Best High Schools in Zip Code 83501

ZIP code 83501, serving the Lewiston, Idaho area, contains two high schools — Lewiston High School and Tammany High School — both part of the Lewiston Independent District, a 4-star district ranked 20th out of 101 in Idaho. The two schools serve grades 9-12 but differ dramatically in size, demographics, and reported data, making direct comparisons useful only with context.

Lewiston High School is the larger, higher-performing school with 1,288 students. Its chronic absenteeism rate is 16.2%, well below Tammany’s 48.1%, and its free/reduced lunch rate is 26.4%, about half of Tammany’s 48.11%. Lewiston’s English Language Arts (71.3% end-of-course) and Science (49.3%) proficiency exceed state averages, and its state ranking jumped to the 82nd percentile in 2023-2024. However, its math proficiency is a notable weak spot at just 37.8%, below both the district (53.2%) and state (43.1%). Tammany High School, with only 106 students, is a small school with higher per-student spending ($15,508 vs. $11,265) and a slightly better student-teacher ratio (15.7 vs. 17.6), but no test score data or ranking is available, making academic performance difficult to assess.

The biggest takeaway is how differently these schools operate despite sharing a district and ZIP code. Tammany faces serious attendance challenges — more than triple Lewiston’s chronic absenteeism rate — and a much higher concentration of economic disadvantage. Both schools report an identical 82.5% graduation rate, which also matches the district and state, so this figure should be interpreted cautiously as it may be a placeholder. Higher spending at Tammany has not translated into any measurable academic advantage, likely reflecting the added supports needed for a smaller, higher-need population. For parents, Lewiston High School offers stronger academic transparency and outcomes, while Tammany High School provides a smaller environment but with significant attendance and poverty-related challenges that may affect learning.