Summary:
Zip code 83641 in Melba, Idaho, is home to two public schools serving grades PK–6 and 7–12, with a combined enrollment of 824 students across the Melba Joint District. Notably, there is no standalone middle school in this area; Melba High School serves grades 7 through 12, meaning middle school students share a campus with high schoolers — an important detail when interpreting test scores and school culture.
Melba Elementary School stands out academically, especially in math, where 54.4% of students are proficient versus 43.1% statewide. It ranks in the 51st percentile statewide and earned a 3-star rating. In contrast, Melba High School struggles with science — just 20.3% proficient versus 42.7% statewide — and 8th-grade science proficiency is only 9.7%, a 33-point gap from the state. Both schools fall below the state average in English Language Arts, with 8th grade being the weakest spot (35.5% vs. 54.5% statewide). Chronic absenteeism is a clear strength at both schools (7.7% and 6.7%), less than half the state average, and the high school's graduation rate matches Idaho's average of 82.5%.
One interesting finding is that the high school spends more per student and has a lower student-teacher ratio than the elementary school, yet it produces weaker outcomes — pointing to curriculum or instructional challenges rather than resource scarcity. Additionally, the elementary school improved dramatically in math by nearly nine points in one year, while the high school's ranking has been volatile, swinging from the 62nd to 11th to 30th percentile over three years. The district overall ranks in the 31st percentile, but this is dragged down by the high school; the elementary school is actually near the state median. For parents, the most urgent area for improvement is 7th and 8th grade performance, particularly in science, while the elementary's strong math program and excellent attendance across both schools provide a solid foundation to build on.
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