Summary:
Zip code 83610 in Cambridge, Idaho is served by two public schools within the Cambridge Joint District, spanning grades PK–12 with a combined enrollment of 156 students. The district ranks 19th out of 101 Idaho districts (81st percentile) and holds a 4-star rating, with no standalone middle school as grades 6–12 are combined at Cambridge Middle/High School.
The two schools present nearly mirror-image strengths. Cambridge Elementary School shines in mathematics, with 66.7% proficiency versus 43.1% statewide, and strong 5th-grade science scores, but lags in ELA at 47.2%, well below the state's 54.0%. By contrast, Cambridge Middle/High School posts better ELA proficiency at 51.2% (above the district rate of 49.4%) but struggles in math at just 32.6%. Encouragingly, the secondary school showed big year-over-year gains, with math up 8.2 points and ELA up 17.1 points, while the elementary school saw a sharp 16.4-point ELA decline — a reminder of how much year-to-year variability exists in small schools.
Both schools benefit from low chronic absenteeism (9.4% elementary, 11.1% middle/high, both below the 13.8% state average), excellent student-teacher ratios near 9:1, and high per-student spending between $17,878 and $21,265. The elementary school serves a higher-need population at 56% free/reduced lunch eligibility compared to 46.9% at the middle/high school. Historically, Cambridge Elementary School was a top-ranked Idaho school in 2012–2013, and while recent rankings have become more volatile due to small enrollments, the district's overall reputation remains strong. The clearest opportunity for improvement is closing the secondary math gap, which would elevate an already well-regarded rural district.
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