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Salmon Pioneer Primary School

Q: Is Salmon Pioneer Primary School a good school?

Salmon Pioneer Primary School ranks 238 th of 350 Idaho elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

238^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 350 Idaho Elementary Schools

Better than 32% of Idaho elementary schools

Summary

Salmon Pioneer Primary School is a rural PK–5 elementary school in Salmon, Idaho, serving 286 students as part of the Salmon District. With a student-teacher ratio of about 15:1, it is a mid-sized school where more than half of students (58.4%) now qualify for free or reduced lunch — up from 47.7% three years earlier. The district currently ranks 84th out of 101 Idaho districts, but the school itself earned 2 stars in the 2025–2026 ranking year, improving from 1 star the previous year.

Academically, Salmon Pioneer is one of the stronger performers in its district. In 2025–2026, 40% of students were proficient in math versus 30.8% for the district, and 43.1% were proficient in English language arts versus 41.7% for the district. However, both figures trail Idaho state averages (43.1% math, 54.0% ELA). Grade-level data reveals a clear pattern: younger students hold their own against state averages, with 3rd graders posting 52.7% math proficiency and 4th graders reaching 57.1% in ELA — both above their statewide peers. But 5th grade represents a significant drop-off, with math proficiency falling to 21.3% and ELA to 34.0%, well below state averages of 42.2% and 55.2% respectively.

The school's most encouraging trend is chronic absenteeism, which plummeted from 35.0% in 2021–2022 to just 8.5% in 2025–2026 — far better than the state's 13.8%. This improvement coincides with a rebound in math proficiency and a rise in the school's ranking. A striking nearby comparison is Fern-Waters Public Charter School, located just half a mile away, which posted dramatically higher proficiency rates (65.6% math, 72.0% ELA), though it is a K-8 charter without comparable demographic data. Meanwhile, Tendoy Elementary School, a tiny 10-student school about 19 miles away, spends $12,022 per pupil versus Salmon Pioneer's $8,842 — a common trade-off for very small rural schools. Looking ahead, sustaining the attendance momentum and addressing the fifth-grade slump are the school's most promising opportunities.

286

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,842

Per pupil spending ?

58.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

900 Sharkey Street
Salmon, ID 83467-0790

(208) 756-3663

District: Salmon District

Students who attend Salmon Pioneer Primary School usually attend:

High:

Salmon Junior/Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.0%

Hispanic:

3.1%

Two or more races:

2.1%

See top rated Idaho elementary schools

Compare Salmon Pioneer Primary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 9th percentile in 2016 → 32nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 32nd (2026) from a 9th-percentile low (2016)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Idaho average (40% vs 47% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts scores 11 pts below the Idaho average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg36%

Idaho avg47%

238^th of 350

Idaho public elementary schools ?

Bottom 32%▲ up 23 pts since 2016

From bottom 9% (2016) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Idaho Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

88^th of 104Salmon District 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	32.9	238 of 350	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.6	247 of 337	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.4	203 of 254	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	25.5	232 of 292	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	12.2	218 of 240	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	63.4	130 of 357	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	44.8	220 of 354	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	66.8	104 of 359	71.0%	★★★★☆
2010	52.8	186 of 356	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	66.1	106 of 349	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.4	122 of 335	63.6%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Idaho (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts43%-11 vs state

Math40%-3 vs state

Science36%-8 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, July 15, 2023

Pioneer Elementary really cares about the students. The teachers are always going above and beyond to help students see how what they are learning applies in life. Students are treated with care and respect. Discipline is in a way that helps students learn from mistakes, not just get in trouble. There is great communication by both teachers and the office. Close Quote

Schools Near Salmon Pioneer Primary 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2021)	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 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 8th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Salmon Pioneer Primary School	Public	PK, KG-5	900 Sharkey Street	Salmon	83467	Lemhi County	Salmon District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 756-3663	286	19	15.0	52.1%	266 (93.0%)	2 (0.7%)	9 (3.1%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	32.9	238^th of 350 public elementary schools	32.0%		29.6	247^th of 337 public elementary schools	26.7%	9	52.7	46.4	21.3			40.0	36.2			43.6	57.1	34.0		43.1	$8,842	$1,410	$7,432
Fern-Waters Public Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	904 Fernwater Lane	Salmon	83647	Elmore County	Fern-Waters Public Charter School Inc.	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 332-6800	141	9	16.4	57.4%	141 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	79.5	58^th of 350 public elementary schools	83.4%		73.7	74^th of 337 public elementary schools	78.0%	16		50.0	62.5	62.5	50.0	65.6	62.5	42.9	53.3	68.8	68.8	68.8	64.3	72.0
Tendoy Elementary School	Public	K-5	2217 Lemhi Road	Tendoy	83468	Lemhi County	South Lemhi District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(208) 756-3524	10	1	10.0	27.3%	7 (70.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (30.0%)								(n/a)															$12,022	$1,209	$10,813

Frequently Asked Questions about Salmon Pioneer Primary School

What district is Salmon Pioneer Primary School in?

Salmon District

Is Salmon Pioneer Primary School a good school?

Salmon Pioneer Primary School ranks 238^th of 350 Idaho elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Salmon Pioneer Primary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 286 students attended Salmon Pioneer Primary School.

What schools do graduates of Salmon Pioneer Primary School attend?

Students who attend Salmon Pioneer Primary School usually go on to attend:

High : Salmon Junior/Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Salmon Pioneer Primary School?

Students at Salmon Pioneer Primary School are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

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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.