Best High Schools in Zip Code 83549

ZIP code 83549 contains just one high school, Salmon River Junior/Senior High School in Riggins, Idaho, a small rural school serving grades 6–12 with an enrollment of 81 students. Because this is the only high school in the area, there are no local schools to compare against, so the focus is on how it stacks up to the Salmon River Joint School District and Idaho state averages.

Academically, the school has clear strengths. Science proficiency is exceptional, with 71.4% of students scoring proficient versus 42.7% statewide. English language arts is also strong at 68.4% proficiency, well above the state average of 54%. Eighth-grade math stands out too, with 53.8% proficient compared to 41.2% across Idaho. However, overall math proficiency across all grades is 42.1%, just slightly below the state's 43.1%. The school offers a very intimate learning environment with a 9.3-to-1 student-teacher ratio and spends $20,090 per student, reflecting the higher costs of running a small rural school.

There are notable concerns as well. Chronic absenteeism sits at 21.5%, which translates to roughly 17 students and is well above both the district (18.5%) and state (13.8%). The graduation rate is 82.5%, matching state and district averages exactly. About 51.85% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school still exceeds state averages in science and ELA. Historically, the school held a much stronger position—ranked 4th in Idaho in 2011–2012—but the district's current ranking is 83rd out of 101 districts. Given the tiny student body, year-to-year swings in rankings and test scores should be expected, but the combination of high poverty, strong subjects, and a low student-teacher ratio makes this school an interesting rural education case.