Best High Schools in Zip Code 83434

Zip code 83434, located in Menan, Idaho, is home to a single high school: Jefferson High School, serving grades 9–12 with a very small enrollment of just 99 students. The school is part of the Jefferson County Joint District, which currently ranks 39th out of 101 Idaho districts (61st percentile, 3 stars). With a student-teacher ratio of 13.8, the school offers a relatively intimate learning environment. More than half of the student body (54.55%) qualifies for free/reduced-price lunch, and the school spends $7,117 per student.

Jefferson High School's most striking challenges involve attendance and science achievement. Chronic absenteeism stands at 50.5%, meaning more than half of the students are missing significant amounts of school—roughly four times the state rate of 13.8% and well above the district's 12.5%. Science proficiency on the ISAT End of Course exam is just 15.8%, compared to 42.2% for the district and 41.2% for the state. On a more positive note, the graduation rate of 82.5% matches both the district and state averages exactly. However, with only 99 students, a single student represents about 1% of the school's population, so these figures can shift considerably from year to year.

Historically, Jefferson High School ranked in the bottom 1% of Idaho high schools from 2010 to 2013, placing 158th out of 160 in 2012-2013, 161st out of 162 in 2011-2012, and 164th out of 165 in 2010-2011. The district's current 61st-percentile ranking hints at possible improvement over the past decade, though no current school-level rank is available. The combination of high chronic absenteeism, very low science proficiency, and a majority low-income student population suggests the school continues to face significant academic and engagement challenges. For parents, the key takeaway is that Jefferson High School is a small school where both successes and struggles are magnified, and where attendance and science performance are the most pressing areas of concern.