Cascade Junior/Senior High School

Cascade Junior/Senior High School is a small rural school in Cascade, Idaho, serving just 112 students in grades 6 through 12, and it belongs to the Cascade District, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 72nd percentile of Idaho districts. Despite its tiny size, Cascade has a strong academic reputation, ranking 15th out of 159 Idaho high schools (91st percentile) with a 5-star rating in the most recent ranking year.

Academically, the school consistently beats state averages in both math and English Language Arts. In the most recent data, 62.9% of students were proficient in math versus 43.1% statewide, and the school's End-of-Course math score was especially impressive at 68.8% proficiency compared to just 33.1% across Idaho. ELA proficiency also outpaced the state at 67.7% versus 54.0%. However, the school's small cohorts create extreme volatility. Graduation rates have swung dramatically, from a low of 53.3% in 2022–2023 to 91.7% the following year, then settling at 82.5% in 2024–2025. Chronic absenteeism is another concern, running well above the state average; the latest figure shows 20.6% of students chronically absent versus 13.8% statewide.

A few trends are worth watching closely. Economic need is rising sharply, with free/reduced lunch eligibility jumping from 14.94% in 2022–2023 to 32.14% in 2024–2025. Middle school ELA is a hidden weak spot, with 7th grade proficiency at 47.4% versus 56.8% statewide, even though older students pull the overall average up. On the positive side, the student-teacher ratio remains low at 10.4 students per teacher, and per-student spending is a robust $16,644. There are no other schools within 20 miles, so state averages are the best benchmark. Overall, this is a high-performing school with real strengths in math and notable challenges around attendance and middle school literacy.