Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 83274

In zip code 83274 in Shelley, Idaho, three elementary schools serve a total of 900 students in a distinctive grade-span configuration within the Shelley Joint District: Dean Goodsell Elementary (PK–K), Sunrise Elementary School (1–2), and Riverview Elementary School (3–4). This means no single school covers the full elementary span, and families should expect their children to transition buildings twice before reaching fifth grade.

Riverview Elementary School is the clear academic standout. It ranked 52nd of 346 Idaho elementary schools (85th percentile, 4 stars) in 2025–2026, and even higher the prior year. Its math proficiency rate of 68.4% and ELA rate of 63.0% dwarf both the district (43.9% and 54.8%) and state (43.1% and 54.0%) averages. In fact, Riverview’s grade-level scores are identical to the district’s, confirming it is the only 3rd–4th grade testing site. Sunrise Elementary School, serving younger students, has no current test rankings but posted solid historical results and boasts the lowest student–teacher ratio (18.8:1) and a low 9.7% chronic absenteeism rate. Dean Goodsell Elementary, with the youngest students, has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 14.4%—nearly double the district’s 7.3% and above the state’s 13.8%—though it also has the lowest free/reduced-price lunch rate (32.99%).

For parents, the key takeaway is that this district functions as a coordinated pipeline: strong attendance at Sunrise, exceptional academics at Riverview, and a concern at Dean Goodsell. Riverview’s $6,660 per-student spending (2018–2019) is over $1,000 higher than Sunrise’s $5,618, and its 9.8% chronic absenteeism, while slightly above the district average, does not hamper its elite performance. Student–teacher ratios do not correlate with outcomes here—Dean Goodsell has the highest ratio (21.8) despite the lowest poverty rate, while Sunrise has the lowest ratio but the highest poverty rate. Overall, this is a high-performing, uniquely structured system where Riverview leads academically, but the entire zip code’s success depends on addressing early-education attendance gaps.