Summary:
The West Side Joint District in Dayton, Idaho, serves 798 students across three schools: Harold B Lee Elementary School (PK–5), Beutler Middle School (6–8), and West Side Senior High School (9–12). This is a top-tier district, rated 5th out of 101 Idaho districts (95th percentile) with a 5-star rating, and every school carries 4 or 5 stars.
West Side Senior High School is the clear standout, ranking 12th among Idaho high schools with 5 stars. It boasts remarkably low chronic absenteeism (2.8% vs. 13.8% statewide) and the district’s best test scores, including 81.1% proficiency in ELA and 66.0% in science. Harold B Lee Elementary School achieves the district’s highest math proficiency (67.3%) despite having the largest class sizes (21.3:1) and lowest per-student spending ($6,142), making it a model of efficiency. Beutler Middle School performs admirably in the face of the highest poverty rate (47.5% free/reduced lunch), still ranking in the 81st percentile with strong 8th-grade science (60.7% proficiency).
All three schools have improved or held high rankings, with the high school jumping from the 66th to 90th percentile and the elementary school from the 68th to 87th percentile in recent years. Parents should note a few areas for attention: elementary science (51.8%) is the weakest subject relative to the district’s otherwise elevated performance, and middle school math (54.1%) could be stronger. Chronic absenteeism in the elementary (9.2%) and middle (9.0%) schools is above the district average of 7.1%, though still below the state rate. The high school’s 82.5% graduation rate is the most notable disconnect — equal to the state average despite its elite test scores — suggesting that while academics are outstanding, supporting students to graduation remains an opportunity for improvement.
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