A J Winters Elementary School

A J Winters Elementary School serves 305 students in grades PK–5 in Montpelier, Idaho, as part of the Bear Lake County District, and has transformed from a low-performing school into a consistent 4-star, above-average elementary school over the past decade. The school climbed from the 24th percentile in 2014–15 to the 84th percentile in 2023–24, and currently ranks 103rd out of 346 Idaho elementary schools in the 70th percentile with a 4-star rating.

Academically, A J Winters Elementary School consistently outperforms both district and state averages in math, English language arts, and science. In 2025–26, 56.7% of students were proficient in math, 61.6% in ELA, and the 5th-grade science proficiency rate was 54.0% versus a 44.0% state average. The 4th grade is a standout: roughly 25 percentage points above the state in both math and ELA. The school also compares favorably to nearby options. Georgetown Elementary School posts higher math and ELA scores but serves far fewer students (82), has a lower poverty rate, and a smaller student-teacher ratio. Paris Elementary School spends about $2,500 more per student yet posted lower proficiency rates and a 48th-percentile ranking in 2025–26. The district's online school, Bear Lake On-Line Learning, trails A J Winters by 20–25 percentage points in core subjects.

A J Winters also stands out for its low chronic absenteeism — the district rate is just 4.4% compared to the state's 13.8% — and for achieving strong results despite a 57% free/reduced-price lunch rate and the highest student-teacher ratio (18.6) among the district's physical elementary schools. The school achieves these results with mid-range per-pupil spending of $7,079. The key watchpoint is 3rd grade, where proficiency falls below both district and state averages in math and ELA. If the school can lift early-grade performance closer to its 4th- and 5th-grade results, A J Winters would be well-positioned to return to its 84th-percentile peak.