Best High Schools in Zip Code 83254

Zip code 83254, encompassing the Montpelier, Idaho area, is served by two high schools within the Bear Lake County District enrolling roughly 376 students across grades 9–12: the large comprehensive Bear Lake High School and the very small Clover Creek High School.

Bear Lake High School is the clear academic leader and the only school with published test scores and ranking data. It has held a stable 3-star SchoolDigger rating for three years, ranking near the 60th percentile statewide. Its English Language Arts proficiency is a standout at 72.8%, well above the state’s 53.9%, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 6.8% is about half the state average. However, math proficiency is a weak point: just 34.6% of students are proficient, nearly 9 points below the state. In contrast, Clover Creek High School is a dramatically different environment with only 15 students. It faces extreme challenges, including a 75% chronic absenteeism rate—more than 11 times Bear Lake’s rate—and a free/reduced lunch rate of 73.3% versus 36.3% at Bear Lake. Clover Creek has no reported test scores or ranking data, likely due to its tiny size, and no student–teacher ratio is available.

Both schools report an identical graduation rate of 82.5%, which matches the district and state exactly and likely reflects data aggregation rather than mirroring each school’s unique reality. Spending also raises equity concerns: Bear Lake spends $8,389 per student while Clover Creek spends just $4,964 per student, even though Clover Creek serves a much higher-need population. For parents, Bear Lake offers a traditional, stable academic environment with strong literacy results but notable room for improvement in math. Clover Creek, possibly an alternative or at-risk program, shows serious warning signs in attendance and poverty that deserve careful consideration, though its small size limits direct comparisons. The Bear Lake County District overall reports strong science scores and a healthy district-level absenteeism rate of 4.4%, but the two schools within the same zip code could hardly be more different in resources, demographics, and engagement.