Summary:
Zip code 83442 (Rigby, Idaho) is home to two public middle schools, Rigby Middle School and Farnsworth Middle School, both serving grades 6–8 within the Jefferson County Joint District. Together, the two schools enroll about 1,549 students, and while they share the same district rating, their individual state rankings and academic results differ noticeably.
Rigby Middle School is the clear standout. It ranks 35th out of 174 Idaho middle schools (80th percentile, 4 stars) for 2025–2026, compared with Farnsworth Middle School at 61st (65th percentile, 3 stars). Rigby also posts higher proficiency in all-grades math (56.6% vs. 47.2%) and English Language Arts (66.0% vs. 61.4%), plus a slightly lower chronic absenteeism rate (9.1% vs. 9.6%). Farnsworth does have a few bright spots: its 8th grade math proficiency (58.7%) is slightly above Rigby’s (57.4%), and its 8th grade ELA (68.0%) is close to Rigby’s (66.7%). Farnsworth also has a lower student-teacher ratio (16.4 vs. 17.9), though that does not translate into higher overall scores.
One of the most interesting patterns is Farnsworth’s math trajectory. Its 6th grade math proficiency (39.4%) is actually below the state average, but by 8th grade it jumps to 58.7%, above the state and slightly ahead of Rigby. Rigby, meanwhile, improved its all-grades math proficiency from 48.5% to 56.6% in just one year. Both schools keep chronic absenteeism below 10%, well under the district (12.5%) and state (13.8%) averages. That said, having a smaller student body or class sizes does not guarantee better results here—Rigby serves 53% more students yet achieves higher rankings, better proficiency, and stronger attendance. Overall, families in 83442 have two solid middle school choices, but Rigby Middle School is the top performer in the area and has shown three consecutive years of state-rank improvement.
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