Schools in Zip Code 83251

Zip code 83251 in Mackay, Idaho, includes two public schools in the Mackay Joint District: Mackay Elementary School (PK–6, 114 students) and Mackay Junior/Senior High School (7–12, 104 students), a small rural system of 218 students with a district ranking of 42 out of 101 in Idaho and a 3-star rating.

The two schools are moving in very different directions. Mackay Elementary School made a remarkable turnaround, jumping from the 26th percentile (1 star) to the 49th percentile (3 stars) in statewide rankings in one year, while keeping chronic absenteeism at just 7.8% — far below the district's 15.0% and the state's 13.8%. Its ELA proficiency rose to 48.4%, and grade-level results in 5th grade math, 6th grade ELA, and 3rd grade ELA all exceeded state averages. Mackay Junior/Senior High School, however, has a 22.7% chronic absenteeism rate — nearly three times the elementary school's — and its ELA proficiency plunged from 63.3% to 45.8% in one year, while math fell to 19.6%. The high school does match the state graduation rate (82.5%) and nearly matches the state in science (40% vs. 41.2% statewide).

Both schools serve similar shares of economically disadvantaged students (roughly 40–41% free/reduced-price lunch), yet the elementary school outperforms the secondary school in attendance and academic growth. Math remains a persistent weakness district-wide, with both schools more than 18 points behind the state average, although the elementary school did improve from 19.7% to 25%. Notably, the high school spends more per student ($12,211 vs. $10,162) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio, yet sees worse attendance and math outcomes — suggesting resources alone are not the answer. The most actionable insight is for the district to investigate why secondary students are chronically absent and to apply the elementary school's successful strategies to the junior/senior high school.