Camas County District

The Camas County District is a small, rural Idaho district serving about 150 students across just two schools on a shared campus in Fairfield: Camas County Elementary/Junior High School (grades PK–8, 105 students) and Camas County High School (grades 9–12, 45 students). The district ranks 44th out of 101 Idaho districts with a 3-star rating, and its small size means per-student costs can be quite high.

Camas County High School has the most dramatic history: it ranked 6th in Idaho in 2012–13 (96th percentile, 5 stars) and 27th in 2009–10 (84th percentile, 4 stars), though no recent ranking is available. It spends a remarkable $20,145 per student and has an 8.1 student-teacher ratio, but its current ELA proficiency (58.3%) is slightly below the state (61.3%). In contrast, Camas County Elementary/Junior High School is the only school with a current ranking: 177th of 346, at the 49th percentile with 2 stars. It has improved steadily from the 28th percentile in 2011–12, and its math scores are a clear bright spot. The elementary outperforms the state in 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th grade math, with an especially strong +8.6 point gap in 8th grade (50% vs. 41.4%). However, its ELA scores lag, particularly in 7th grade (46.2% vs. 56.8%).

Both schools face similar challenges. Chronic absenteeism is elevated (18.7% at the elementary/junior high and 22.2% at the high school, compared to a 13.8% state average), and about one-third of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. The high school's graduation rate of 82.5% matches the state exactly, while the elementary spends $11,008 per student — far less than the high school. Overall, this is a district with a historically strong high school, an improving elementary math program, and consistent ELA weaknesses. For parents, the key takeaway is that the elementary offers solid math instruction and individualized attention, but both schools would benefit from stronger reading support and lower chronic absenteeism.