Summary:
Zip code 83328 in Filer, Idaho, is served by two middle-level schools in the Filer District—Filer Intermediate School (grades 4–6, 345 students) and Filer Middle School (grades 7–8, 256 students)—which together educate roughly 601 students across the district's upper-elementary and traditional middle school years.
When comparing the two schools, Filer Intermediate School is the clear academic leader. On the 2025–2026 ISAT, it posted 45.8% math proficiency and 53.0% ELA proficiency, both above district averages and at or near state levels. Its chronic absenteeism rate (15.5%) is better than the district's 16.9%, and it has genuine bright spots, including 6th grade math at 52.8% (10.3 points above state) and 5th grade ELA at 60.0%. By contrast, Filer Middle School has fallen sharply in state rankings, dropping from the 54th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 27th percentile in 2025–2026 with a 1-star rating. Its math (37.2%) and ELA (49.6%) proficiency trail both district and state averages, and its 8th grade science score of 28.5% is more than 14 points below the state. The most alarming metric is chronic absenteeism: 25.0% of Filer Middle students are chronically absent, nearly double the state rate and far higher than Filer Intermediate's rate.
Both schools serve similar poverty levels (about 42–46% free/reduced lunch), yet outcomes diverge significantly. Notably, Filer Middle School actually spends more per student ($7,346 vs. $6,839) and has a better student-teacher ratio (18.4 vs. 21.0), but these advantages are not translating into better results. This points to chronic absenteeism as the primary barrier at Filer Middle, rather than a lack of resources. For parents, Filer Intermediate School offers stronger academics and more consistent attendance, while Filer Middle School faces urgent challenges that will likely require focused attention on attendance and 7th grade support.
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