Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 83605

In zip code 83605 (Caldwell, Idaho), there are 8 elementary schools serving approximately 3,889 students, with grade configurations ranging from PK–4 (most Caldwell District schools), PK–5 (Skyway Elementary in the Vallivue School District), and K–8 for two charters (Mosaics Public School and Heritage Community Charter). The academic leader by a wide margin is Mosaics Public School, with 49.2% math and 50.2% ELA proficiency, the best state ranking (46th percentile), the lowest chronic absenteeism (13.0%), and the lowest poverty rate (44.97% free/reduced lunch). Among traditional district schools, Skyway Elementary is the strongest and largest option, reaching 34.1% math and 36.4% ELA, while most Caldwell District schools lag far behind—Lewis And Clark Elementary and Sacajawea Elementary rank at the very bottom of Idaho (0th percentile) with math proficiency of just 15.9% and 19.2%, respectively.

A striking 33-point math gap separates Mosaics Public School from Lewis And Clark Elementary, and no school in the zip code meets Idaho’s ELA state average (54%); Mosaics comes closest at 50.2%. Chronic absenteeism strongly tracks performance, with the lowest-performing schools (Washington Elementary at 27.8% and Van Buren Elementary at 27.1%) also showing the worst attendance, while Mosaics is the only school below the state’s 13.8% chronic absenteeism rate. Poverty is high across most schools—five schools exceed 73% free/reduced lunch—yet Mosaics stands out at 44.97%. Notably, smaller class sizes do not guarantee success: Wilson Elementary has the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.9) but only 28.1% math proficiency, while Mosaics has a ratio of 19.2 and leads academically.

One of the most concerning patterns is a sharp 3rd-to-4th grade decline, especially at Wilson Elementary—math proficiency falls from 44.9% to 13.0% and ELA from 39.1% to 16.9%—with similar drops at Lewis And Clark, Van Buren, and Skyway in math. Heritage Community Charter offers a bright 4th-grade spot (41.7% in both subjects) but otherwise remains low (21.7% math overall). The two charters illustrate vastly different outcomes, while Caldwell District schools are systemically underperforming relative to state averages. For parents, Mosaics Public School is the clear academic choice, though Skyway Elementary offers the best traditional district alternative, and literacy intervention appears broadly needed across every school in 83605.