Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 83236

Zip code 83236, serving the Firth, Idaho area, contains just one elementary school: A W Johnson Elementary School, which serves grades PK–4 with 256 students. Because this is the only elementary school in the zip code, there are no direct school-to-school comparisons available within the area. Instead, the most useful context comes from comparing A W Johnson to its district, Firth District, and to the state of Idaho. The Firth District ranks 23rd out of 101 Idaho districts, placing it in the 77th percentile with a 4-star rating.

A W Johnson Elementary School stands out for several reasons. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 4.0%, compared to 4.8% for the district and 13.8% statewide — a sign that attendance and family engagement are strong. In math, the school's all-grades proficiency rate reached 52.6% in 2025–2026, outpacing the district (44.9%) and the state (43.1%). In English Language Arts, 60.8% of students met proficiency, which is well above the state average of 54.0% and just below the district's 61.5%. The school's state ranking also improved dramatically, jumping from 225th out of 337 schools (33rd percentile, 2 stars) in 2024–2025 to 108th out of 346 schools (69th percentile, 3 stars) in 2025–2026.

The most striking finding is the school's 14.9 percentage-point improvement in ELA proficiency in a single year, rising from 45.9% to 60.8%, while the state average remained essentially flat. Math proficiency also improved, growing from 45.5% to 52.6%. Grade-level data shows the strongest performance in 3rd grade, where 57.5% of students are proficient in math and 62.5% in ELA, both well above state averages. The school serves a mixed socioeconomic population, with about 49.2% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, yet it outperforms the state in both subjects. Families should note that the per-student spending figure of $5,642 is from 2018–2019 and may not reflect current resources. The key watchpoint is sustainability: whether the school can hold onto its 2025–2026 gains and close the small gap with its district in ELA.