Summary:
Zip code 83687 in the Nampa, Idaho area is served by three high schools — two traditional public schools and one online program — together enrolling nearly 3,000 students in grades 6 through 12. For parents exploring this area, Ridgevue High School and Columbia High School are the main choices, while Idaho Connects Online School offers a smaller, fully virtual alternative.
Ridgevue, part of the Vallivue School District, is the highest-ranked school in the group, consistently sitting near the statewide median. It posts the strongest math (31.5% proficient) and science (37.5%) scores among the three schools, and it is the only one to beat the state average in English Language Arts (68.2% vs. 61.3%). Serving about 1,640 students with a 40.2% free/reduced lunch rate, Ridgevue spends a relatively modest $7,530 per student. Columbia, in the Nampa School District, is a clear attendance standout: only 7.0% of students are chronically absent, far below the 13.8% state average and less than half of Ridgevue's 16.3%. Columbia also exceeds its own district and the state in ELA on recent tests, although its math proficiency (21.7%) trails noticeably. Both traditional schools serve similar economic need levels around 40–42% free/reduced lunch, yet Ridgevue outperforms Columbia in math and science by meaningful margins.
The online option, Idaho Connects Online School from Idaho Virtual Education Partners Inc., is the most expensive at $16,606 per student with a low 11.8 student-teacher ratio, but its test proficiency is well below state averages in ELA and science, with no recent math score or ranking data reported. All three schools report an identical 82.5% graduation rate, which appears to be a data artifact rather than a meaningful comparison. Overall, families in 83687 will find solid ELA instruction at the traditional schools, a notably strong attendance culture at Columbia, and a costly online program that has yet to show strong academic results.
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