Best Public Schools in Zip Code 83434

Zip code 83434 in Menan, Idaho contains two public schools in the Jefferson County Joint District: Midway Elementary School (PK–5) and Jefferson High School (9–12).

Midway Elementary School is the brighter spot in this area, showing clear improvement over the past year: its state rank percentile rose from the 20th to the 33rd percentile, and overall math and ELA proficiency both increased by roughly four to five percentage points. Third-grade ELA is now above district and state averages. However, the school struggles with a 4th-grade ELA slump (31.3% proficient vs. 50.2% statewide) and math proficiency that declines from 50.7% in 3rd grade to 39.4% in 5th grade. Chronic absenteeism is 21.1%, well above the district’s 12.5% and state’s 13.8%. Meanwhile, Jefferson High School is a small school of 99 students with a majority low-income population (54.55% free/reduced lunch) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 50.5%—four times the state rate. Its science proficiency is just 15.8%, compared to 41.2% statewide, and its most recent historical ranking placed it in the bottom 1% of Idaho high schools. The high school does spend more per student ($7,117 vs. $5,997 at the elementary) and has smaller classes (13.8:1 vs. 20.3:1), but outcomes remain far below district and state averages.

The most pressing issue in this zip code is attendance. At Jefferson High School, over half of students are chronically absent, making academic progress extremely difficult—its graduation rate of 82.5% matches the state exactly, meaning one in six students still does not finish in four years. With no middle school in 83434, students leaving Midway Elementary School must transition to a school outside the area, which may contribute to the high school’s very small size. Overall, the district itself is rated three stars and performs above state averages, making Jefferson High School’s low science scores and extreme absenteeism even more striking. For parents, Midway Elementary offers a positive trajectory but needs intervention for upper-grade math and 4th-grade reading, while Jefferson High School requires urgent attention for attendance and academic engagement.