Boise Independent District

The Boise Independent District serves approximately 22,100 students across 49 schools — 34 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 7 high schools — and ranks 41st out of 101 Idaho districts with a 3-star rating. The district outperforms the state in math (46.4% vs. 43.1%) and science (43.3% vs. 42.7%) proficiency, but falls just short in English language arts (53.3% vs. 54.0%). One of the most striking findings is a clear two-tier elementary system: top schools post math proficiency rates between 72% and 78%, while the lowest-performing schools sit in the 16% to 23% range — a gap of roughly 50 percentage points within the same district.

Families will find exceptional elementary options in this district. Collister Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, and Adams Elementary School all rank in the top 10 statewide and combine strong academics with low chronic absenteeism. Longfellow is especially noteworthy with 85.8% ELA proficiency and just 7.2% chronic absenteeism. At the middle school level, East Junior High School leads with 70.4% math proficiency and an 88th-percentile ranking. Timberline High School is the clear standout at the high school level, ranking in the 67th percentile and outperforming the district's other comprehensive high schools in every tested subject; Boise Senior High School, Borah Senior High School, and Capital Senior High School all sit at or below the 36th percentile.

Some of the district's most compelling stories come from high-poverty schools that defy expectations. Hawthorne Elementary School, with 97.7% free/reduced-price lunch eligibility, ranks in the 78th percentile with 71.4% science proficiency — a reminder that poverty does not dictate outcomes. On the other end, Morley Nelson Elementary and Koelsch Elementary School rank near the bottom of the state with chronic absenteeism above 33%. Attendance is a district-wide concern: the district's 22.5% chronic absenteeism rate is 63% higher than the state average, and alternative schools like Frank Church High School face the steepest challenges with 81.3% chronic absenteeism. Notably, spending does not reliably predict success — Garfield Elementary School spends $13,098 per student yet ranks in the 5th percentile, while much lower-spending schools like Riverside Elementary School rank in the 89th.