Ucon Elementary School

Ucon Elementary School serves 447 students in grades PK–6 in Idaho Falls, ID, as part of the Bonneville Joint District. The school currently ranks in the lower third of Idaho elementary schools (224th out of 346 with 2 stars), a notable decline from its above-average standing a decade ago.

Ucon's academic profile reveals a clear split between subjects. Math is a genuine strength: 47.5% of students are proficient, outpacing both the district (41.4%) and state (43.1%) averages. The 6th grade is a particular bright spot, with math proficiency at 56.5% and ELA at 60.3%—both well above state averages. However, ELA proficiency lags at 46.9%, roughly 7 points below the state, and 5th-grade science proficiency is just 27.3%, the lowest among all nearby schools with available data. The literacy gap is most pronounced in grades 3–5, where 5th-grade reading proficiency sits at 44.4% versus 55.2% statewide. For comparison, nearby Fairview Elementary School and Iona Elementary School both post ELA proficiency above 65%, underscoring that literacy is Ucon's biggest academic challenge.

Chronic absenteeism has improved from a peak of 25% to 15.6%, but it remains above the district (13.4%) and state (13.8%) averages, and higher than at Iona (11.8%). Ucon also serves a more economically diverse population than many neighbors—48.3% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch—and its student-teacher ratio of 19.1 is on the higher side compared with schools like Fairview (17.5) and Bridgewater Elementary School (17.1). With a solid math foundation already in place, the clearest opportunities for improvement lie in targeted literacy support for grades 3–5, stronger science instruction, and continued progress on attendance.