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Hunter Elementary School

Q: Is Hunter Elementary School a good school?

Hunter Elementary School ranks 36 th of 350 Idaho elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

36^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 350 Idaho Elementary Schools

Better than 90% of Idaho elementary schools

Summary

Hunter Elementary School is a PK-5 elementary school in Meridian, ID, serving 460 students as part of Joint School District No. 2 — a top-ranked Idaho district. The school is a consistently high performer, ranking in the top decile of Idaho elementary schools (36th out of 346, 90th percentile) in 2025-26 after earning 5-star ratings in the two prior years. Academically, Hunter exceeds district and state averages in math and English Language Arts: 69.2% of students are proficient in math and 72% in ELA, versus state rates of 43.1% and 54%. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 11% is also lower than the district (12.7%) and state (13.8%) averages.

Among nearby schools, Hunter ranks near the top but not the absolute leader. Within its district, it places 3rd in math proficiency behind Paramount Elementary School (80%) and Prospect Elementary School (75%), and 4th in ELA behind those two plus Barbara Morgan Stem Academy. However, Hunter's math proficiency easily clears close neighbors like Willow Creek Elementary School (60.4%), Chief Joseph School Of The Arts (60%), and Ponderosa Elementary School (55.9%). Hunter's chronic absenteeism rate is also better than several peers, including Chaparral Elementary (15.2%), Meridian Elementary School (15.0%), and Doral Academy Of Idaho (16.4%). The school serves a moderately middle-income population — 24.35% free/reduced lunch — though that rate has risen sharply in just two years.

One striking pattern is academic growth from 3rd to 5th grade. In 2025-26, Hunter's 3rd grade math proficiency (60.7%) fell below the district average (64.6%), yet by 5th grade it climbed to 76.9% — 18 points above the district. The same pattern appears in ELA, where 5th graders reached 84.4% proficiency. Hunter also produces strong results efficiently: with an 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio and lower per-student spending than most comparison schools, it still outpaces many peers. Notably, the school has maintained high achievement even as its student population has become more economically diverse. While math has softened slightly from 77.8% in 2022-23 to 69.2% in 2025-26, Hunter remains a strong, resilient choice in Meridian's competitive elementary landscape.

460

Students ?

18.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$6,295

Per pupil spending ?

24.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

2051 West McMillan Road
Meridian, ID 83642-5149

(208) 855-4285

District: Joint School District No. 2

Students who attend Hunter Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

Sawtooth Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.2%

Hispanic:

13.5%

Two or more races:

6.3%

See top rated Idaho elementary schools

Compare Hunter Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 97th percentile in 2016 → 90th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Idaho average (68% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 10% of Idaho elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg61%

Idaho avg47%

36^th of 350

Idaho public elementary schools ?

Top 10%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From top 3% (2016) to top 10% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Idaho Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 33Elementary Schools in the Joint School District No. 2

12^th of 104Joint School District No. 2 among Idaho districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2026	87.4	36 of 350	89.7%	★★★★☆
2025	86.8	39 of 337	88.4%	★★★★☆
2024	91.7	22 of 301	92.7%	★★★★★
2023	93.1	16 of 252	93.7%	★★★★★
2022	92.1	9 of 188	95.2%	★★★★★
2021	86.0	20 of 166	88.0%	★★★★☆
2019	89.5	9 of 171	94.7%	★★★★★
2018	82.1	33 of 254	87.0%	★★★★☆
2017	86.0	30 of 292	89.7%	★★★★★
2016	93.3	7 of 240	97.1%	★★★★★
2015	87.4	22 of 226	90.3%	★★★★★
2013	74.0	62 of 357	82.6%	★★★★☆
2012	78.1	47 of 354	86.7%	★★★★☆
2011	72.0	78 of 359	78.3%	★★★★☆
2010	71.6	73 of 356	79.5%	★★★★☆
2009	71.1	75 of 349	78.5%	★★★★☆
2008	59.9	133 of 335	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2024	96.3	2 of 69	97.1%	★★★★★
2023	93.5	1 of 16	93.8%	★★★★★
2018	81.0	22 of 121	81.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2024	95.5	2 of 69	97.1%	★★★★★
2023	95.1	2 of 16	87.5%	★★★★★
2018	82.9	18 of 121	85.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Idaho percentile	Rating
2024	92.0	13 of 135	90.4%	★★★★★
2019	85.0	2 of 18	88.9%	★★★★★
2018	78.9	4 of 31	87.1%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2024)97th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2024)97th percentile+4 vs school

White (2024)90th percentile~ school

By subject vs Idaho (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts72%+18 vs state

Math69%+26 vs state

Science64%+20 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Sunday, April 15, 2012

Please do not hesitate to send your child to Hunter Elementary! There are wonderful teachers, the front desk staff learns who EVERYONE is and are so great. We have loved our experiences with this school-two of my children have been here for the last three years with only positive experiences. Close Quote

Schools Near Hunter Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ISAT Math (2026)							ISAT Science (2026)			ISAT English Language Arts (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISAT Math 3rd Grade	ISAT Math 4th Grade	ISAT Math 5th Grade	ISAT Math 6th Grade	ISAT Math 7th Grade	ISAT Math 8th Grade	ISAT Math All Grades	ISAT Science 5th Grade	ISAT Science 8th Grade	ISAT Science All Grades	ISAT English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hunter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2051 West McMillan Road	Meridian	83642	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 855-4285	460	25	18.5	24.3%	355 (77.2%)	1 (0.2%)	62 (13.5%)	10 (2.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.3%)	87.4	36^th of 350 public elementary schools	89.7%		86.8	39^th of 337 public elementary schools	88.4%	3	60.7	71.0	76.9				69.2	63.7			62.6	71.0	84.4				72.0	$6,295	$609	$5,686
Willow Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6195 North Long Lake Way	Meridian	83646	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 350-4410	503	29	17.1	25.4%	382 (75.9%)	6 (1.2%)	85 (16.9%)	6 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.4%)	74.4	73^rd of 350 public elementary schools	79.1%		85.4	42^nd of 337 public elementary schools	87.5%	31	71.7	56.8	51.3				60.4	57.5			68.5	55.7	66.3				63.5	$6,607	$609	$5,998
Paramount Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	550 West Producer Drive	Meridian	83646	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 350-4120	460	25	18.1	19.6%	336 (73.0%)	3 (0.7%)	72 (15.7%)	16 (3.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.0%)	94.5	8^th of 350 public elementary schools	97.7%		96.5	3^rd of 337 public elementary schools	99.1%	5	84.5	86.7	69.9				80.0	59.1			77.4	84.3	84.8				82.2	$6,756	$609	$6,147
Ponderosa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2950 North Naomi	Meridian	83642	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 855-4040	411	23	18.0	39.4%	288 (70.1%)	11 (2.7%)	76 (18.5%)	11 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.8%)	62.5	115^th of 350 public elementary schools	67.1%		48.1	170^th of 337 public elementary schools	49.6%	55	60.6	57.4	51.2				55.9	43.0			54.5	60.3	60.5				58.6	$6,095	$609	$5,486
Barbara Morgan Stem Academy	Public, Magnet	K-5	1825 Chateau Drive	Meridian	83646	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	Yes	(n/a)	No	(208) 855-4430	438	25	17.8	25.3%	328 (74.9%)	4 (0.9%)	80 (18.3%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.8%)	87.5	35^th of 350 public elementary schools	90.0%		88.1	35^th of 337 public elementary schools	89.6%		65.2	63.0	67.1				65.1	77.6			73.4	61.6	82.9				72.8	$6,669	$609	$6,060
Pleasant View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4600 West Gondola Drive	Meridian	83642	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 332-6800	747	35	21.6	19.4%	572 (76.6%)	15 (2.0%)	96 (12.9%)	14 (1.9%)	5 (0.7%)	4 (0.5%)	41 (5.5%)	82.4	53^rd of 350 public elementary schools	84.9%		85.3	44^th of 337 public elementary schools	86.9%	9	58.8	70.3	57.9				62.2	65.5			58.0	71.1	79.3				70.2
Prospect Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4300 North Red Horse Way	Meridian	83646	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 350-4000	456	24	19.2	26.5%	338 (74.1%)	8 (1.8%)	54 (11.8%)	22 (4.8%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	28 (6.1%)	93.8	13^th of 350 public elementary schools	96.3%		93.1	16^th of 337 public elementary schools	95.3%	3	77.6	80.2	67.4				75.0	69.7			68.4	84.6	79.8				78.1	$6,599	$609	$5,990
Doral Academy Of Idaho	Public, Charter	K-8	2511 West Cherry Lane	Meridian	83646	Ada County	Doral Academy Of Idaho Inc.	Yes	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 639-2549	331	19	17.4	—	236 (71.3%)	7 (2.1%)	65 (19.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (6.0%)	73.1	77^th of 350 public elementary schools	78.0%		69	89^th of 337 public elementary schools	73.6%	12	74.4	74.4	73.3	31.4	40.0	61.9	60.6	63.3	57.1	60.8	76.9	69.8	≥ 80%	37.1	80.0	≥ 71%	71.0
Chaparral Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1155 North Deer Creek Lane	Meridian	83642	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	No	(n/a)	No	(208) 350-4180	545	33	16.6	50.6%	338 (62.0%)	19 (3.5%)	136 (25.0%)	16 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.7%)	30 (5.5%)	58.5	136^th of 350 public elementary schools	61.1%		71.3	82^nd of 337 public elementary schools	75.7%	54	57.8	51.5	59.8				56.2	45.4			44.4	55.9	62.5				54.8	$7,716	$609	$7,107
Chief Joseph School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	K-5	1100 East Chateau	Meridian	83646	Ada County	Joint School District No. 2	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 350-4200	505	34	14.9	47.1%	303 (60.0%)	9 (1.8%)	160 (31.7%)	9 (1.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.2%)	72.1	80^th of 350 public elementary schools	77.1%		80.4	56^th of 337 public elementary schools	83.4%	24	57.8	55.8	66.3				60.0	52.6			59.0	63.2	64.6				62.2	$7,649	$1,034	$6,615

Frequently Asked Questions about Hunter Elementary School

How many students attend Hunter Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 460 students attended Hunter Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Hunter Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Hunter Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sawtooth Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Hunter Elementary School?

Students at Hunter Elementary School are 77% White, 13% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Hunter Elementary School in?

Joint School District No. 2

Is Hunter Elementary School a good school?

Hunter Elementary School ranks 36^th of 350 Idaho elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Hunter Elementary School!

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Latest Idaho data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 19, 2026

2025–26 ISAT test scoresAug 19, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesJan 19, 2026

2024–25 ISAT test scoresAug 26, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Idaho Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.