Best Public Schools in Hansen, ID

The city of Hansen, Idaho, is served entirely by the Hansen District, which operates just two schools spanning a broad grade range: Hansen Elementary School (PK–6, 179 students) and Hansen Junior/Senior High School (7–12, 127 students). The district overall ranks 72nd out of 101 districts in Idaho, placing it in the 29th percentile and earning a 1-star rating, with roughly 59% of students districtwide qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

The standout comparison between the two schools reveals a lopsided academic profile. Hansen Junior/Senior High School is a clear bright spot in English Language Arts, achieving 56.5% proficiency compared to the state's 54.0%, and its End-of-Course ELA rate reaches 71.4% against a 61.3% state average. However, this literary strength contrasts sharply with its STEM performance, where math proficiency sits at 27.5% and science at just 24.5%, significantly trailing state averages. Meanwhile, Hansen Elementary School shows a different pattern: its overall math proficiency (36.7%) outpaces the district (32.7%) but remains below the state (43.1%). Early literacy is a concern, with only 25% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA versus the state's 48.5%, yet by 6th grade, proficiency climbs to 48%, nearly matching the state average of 51.5%.

Looking at key metrics, both schools maintain favorable student-teacher ratios (13.5 at the elementary and 12.3 at the high school), yet most proficiency rates fall below state averages, suggesting challenges like poverty and attendance outweigh class size. Chronic absenteeism presents a stark divide: 18.5% at Hansen Elementary School versus 13.6% at the high school, compared to the 13.8% state rate. Additionally, the district spends $1,634 more per pupil at the elementary level ($13,099 vs. $11,465), a difference that does not clearly align with outcomes. Encouragingly, rank trajectories are improving—the high school jumped from the 26th to the 48th percentile, and the elementary school from the 21st to the 28th percentile—though volatility remains high. Ultimately, the Hansen District's main opportunities lie in strengthening early-grade literacy, building out secondary math and science support, and tackling elementary attendance to ensure all 306 students succeed.