Best Public Schools in Kellogg, ID

Kellogg, Idaho, is served by two public schools—Kellogg High School (grades 9–12, 289 students) and Kellogg Middle School (grades 6–8, 238 students)—both part of the Kellogg Joint District, a small, 1-star district serving 527 students in a rural northern Idaho community.

Comparing the two schools, Kellogg High School is clearly the stronger performer. It ranks 87th out of 122 Idaho high schools (29th percentile), a big jump from last year’s 5th percentile. Its math proficiency (32.8%) nearly matches the state average (33.1%), and its graduation rate sits at 82.5%. The high school also enjoys better attendance, with only 11.4% chronic absenteeism, a lower free/reduced lunch rate (46.71%), smaller class sizes (13.9:1), and higher per-student spending ($12,969). In contrast, Kellogg Middle School ranks 158th out of 174 middle schools (9th percentile) with a 0-star rating. Its chronic absenteeism rate is a striking 50.2%, and math proficiency is just 20.9% versus the state’s 43.1%—a 22-point gap. ELA proficiency (34.6%) is also 19 points below the state average. The middle school serves a more economically disadvantaged population (55.46% free/reduced lunch) and has a higher student-teacher ratio (15.5:1).

There are a few bright spots. Kellogg Middle School’s 8th-grade science proficiency (41.5%) is essentially tied with the state average (42.9%), making science its strongest subject. Meanwhile, Kellogg High School’s recent ranking improvement and near-average math scores show positive momentum, though high school science lags 14.5 points behind the state. Overall, the district’s biggest challenge is clearly at the middle school level, where extreme absenteeism and low proficiency are concentrated. Parents should note that funding, class size, and poverty patterns all favor the high school, and that the district’s 1-star rating masks meaningful differences between the two schools.