Glenns Ferry Middle School

Glenns Ferry Middle School is a small public school in rural Glenns Ferry, Idaho, serving 94 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the Glenns Ferry Joint District. The school recently earned a 2-star rating and climbed to the 32nd percentile among Idaho middle schools — its best showing in over a decade and a significant jump from the 12th percentile the previous year. The student body faces considerable economic challenges, with 68.1% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025, up sharply from 46.5% just two years earlier. The school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of about 11.5 students per teacher.

Academically, the school outperforms its district but trails the state. In 2025–2026, 44.4% of students were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 38.1% for the district and 54.0% statewide. Math proficiency was 29.6%, slightly above the district but more than 10 points below the state. The most striking bright spot is 7th grade, where 66.7% of students were proficient in ELA and 53.3% in math — both roughly 10 points above state averages. However, 8th grade ELA proficiency was just 30.8%. With only about 30 students per grade, a single strong or weak cohort can dramatically shift results, so these grade-level gaps should be interpreted with some caution.

Chronic absenteeism, while still a concern, has improved dramatically — dropping from 29.0% in 2021–2022 to 16.0% in 2025–2026. That rate remains slightly above the state average of 13.8%, and with the school's poverty rate rising steadily, attendance and economic challenges are likely key factors in academic performance. The school's recent upward trajectory in statewide rankings, combined with standout 7th grade results, offers reason for optimism. For parents, the biggest question is whether the district can bottle whatever is working in 7th grade and expand it school-wide. There are no other schools within 20 miles, making Glenns Ferry Middle School the clear local option for families in the area.