Hansen Junior/Senior High School

Hansen Junior/Senior High School is a small combined secondary school in Hansen, ID, serving 127 students in grades 7–12 as part of the Hansen District. The school has seen a dramatic decline from its historical peak as a 5-star, top-10 Idaho high school in 2012–2013 to a current 2-star, near-median ranking of 64th out of 122 Idaho high schools. Its 2025–2026 ranking shows a modest rebound from the prior year, but the overall trend remains a far cry from its earlier success.

For parents, the most notable features are Hansen's very small size, a low student-teacher ratio of 12.3, and higher-than-average per-pupil spending of $11,465. These resources stand out compared to larger neighboring schools like Twin Falls High School, which spends $8,387 per student with a 21.4 ratio. Hansen also posts strong attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.6% in 2025–2026, better than the state average (13.8%) and most local peers. Academically, the school shows a clear split: English language arts is a genuine strength (56.5% proficiency, above the state's 54.0%), while math (27.5%) and science (24.5%) lag well below state averages. In fact, Hansen outscored nearby Kimberly High School on the 2025–2026 End-of-Course ELA exam (71.4% vs. 45.5%), despite Kimberly having far lower poverty.

The most striking takeaway is the "resource paradox": Hansen spends more per student and has smaller classes than Twin Falls, yet Twin Falls outperforms it in every tested subject. Economic disadvantage at Hansen has risen sharply—free/reduced-price lunch eligibility jumped from 33.8% to 58.3% in a single year—which helps explain recent performance swings. Graduation rates have been inconsistent, ranging from 75% to 92% over recent years. In short, Hansen is a middle-of-the-pack school with strong literacy, weak math/science, and a dedicated small-school environment, but its high spending has not translated into overall academic excellence.