B
Culture & Diversity Grade: C
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.9 out of 5
Teachers Grade: B+

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Sugar-Salem School District/Facebook

Just outside of Rexburg, the Sugar City Diggers add some extra emphasis on lifelong skills, knowledge, and values, and it shows in the district's well-rounded academic and overall rankings.

Academics Grade: B+
Health & Safety Grade: B-
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 3.8 out of 5
Teachers Grade: B+

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District/Facebook

The Panthers excel in school pride, community involvement, and unique access to extra resources through Idaho State University, all of which contributes to their high overall ratings across the board. Perhaps the only notable exceptions are 'C' ratings for extracurriculars and Health & Safety.

Academics Grade: B+
Health & Safety Grade: C
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.2 out of 5
Teachers Grade: B
Resources & Facilities Grade: B-

West Ada School District/Facebook

As the second largest district in the state, West Ada schools offer a diverse range of focused arts and technical schools for high school students, as well as general education schools, each with an increased focus on modern technology. This contributes to the district's well-rounded academic and accessibility stats.

Academics Grade: B
Health & Safety Grade: B+
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.0 out of 5
Teachers Grade: B
Clubs & Activities Grade: C+

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Perhaps the state's best-kept secret in terms of natural beauty and community vibes, the tiny town of Mackay beats out many of its larger counterparts in teacher performance and academics.

Academics Grade: B+
Culture & Diversity Grade: C+
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.5 out of 5
Teachers Grade: A-

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WELS.net/Flickr

Located in Bancroft but serving the nearby communities of Lund, Chesterfield, Bancroft, and other small rural towns, Bancroft not only earns a solid 'B' across the board, but its high school recently earned a 5-star rating with the Idaho State Department of Education.

Academics Grade: B+
Culture & Diversity Grade: B-
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.7 out of 5
Teachers Grade: B

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Moscow School District

Home of the Bears and closely connected to the University of Idaho, Moscow's school district lives up to its beautiful campus, earning top marks for Academics and Extracurricular options.

Academics Grade: A
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 3.7 out of 5
Teachers Grade: A-
Clubs & Activities Grade: B-

Camas County SChool District

Despite its rural setting, Camas County is a solid choice for academics and environment overall.

Academics Grade: B+
Culture & Diversity Grade: B-
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 3.9 out of 5 Teachers Grade: A-

Nez Perce School District

Excellent teachers and a positive overall experience gives this tiny district an impressive educational score.

Academics Grade: B+
Culture & Diversity Grade: B-
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.6 out of 5
Teachers Grade: A

Blaine Country School District/Facebook

Centered in scenic Hailey, Idaho, the Blaine County schools are clearly doing something right, and it probably has a great deal to do with their mission statement of "Inspire, Engage, Educate, and Empower." Even extracurriculars get high marks, here.

Academics Grade: A-
Culture & Diversity Grade: A-
Teachers Grade: B+
Resources & Facilities Grade: A-
Clubs & Activities Grade: B

Garden Valley School District/Facebook

The Garden Valley Wolves reap the benefits of being centered between two equally dominant school zones: those of the Boise metro region, and those of the smaller valley schools.

Academics Grade: A-
Culture & Diversity Grade: B-
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.0 out of 5
Teachers Grade: A-

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McCall-Donnelly School District

McCall's cozy district is proof that size doesn't matter when it comes to academics.

Academics Grade: A
Culture & Diversity Grade: B-
Health & Safety Grade: B+
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.1 out of 5
Teachers Grade: A

Boise Schools

It makes sense that Idaho's capital city would be ranked top in the state for education across every category. Access to a bevy of local extracurriculars, plus advanced education opportunities in partnership with Boise State University makes for a solid district. Congrats!

Academics Grade: B+
Culture & Diversity Grade: A- Health & Safety Grade: A
Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience: 4.2 out of 5
Teachers Grade: A
Resources & Facilities Grade: B+
Clubs & Activities Grade: C+
Sports Grade: C+

While we did our best to compile rankings that were fair, it should be noted that Idaho is home to hundreds of fantastic schools, teachers, and educational programs that didn’t make this list. Be sure to do your own research and rule out category rankings that may be biased due to population size; our tiny communities often have the greatest opportunities for focused learning in the state! Also note that private and charter schools are ranked by Niche on a separate list.

Show us your school pride and small-town love! What are your best K12 memories in Idaho?