Wood River High School

Wood River High School is a comprehensive public high school in Hailey, Idaho, serving 922 students in grades 9–12 as part of the Blaine County District. The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of roughly 14 to 1, and the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch has climbed from about 20% to nearly 33% in just two years — an important trend for families to understand when looking at recent test scores and graduation rates.

Wood River's overall state ranking has been volatile over the past decade, ranging from the 89th percentile in 2012–2013 to a recent recovery to the 53rd percentile. Science is a relative strength, with about 50% of students proficient versus 41% statewide. English Language Arts has generally been solid, though a sharp drop to 46.7% proficiency in the most recent year warrants attention. Math is the school's most consistent challenge, with proficiency persistently below the state average. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism has improved from about 25% to 16.7%, though it remains above the state average of 13.8%. The graduation rate was 82.5% in the most recent year, matching state and district averages.

Achievement at Wood River varies considerably across student subgroups, with some groups performing well above their statewide peers and others well below — a gap that deserves attention as the school works to lift outcomes for all students. Nearby Silver Creek High School, a much smaller alternative school on the same campus, serves a higher share of economically disadvantaged students (49% vs. 33%) and has a chronic absenteeism rate of 42%, yet shares the same 82.5% graduation rate. For families, the key takeaways are that Wood River offers solid science instruction and improving attendance, while math proficiency, the recent ELA dip, and equity across student groups are areas to keep an eye on.