Deary School

Deary School is a small alternative public school in Deary, Idaho, serving 145 students in grades 4 through 12 as part of the Whitepine Joint School District. The school combines upper-elementary, middle school, and high school students on one campus, and with no other schools within 20 miles, it serves as the community's primary secondary campus.

Deary School stands out for its strong math performance. In 2025-2026, 65% of students scored proficient in math, well above the state average of 43.1%, and 8th grade math proficiency reached 73.7% compared to 41.2% statewide. English Language Arts is also a bright spot, especially in 4th grade, where 70.6% of students met proficiency standards versus 50.2% across Idaho. Attendance is a major strength too: chronic absenteeism sits at just 6.6%, less than half the state rate of 13.8%. A student-teacher ratio of 10.5 and per-student spending of $14,557 suggest a well-resourced environment where students receive plenty of personalized attention.

While the school performs well overall, a few areas deserve attention. Science proficiency, particularly at 8th grade (42.1% vs. 42.9% statewide), trails the school's other subjects, though all-grades science jumped from 35.3% to 50% in one year. Graduation rates have generally exceeded the Idaho average but fluctuate from year to year — ranging from 77.8% to 88.9% over five years — which is typical for a school this size. Because Deary School's data are nearly identical to the district's figures, comparing it to the Whitepine Joint School District essentially means comparing the school to itself. For families, Deary School offers a small, personalized learning environment with strong academics and impressive student engagement.