Best Public Schools in Priest River, ID

There are 2 public schools in Priest River, Idaho—Priest River Lamanna High (grades 7–12) and Priest River Elementary School (grades PK–6)—both part of the West Bonner County District. The district overall is ranked in the bottom 20% of Idaho districts, but the two schools tell very different stories.

Priest River Elementary School is the clear standout. Despite having a higher share of students on free/reduced lunch (50.8%) than the high school (42.4%), it beats the high school in every subject. Its math proficiency is 43.4%, essentially matching the state average of 43.1%, while Priest River Lamanna High sits at just 19.0%. The elementary school’s 5th and 6th grade math scores also top state averages. However, its ELA scores lag badly, especially in upper grades—6th grade ELA is 35.4% versus the state’s 51.5%. The high school, meanwhile, is declining sharply: math fell from 27.4% to 19.0% and science from 36.2% to 24.0% in just one year. Its graduation rate of 82.5% matches the state, but its test scores are far below.

Both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism: 26.0% at the elementary and 22.6% at the high school, roughly double the state rate of 13.8%. Notably, the high school spends more per student ($13,902 vs. $11,553) and has smaller classes, yet performs far worse, pointing to engagement or curriculum issues rather than resources. Encouragingly, the elementary school improved its state ranking from the 17th to 31st percentile, while the high school remains in the bottom fifth. For parents, the key takeaway is that Priest River Elementary School is a solid choice in math but needs work in reading, while Priest River Lamanna High requires immediate attention in nearly all academic areas.