Best Public Schools in Basin, WY

The city of Basin, Wyoming is home to two schools: Riverside Middle/High School and Laura Irwin Elementary, both part of the Big Horn County School District #4. While Riverside Middle/High School has consistently ranked among the top 10 high schools in Wyoming and maintained a 5-star rating, Laura Irwin Elementary has fluctuated in its ranking, ranging from 66th to 95th out of 149 elementary schools in the state.

Riverside Middle/High School stands out with its impressive test scores, where a majority of students score proficient or better in subjects like English Language Arts, Math, and Science. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 7:1, suggesting smaller class sizes and more individualized attention for students. Additionally, Riverside Middle/High School spends significantly more per student ($35,837) compared to Laura Irwin Elementary ($26,587), which may contribute to the higher performance of the middle/high school.

In contrast, Laura Irwin Elementary has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (55.66%) compared to Riverside Middle/High School (34.92%), indicating a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The elementary school also has a higher student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1, which may be a contributing factor to its lower performance compared to the middle/high school.