Best Public Schools in Zip Code 83617

In Idaho's zip code 83617, the Emmett Independent District serves approximately 2,418 students across six public schools: three elementary schools (Shadow Butte Elementary School, Kenneth J Carberry Elementary, and Butte View School), one middle school (Emmett Middle School), and two high schools (Emmett High School and Black Canyon Junior/Senior High School). The area serves a largely middle-to-lower-income population, with a weighted free/reduced lunch rate of about 51.7%.

The strongest all-around school is Kenneth J Carberry Elementary, which earns a 3-star rating and outperforms state averages in ELA, math, and science despite a 56.1% poverty rate. Emmett High School is the top-ranked high school with a 60th-percentile rank, the lowest chronic absenteeism in the area (3.6%), and strong ELA scores, but its math and science proficiency lag the state by 6 and 14 points respectively. Shadow Butte Elementary has improved from 1 star to 2 stars and now matches state averages in math. On the other hand, Emmett Middle School has dropped to a 1-star rating (26th percentile), with math and ELA scores double digits below state averages. Butte View School and Black Canyon Junior/Senior High School have the highest chronic absenteeism rates (21.7% and 25%) and the lowest proficiency in the district.

A clear pattern emerges: chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with lower achievement, while high poverty does not guarantee poor results — Carberry proves that a high-poverty school can outperform the state. Science is a district-wide weakness, except at Carberry and Butte View. Spending also does not align with outcomes: Black Canyon spends $18,336 per student (more than double any other school) yet has the lowest test scores, while Carberry spends only $8,663 and produces the best elementary results. For parents, the takeaway is that Kenneth J Carberry Elementary and Emmett High School are the strongest choices academically, but the district's middle school and math/science instruction need improvement. Reducing absenteeism and replicating Carberry's success would benefit all students.