Moscow Charter School

Moscow Charter School is a K–8 charter school in Moscow, Idaho, serving 185 students within the highly rated Moscow District. The school was once among Idaho's elite — ranking 13th and 17th statewide in 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 — but has declined steadily to 186th out of 346 Idaho schools, earning a 2-star rating for 2025–2026.

Academically, Moscow Charter still beats the state average in math, English language arts, and science, but it trails its own district in every subject. Math is the clearest weakness: 47% of students are proficient versus 62.2% districtwide, with especially low scores in 3rd grade (35%) and 5th grade (33.3%). The contrast with Palouse Prairie Charter School is striking — it's another K–8 charter in Moscow with the same enrollment and similar per-student spending, yet it ranks 30th in Idaho with 70.6% math proficiency. Meanwhile, Lena Whitmore Elementary School and A B McDonald Elementary School in the same district are both 5-star schools, showing that high achievement is clearly attainable in this community.

Attendance and shifting student demographics help explain the recent challenges. Chronic absenteeism ran above 24% for three straight years before improving to 16.8% in 2024–2025 — a positive trend, though still higher than most nearby schools and the state average. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch has more than doubled in two years, from 17.3% to 35.7%. At $7,401 per student, Moscow Charter also spends roughly 35% less than Moscow District elementary schools, which may limit access to extra tutoring, support staff, or attendance outreach. With absenteeism improving and a clear need for early-grade math intervention, the school has a realistic path toward recovery — but it will require focused effort on its most vulnerable students.