Firth District

Firth District is a small, three-school district in Idaho serving approximately 808 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels, and it currently ranks 23rd out of 101 Idaho districts with a 4-star rating. Firth District includes A W Johnson Elementary School (PK–4, 256 students), Firth Middle School (5–8, 247 students), and Firth High School (9–12, 305 students). While all three schools hold 3-star ratings individually, the district's overall 4-star rating is likely lifted by strong graduation rates and very low chronic absenteeism.

Each school has distinct strengths. A W Johnson Elementary School is the district's academic standout: despite having the highest free/reduced lunch rate (49.22%) and lowest per-student spending ($5,642), it holds the district's best school-level percentile rank (69th) and beats state averages in math (52.6% vs. 43.1%) and ELA (60.8% vs. 54.0%). Its 3rd-grade ELA proficiency is 14 points above the state average. Firth Middle School is a turnaround story, jumping from the 4th percentile in 2017–18 to the 59th percentile in 2025–26, with 8th-grade science and ELA well above state averages. Firth High School posts strong End-of-Course scores in math (45.2% vs. 33.1% statewide) and ELA (69.9% vs. 61.3%), and has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 3.3%—far below the state's 13.8%.

All three schools improved sharply in 2025–26, indicating district-wide momentum. Low chronic absenteeism across all schools likely contributes to these gains. Notably, Firth High School spends about 52% more per student than the elementary school ($8,587 vs. $5,642), a common pattern in small districts. The main concern is middle-school math: proficiency (41.8%) trails the state average (43.1%) and drops sharply from 50.9% in 6th grade to 36.5% in 7th grade. However, the high school's strong math results suggest students recover ground by upper grades, making Firth District a solid, improving choice for families.