Summary:
ZIP code 83201 in Pocatello, Idaho, is served by 13 schools in the Pocatello District — 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools — enrolling about 6,095 students. The district ranks 38th of 101 Idaho districts with a 3-star rating, and roughly 45% of students in the ZIP code qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. What sets this area apart is the dramatic range of school quality: elementary school rankings span from the 99th percentile to the 24th, so a child's educational experience depends heavily on which school they attend.
Edahow Elementary School is the clear standout, ranked #2 among 346 Idaho elementary schools with math and ELA proficiency near 82-84% — roughly double state averages — despite a free/reduced lunch rate above the district average. Gate City Elementary School is another strong option, with 63.8% math proficiency and the lowest poverty rate in the ZIP code. Franklin Middle School leads the middle schools, beating district and state averages in every subject. By contrast, New Horizon High School faces major challenges: 9.6% ELA proficiency, a 72.3% economic disadvantage rate, and 41.7% chronic absenteeism. Highland High School, the larger traditional high school, is solid in ELA but falls below state averages in science.
Chronic absenteeism is the strongest red flag: schools with the highest absence rates — New Horizon at 41.7% and Alameda Middle School at 24.5% — also show the weakest outcomes, while Edahow and Gate City pair low absenteeism with the best results. Spending does not predict success; New Horizon spends the most per student at $13,073 yet has the lowest proficiency, while Edahow spends $8,073. Among middle schools, Franklin excels, Alameda sits mid-pack with attendance problems, and Hawthorne Middle School trails state averages in math and science. The bottom line for parents: school choice within this single ZIP code matters greatly, and Edahow demonstrates that economic disadvantage does not have to limit student achievement.
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