Summary:
Ketchum, Idaho is served by exactly one public school: Ernest Hemingway Steam School, a PK-8 elementary school with 431 students in the Blaine County District. This uncommon K-8 structure lets students stay in the same school community from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, though with no high school in the city, students must move elsewhere after 8th grade. The school maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 11.4 and spends roughly $14,942 per student, reflecting strong investment in staffing and resources. About 24% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a relatively advantaged population.
Academically, Ernest Hemingway Steam School outperforms both its district and the state in all-grade math, science, and English Language Arts. In the 2025-2026 school year, math proficiency was 53.4% (versus 43.1% statewide), science was 46.3%, and ELA was 58.9%. The school shines brightest in the middle grades, particularly 8th grade math, where 68.2% of students are proficient compared to 41.2% statewide — a 27-point advantage. However, 5th grade is a clear weak spot, with math proficiency at 35.3% and ELA at 51.0%, both below state averages. The school has held a 3-star rating for three consecutive years, though its state percentile slipped from the 61st to the 55th percentile.
The biggest concern is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 15.4% — higher than both the district (14.4%) and state (13.8%). Math and science proficiency also declined slightly year over year, which likely explains the percentile drop. Even so, the school remains a strong performer, and its K-8 model appears to buffer students from the typical middle-school transition dip. With focused attention on 5th grade performance and attendance, this school has significant potential to climb the state rankings and continue serving as a standout institution in Ketchum.
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