Borah Elementary School

Borah Elementary School is a public elementary school in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, serving 307 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. While the Coeur d'Alene School District is ranked 23rd out of 77 districts in the state, Borah Elementary faces several challenges that set it apart from nearby schools.

Borah Elementary has a significantly higher chronic absenteeism rate of 26.5%, compared to 11.5% to 23.2% at other schools in the district. The school also consistently underperforms the district and state in standardized test scores, with proficiency rates of just 31.2% in Math, 34.3% in English Language Arts, and 33.3% in Science, compared to the district's 49.7%, 64.4%, and 49.1%, respectively. Borah's student population is also more diverse, with 83.71% White, 8.14% Hispanic, and 8.19% other minority groups, while nearby schools have a higher percentage of White students, ranging from 80.12% to 89.61%. Additionally, Borah has a much higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 56.68%, compared to 15.92% to 60% at other schools.

These challenges have contributed to Borah Elementary's declining performance over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 100th out of 335 Idaho elementary schools in 2007-2008 to 253rd out of 301 in 2023-2024. Nearby schools, such as Hayden Meadows Elementary, Dalton Elementary, and Sorensen Magnet School, consistently outperform Borah in key metrics, which may be attributed to their more affluent and less diverse student populations. The Coeur d'Alene School District has an opportunity to implement targeted interventions and support programs to address the specific needs of Borah Elementary's student population and improve academic outcomes.