Schools in Zip Code 83522

Schools in zip code 83522 in Cottonwood, Idaho are served by two public schools — one elementary serving grades PK–6 and one junior/senior high serving grades 7–12 — within the Cottonwood Joint District, which is ranked #7 of 101 districts in Idaho, placing it in the 93rd percentile with a 5-star rating. Prairie Elementary School has 222 students, while Prairie Junior/Senior High School has 204, for a total of 426 students. There is no standalone middle school; the junior/senior high covers grades 7–12.

Prairie Elementary School is the standout academic school, ranking #38 of 346 elementary schools statewide (89th percentile, 4 stars) in 2025–2026, after an even stronger #13 finish the prior year. Its math proficiency is 72.1% versus 43.1% statewide, ELA is 70.5% versus 54.0%, and 5th-grade science is 60% versus 44%. Chronic absenteeism is just 2.3%, far below the state's 13.8%. Prairie Junior/Senior High School is also strong, ranking #19 of 122 high schools (84th percentile, 4 stars), with ELA at 71.7%, math at 58.0%, and science at 49.3% — all above state averages. However, its 82.5% graduation rate exactly matches the state average, and secondary math lags behind the elementary school's performance.

The only below-state score in the entire ZIP code is 8th-grade science (40.0% versus 42.9% statewide). Math proficiency drops sharply from 7th grade (72.7%) to 8th grade (45.7%). Both schools have remarkably low chronic absenteeism — 2.3% at the elementary and 4.7% at the high school versus 13.8% statewide. Notably, the elementary school serves more economically disadvantaged students (32.9% free/reduced lunch) than the high school (21.6%), yet still posts elite scores. The high school spends about 24% more per student ($11,930 versus $9,603) while having larger class sizes, reflecting secondary facility and staffing costs. Overall, this is a top-tier rural district, with the elementary school as its academic powerhouse.