West Minico Middle School

West Minico Middle School serves 506 students in grades 6–8 in Paul, Idaho, as part of the Minidoka County Joint District, which ranks in the bottom 7% of Idaho districts. The school holds a 1-star rating and sits at the 16th percentile statewide — up from the 5th percentile two years ago, but still below average. About 63% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school operates with a 20.4 student-teacher ratio and $7,271 per-student spending, both trailing nearby schools.

Academically, West Minico is the stronger of its district's two traditional middle schools. On the latest ISAT tests, 29.2% of students were proficient in math and 38.9% in ELA — ahead of East Minico Middle School (24.6% math, 36.4% ELA) but behind Burley Junior High School (35.0% math, 42.9% ELA) and notably behind Declo Junior High School (51.5% math, 53.3% ELA), located just 10 miles away. Scores have risen steadily across all subjects, and 8th graders are particularly strong, with 50.4% ELA proficiency approaching the state average. Chronic absenteeism has fallen from 31% to 10.5%, now better than the district's 14.5% and the state's 13.8%.

Challenges remain. West Minico's effectiveness with Hispanic students ranks in the 2nd percentile statewide, meaning progress is not reaching all students equally. With higher class sizes and slightly lower spending than nearby schools, the school is achieving gains with fewer resources. Still, rising test scores, dramatically improved attendance, and a strong 8th-grade cohort suggest a school with real momentum — and the gap to schools like Declo Junior High School shows the potential for further growth.