Washington Elementary School

Washington Elementary School is a PK–6 elementary school in Boise's North End serving 268 students as part of the Boise Independent District, and it consistently delivers some of the strongest academic results in Idaho.

Washington earned a 5-star rating and ranked 27th out of 346 Idaho elementary schools in 2025–2026, following an extraordinary 2024–2025 year when it ranked 2nd in the state. All-grade proficiency rates are far above district and state averages: 72.7% proficient in math (versus 46.4% district and 43.1% state), 78.3% in English Language Arts (versus 53.3% district and 54.0% state), and 64.3% in 5th-grade science. The school sits within a high-achieving northern Boise cluster that includes Longfellow Elementary (ranked 9th), Collister Elementary (6th), and Highlands Elementary (17th) — all within about 2.5 miles. Just a mile away, however, schools like Whittier Elementary, Taft Elementary, and Jefferson Elementary rank among the lowest in the state, with proficiency rates in the 20s and 30s.

The most surprising concern for Washington families is attendance. Chronic absenteeism jumped from 14.2% in 2024–2025 to 24.2% in 2025–2026 — above the district average of 22.5% and nearly double the state average of 13.8%. This is out of step with nearby high-achieving peers like Longfellow Elementary (7.2%), Roosevelt Elementary (11.3%), and Collister Elementary (12.1%). Washington's 5th-grade scores are its clearest academic vulnerability — math proficiency dips to 57.1% and ELA to 66.7%, below the school's other grade levels. The school also spends less per student ($9,432) than nearby high-poverty schools like Taft Elementary ($12,390) and Jefferson Elementary ($12,207). With only 11.9% of students receiving free/reduced-price lunch, Washington is relatively economically advantaged, and its attendance trend will be worth watching in coming years.