Malad Elementary School

Malad Elementary School is a PK–5 elementary school in Malad City, Idaho, serving 386 students as part of the Oneida County District. The school recently earned a 4-star rating and ranked 71st out of 346 Idaho elementary schools, jumping from the 52nd to the 79th percentile in a single year—though this improvement was largely driven by changes in statewide comparison groups rather than a dramatic shift in the school's own test scores.

Malad's clearest academic strength is math, where 55.7% of students scored proficient in 2025–2026—about 13 points above the state average and more than 26 points above its own district average. English language arts proficiency sits at 52.8%, essentially matching the state average of 54.0%, while 5th-grade science is a standout at 58.2% proficiency, well above the state's 44.0%. Compared with nearby schools, Malad vastly outperforms Downey Elementary School in math (55.7% vs. 19.2%) and matches it in ELA, though Harold B Lee Elementary School, located about 15 miles away and serving a very similar student population, posts stronger scores in both subjects.

One figure deserves attention: Malad's reported chronic absenteeism rate of 78% for 2024–2025 is far outside the school's own history and the state average of 14.6%, suggesting a likely data reporting error rather than a real attendance crisis—but it is worth confirming with the school. On resources, Malad spends about $6,990 per student with a student–teacher ratio of 19.3, yet achieves results that rival or beat schools with more funding and smaller class sizes. The school's upper elementary grades appear to be its bright spot, with strong 5th-grade science and ELA scores that provide a solid foundation for continued improvement.