Hansen Elementary School

Hansen Elementary School is a small rural school in Hansen, Idaho, serving roughly 179 students in grades PK–6 as part of the Hansen District. The school currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the lower third of Idaho elementary schools, though its most recent ranking improved slightly from the prior year.

Academically, Hansen trails the state, particularly in English Language Arts. About 39.6% of students are proficient in ELA versus 54.0% statewide, with the largest gap appearing in the early grades — just 25% of 3rd graders read at grade level, compared to the state average of 48.5%. Math proficiency sits at 36.7% versus 43.1% statewide, though 3rd and 6th grade math are essentially on par with state averages, and 5th grade science exactly matches the state. The contrast with nearby Pillar Falls Elementary is striking: Pillar Falls reports 58.7% math and 56.3% ELA proficiency while spending roughly half of what Hansen spends per student. Even Morningside Elementary, which has a similar poverty rate, posts higher math scores. Hansen does outperform a few Twin Falls schools like Oregon Trail Elementary, but trails higher-performing neighbors such as Kimberly Elementary and Sawtooth Elementary.

Hansen's most pressing challenges lie outside test scores. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch jumped from about 38% to nearly 60% in a single year, and chronic absenteeism has climbed to 18.5% — well above the state average of 13.8% and up from 12.2% just a few years ago. The school does invest heavily in its students, spending $13,099 per pupil and maintaining a low student-teacher ratio of 13.5. For parents, the priority areas to watch are early reading support and attendance outreach, though the small class sizes and dedicated per-student spending are meaningful strengths.