Best High Schools in Zip Code 83644

Zip code 83644 in Middleton, Idaho, is home to two high schools within the Middleton District: Middleton High School, a large traditional high school serving grades 9–12 with about 1,443 students, and Middleton Academy, a much smaller alternative-style school serving grades 6–12 with just 129 students. The district is ranked 27th out of 101 districts in Idaho with a 4-star rating, but these two schools serve very different student populations and offer vastly different experiences.

Middleton High School is clearly the standout performer in this area. In the 2023–2024 school year, it ranked 16th out of 159 Idaho high schools, placing it in the 90th percentile with a 5-star rating, and its ranking has improved steadily over the past few years. It exceeds state averages in English Language Arts (69.5% proficient vs. 53.9% statewide) and Science (46.5% vs. 42.6%), though its math proficiency of 41.4% is slightly below the state average of 43.1%. By comparison, Middleton Academy faces significant challenges. It recorded the lowest ranking in Idaho in 2021–2022 (110th out of 110 schools with 0 stars), and its student body has more than double the poverty rate of Middleton High School, with 51.94% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch versus 25.85%.

The most urgent concern across both schools is chronic absenteeism. Middleton High School has a chronic absenteeism rate of 48.0%, and Middleton Academy is even higher at 66.2%—both far above the Idaho state average of 13.8%. Both schools report the same 82.5% graduation rate, which matches the district and state figures exactly. Notably, Middleton Academy spends $14,438 per student, more than double the $7,027 spent at Middleton High School, yet this higher spending has not translated into stronger academic outcomes. Families in this area should consider the dramatic differences in size, academic performance, and student demographics when evaluating these two schools.