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Whittier Elementary School

Q: Is Whittier Elementary School a good school?

Whittier Elementary School ranks in the bottom 11.4% of Idaho elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 490 students attended Whittier Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Whittier Elementary School?

Students at Whittier Elementary School are 44% White, 40% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% African American, 2% Asian.

Q: What schools do graduates of Whittier Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Whittier Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : North Junior High School High : Boise Senior High School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

310^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 350 Idaho Elementary Schools

Better than 11% of Idaho elementary schools

Summary

Whittier Elementary School serves 490 students from PreK through 6th grade in Boise, ID, as part of the Boise Independent District, and the school community faces significant challenges: nearly all students (98.37%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school currently ranks in the bottom 12% of Idaho elementary schools with a 1-star state rating.

Test scores at Whittier Elementary School trail district and state averages by wide margins. Just 29% of students are proficient in math and 34.6% in English Language Arts, compared to district rates of 46.4% and 53.3%. The comparison with nearby Monroe Elementary School is especially telling: Monroe serves a nearly identical student population (98.54% free/reduced lunch) yet achieves 54.4% math and 51.2% ELA proficiency. Even more striking is Longfellow Elementary School, just over a mile away, where 77.7% of students are proficient in math and 85.8% in ELA. Science is a relative bright spot at Whittier, with 5th grade science proficiency at 44.4% — essentially matching the state average.

Chronic absenteeism stands out as the school's most pressing issue. About one in three Whittier students (33.8%) is chronically absent, meaning they miss 10% or more of the school year — more than double the state rate of 13.8% and far above Monroe's 13.4%. This rate has remained above 30% for several years. There are some bright spots at Whittier, particularly 5th grade science and 5th grade ELA (49.3% proficiency), which show grade-level success is possible. The strong results at Monroe, despite nearly identical poverty levels, demonstrate that improvement is achievable with the right supports around attendance and instruction.

490

Students ?

16.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,813

Per pupil spending ?

98.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

301 North 29th Street
Boise, ID 83702-4625

(208) 854-6630

District: Boise Independent District

Students who attend Whittier Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	North Junior High School
High:	Boise Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.1%

Hispanic:

39.8%

Two or more races:

6.9%

See top rated Idaho elementary schools

Compare Whittier Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 27th percentile in 2023 → 11th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Idaho average (36% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 14% Idaho)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg49%

Idaho avg47%

310^th of 350

Idaho public elementary schools ?

Bottom 11%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 3% (2016) to bottom 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Idaho Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

24^th of 31Elementary Schools in the Boise Independent District

41^st of 104Boise Independent District among Idaho districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2026	16.6	310 of 350	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.5	286 of 337	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.2	237 of 301	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.7	183 of 252	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.6	149 of 188	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.5	151 of 166	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.4	153 of 171	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.5	226 of 254	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	10.6	275 of 292	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	7.6	233 of 240	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	9.6	213 of 226	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	16.9	331 of 357	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	9.1	344 of 354	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	17.4	335 of 359	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	22.6	317 of 356	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	31.5	284 of 349	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	20.3	302 of 335	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2018	28.1	94 of 121	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2024	39.4	33 of 58	43.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2018	17.3	105 of 121	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2024	41.3	80 of 135	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.6	14 of 37	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.5	14 of 18	22.2%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2024)43rd percentile+22 vs school

White (2024)41st percentile+19 vs school

Female (2018)22nd percentile+11 vs school

Male (2018)13th percentile~ school

By subject vs Idaho (2025-2026) ?

Science44%~ state avg

English Language Arts35%-19 vs state

Math29%-14 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, January 27, 2011

We drive by three other elementary schools for our children to attend Whittier. The staff is committed, nurturing and caring towards our child. We have the utmost confidence that he is receiving as high quality education that the Boise Public school system offers. What we like best is the overall diversity of the school. This truly adds to the overall learning experience our child is receiving. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, January 20, 2011

I am the parent of a 1st grader in the Dual Language Program at Whittier. We could walk to our home school, Highlands, but the idea of my child being bilingual by 6th grade is why we go to Whittier.

Other benefits include a truly diverse student body: over 13 languages spoken at Whittier. Also, because it's a Title 1 school, there is extra staff. My son had an amazing reading specialist in Kindergarden, even though he was one of the stronger readers. He now reads at a 4th grade level. His teachers are strong, smart and very caring.

The last principal turned the school around over the last 7 years. My understanding is that the scores were very low. Now, they are at par or above the local schools. Whittier was one of two schools in all of Idaho to receive The Distinguished Schools award by the Idaho State Board of Education this past year. The new principal is following the same path as the last and is open to parents and keeps close communication with the faculty.

The neighborhood is safe, the school is safe and my son's friends are delightful. Whittier is a school on the brink of greatness. I'm thrilled to be a parent t at this school. Close Quote

Schools Near Whittier Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ISAT Math (2026)							ISAT Science (2026)			ISAT English Language Arts (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISAT Math 3rd Grade	ISAT Math 4th Grade	ISAT Math 5th Grade	ISAT Math 6th Grade	ISAT Math 7th Grade	ISAT Math 8th Grade	ISAT Math All Grades	ISAT Science 5th Grade	ISAT Science 8th Grade	ISAT Science All Grades	ISAT English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Whittier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	301 North 29th Street	Boise	83702	Ada County	Boise Independent District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 854-6630	490	30	16.0	98.4%	216 (44.1%)	29 (5.9%)	195 (39.8%)	10 (2.0%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	34 (6.9%)	16.6	310^th of 350 public elementary schools	11.4%		18.5	286^th of 337 public elementary schools	15.1%	24	30.8	23.5	33.8	27.6			29.0	44.4			28.1	33.8	49.3	24.6			34.6	$9,813	$1,743	$8,071
Lowell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1507 North 28th Street	Boise	83703	Ada County	Boise Independent District	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 854-5480	324	20	15.8		247 (76.2%)	6 (1.9%)	45 (13.9%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.2%)	55.5	151^st of 350 public elementary schools	56.9%		56.2	134^th of 337 public elementary schools	60.2%	17	57.5	35.4	45.1	69.6			51.4	51.0			47.5	37.5	60.8	76.6			55.9	$9,865	$828	$9,037
Washington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1607 North 15th Street	Boise	83702	Ada County	Boise Independent District	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 854-6420	268	16	16.4	11.9%	225 (84.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (10.4%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (3.7%)	91.1	27^th of 350 public elementary schools	92.3%		96.5	2^nd of 337 public elementary schools	99.4%	25	80.9	75.8	57.1	76.9			72.7	64.3			85.1	78.8	66.7	82.1			78.3	$9,432	$564	$8,868
Anser Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	202 East 42nd Street	Garden City	83714	Ada County	Anser Of Idaho Inc.	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 426-9840	573	34	16.8	32.5%	463 (80.8%)	3 (0.5%)	68 (11.9%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	30 (5.2%)	50.9	168^th of 350 public elementary schools	52.0%		53.2	144^th of 337 public elementary schools	57.3%	24	45.8	63.5	52.1	33.3	37.0	39.3	46.2	44.4	41.0	42.9	52.1	64.8	60.3	37.3	53.3	42.6	52.1
Taft Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3722 Anderson Street	Boise	83703	Ada County	Boise Independent District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 854-6180	301	19	15.4	97.3%	150 (49.8%)	72 (23.9%)	38 (12.6%)	27 (9.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (4.0%)	13.8	326^th of 350 public elementary schools	6.9%		8.6	324^th of 337 public elementary schools	3.9%	2	< 24%	31.0	31.3	< 16%			20.6	31.3			26.1	35.7	46.9	20.5			31.4	$12,390	$2,517	$9,873
Future Public School	Public, Charter	K-6	511 East 43rd Street	Garden City	83714	Ada County	Future Public School Inc.	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 854-3923	376	18	20.8	46.5%	241 (64.1%)	26 (6.9%)	66 (17.6%)	9 (2.4%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	30 (8.0%)	60.4	125^th of 350 public elementary schools	64.3%		63.2	104^th of 337 public elementary schools	69.1%	21	57.9	55.4	45.6	43.2			51.1	50.9			57.1	55.4	58.6	65.9			58.7	$10,556	$1,824	$8,732
Koelsch Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2015 North Curtis Road	Boise	83706	Ada County	Boise Independent District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 854-5300	321	22	14.7	95.6%	161 (50.2%)	46 (14.3%)	85 (26.5%)	10 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	14 (4.4%)	6.7	340^th of 350 public elementary schools	2.9%		3.9	336^th of 337 public elementary schools	0.3%	4	10.6	23.5	25.0	28.2			21.5	30.2			12.8	27.5	37.8	17.9			24.2	$10,259	$1,897	$8,362
Longfellow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1511 North 9th Street	Boise	83702	Ada County	Boise Independent District	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 854-5450	248	15	16.0	15.3%	202 (81.5%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.5%)	6 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	13 (5.2%)	94.5	9^th of 350 public elementary schools	97.4%		89.7	28^th of 337 public elementary schools	91.7%	19	≥ 80%	82.9	70.5	≥ 63%			77.7	63.6			≥ 80%	≥ 80%	84.1	81.6			85.8	$8,983	$449	$8,534
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	200 South Latah Street	Boise	83705	Ada County	Boise Independent District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 854-5260	228	16	13.8	98.7%	124 (54.4%)	34 (14.9%)	47 (20.6%)	9 (3.9%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.3%)	11.3	328^th of 350 public elementary schools	6.3%		17.4	292^nd of 337 public elementary schools	13.4%	36	30.6	32.3	19.2	29.0			28.2	23.1			30.6	29.0	34.6	45.2			34.7	$12,207	$3,030	$9,177
Kamiah Online	Public	K-8	650 W State St	Boise	83536	Lewis County	Kamiah Joint District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(208) 332-6800	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	32	247^th of 350 public elementary schools	29.4%					(n/a)	37.5						29.0			< 37%	43.8		46.2	53.8			43.5

Frequently Asked Questions about Whittier Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Whittier Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Whittier Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : North Junior High School
High : Boise Senior High School

What district is Whittier Elementary School in?

Boise Independent District

Is Whittier Elementary School a good school?

Whittier Elementary School ranks in the bottom 11.4% of Idaho elementary schools.

How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 490 students attended Whittier Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Whittier Elementary School?

Students at Whittier Elementary School are 44% White, 40% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% African American, 2% Asian.

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Latest Idaho data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 19, 2026

2025–26 ISAT test scoresAug 19, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesJan 19, 2026

2024–25 ISAT test scoresAug 26, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Idaho Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.