Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 83213

ZIP code 83213, encompassing the Arco, Idaho area, is served by a single elementary school — Arco Elementary School, part of the Butte County Joint District — which serves grades PK through 6 with an enrollment of 186 students. Because this is the only elementary school in the ZIP code, families have no alternative public elementary school within their immediate area, making the school central to the community.

Arco Elementary School currently ranks 219th out of 346 Idaho elementary schools, placing it in the 37th percentile with a 2-star rating, a notable contrast with its district, the Butte County Joint District, which ranks 35th out of 101 districts (65th percentile, 3 stars). On the 2025-26 ISAT tests, the school posted 40.2% proficiency in math and 50.0% in English language arts, both below state averages of 43.1% and 54.0%. There are pockets of strength: 3rd grade math (54.2%) and 6th grade math (48.0%) exceed state averages, while 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade ELA near state levels. However, 5th grade is a weak spot, with only 26.5% proficient in math versus 42.2% statewide, and 35.3% proficient in science versus 44.0% statewide.

With just 186 students across seven grade levels, each cohort is small, so year-to-year swings should be interpreted cautiously; the school's state rank moved from the 38th percentile in 2022-23 to the 47th percentile in 2024-25, then back to the 37th percentile in 2025-26. Chronic absenteeism is a concern: the school's most recent reported rate is 15.9%, and the district's current rate of 16.7% exceeds the state rate of 13.8%. Half of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting economic disadvantage that may influence achievement. On a positive note, the student-teacher ratio of 13.7 provides relatively small class sizes, a structural advantage. Overall, Arco Elementary School is a small school with mixed results: strong early-grade math, near-average ELA in most grades, but weaknesses in 5th grade math and science alongside recent proficiency declines.