Summary:
ZIP code 83301, centered on Twin Falls, Idaho, is home to 12 elementary schools serving 4,533 students in grades PK/K–8, including traditional district schools, charter schools, and a small rural school, with most belonging to the Twin Falls District.
The top performers in this area are Rock Creek Elementary and Pillar Falls Elementary. Rock Creek leads the ZIP in ELA proficiency at 59.4% and has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (31.8%), while Pillar Falls posts the highest math score (58.7%) and a strong science score of 61.4%. Sawtooth Elementary stands out in 5th-grade science at 63.2%, the best in the ZIP. Gem Prep: Twin Falls has by far the lowest chronic absenteeism at 4.9% and a 4-star district rating. These four schools all rank in the top half of Idaho elementary schools.
At the other end of the spectrum, I B Perrine Elementary ranks 343rd of 346 Idaho elementary schools with just 16.5% math and 22.8% ELA proficiency, while Oregon Trail Elementary ranks 337th and posts a concerning 9.7% 3rd-grade reading proficiency. Lincoln Elementary, Harrison Elementary, and Bickel Elementary also struggle academically. The two charters differ sharply: Gem Prep outperforms Pinecrest Academy Of Idaho by roughly 13 points in math and 12 points in ELA.
Poverty and attendance are strongly tied to outcomes here. Schools with the lowest free/reduced lunch rates and chronic absenteeism — Rock Creek, Pillar Falls, and Gem Prep — are the top scorers, while the bottom-ranked schools all have FRL rates above 59% and absenteeism above 18%. Notably, higher spending and smaller classes don't guarantee success: Bickel spends $10,022 per student with an 11.6 student–teacher ratio yet posts very low scores, while Pillar Falls spends just $6,658 with a 20.8 ratio and produces the best math results. Early literacy is the most urgent need, especially at Oregon Trail and I B Perrine.
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