Summary:
Zip code 83702 in Boise, Idaho, is home to four elementary schools serving pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, all part of the Boise Independent District, which carries a 3-star rating. The four schools — Longfellow Elementary School, Highlands Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, and Whittier Elementary School — enroll a combined 1,297 students but present two very different educational realities.
Three of the four schools rate among Idaho's best. Longfellow Elementary School is the top performer, ranking #9 in the state (97th percentile) with the highest ELA proficiency (85.8%) and math proficiency (77.7%) in the zip, plus the lowest chronic absenteeism at 7.2%. Highlands Elementary School ranks #17 (95th percentile) and leads the area in 5th-grade science (77.5%), while Washington Elementary School ranks #27 (92nd percentile) with 72.7% math and 78.3% ELA proficiency. By contrast, Whittier Elementary School ranks #306 (12th percentile) with just 29% math and 34.6% ELA proficiency, far below district averages of 46.4% math and 53.3% ELA.
The most telling differences are socioeconomic and attendance related. Whittier Elementary School has a 98.37% free/reduced lunch rate and 33.8% chronic absenteeism, while the other three schools range from 6.5% to 15.3% free/reduced lunch. Whittier Elementary School actually receives the highest per-student spending ($9,813) yet posts the lowest scores, showing that resources alone have not closed the gap. Longfellow Elementary School is improving quickly, with its rank rising from #51 to #9 in three years, while Whittier Elementary School's rank has fallen from #237 to #306. Washington Elementary School, despite strong scores, shows a 24.2% chronic absenteeism rate worth watching. For parents, Longfellow Elementary School, Highlands Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School are all 5-star options, but Whittier Elementary School presents a very different school experience.
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