Arco Elementary School

Arco Elementary School is a small, rural public school in Arco, Idaho, serving 186 students in grades PK-6 and is part of the Butte County Joint District, which ranks 35th out of 101 Idaho districts and earns a 3-star, above-average rating. Despite the district's strength, Arco Elementary School itself ranked 219th out of 346 Idaho elementary schools for 2025-2026, placing it in the 37th percentile with 2 stars — a notable gap that makes Arco the weaker link in an otherwise solid district.

Academically, the picture is mixed. In English language arts, Arco's 50% proficiency rate trails both the district (59.5%) and the state (54%), making literacy the school's clearest area of need. Math performance is closer to the state average at 40.2% versus 43.1% statewide, but there is wide variation by grade. Third-grade math (54.2%) and 6th-grade math (48%) exceed state averages, while 5th-grade math (26.5%) is well behind the state's 42.2%. Science is also a concern, with 5th-grade science proficiency at 35.3% compared to 44% statewide. The current 5th-grade class is below the state in all three tested subjects, while 3rd and 6th grades perform near or above average, suggesting a particularly challenging cohort or a need for targeted upper-elementary intervention.

At-risk factors are rising. Half of the student body now qualifies for free/reduced-price lunch, up from 41.7% three years ago, and chronic absenteeism at the school was 15.9% in 2022-2023 — below the state's 17.1% but above the district's 12.7%. On a positive note, the student-teacher ratio is a favorable 13.7:1, allowing for individualized attention. Arco has made meaningful long-term progress since being ranked in the 3rd percentile in 2008-2009, but recent years show a plateau in the middle-to-lower tier of Idaho elementary schools. The most promising path forward appears to be a schoolwide literacy push, targeted support in 5th-grade math and science, and continued attention to attendance and poverty-related needs.