Summary:
Zip code 83705 in Boise, Idaho contains exactly one public middle school: South Junior High School. Serving grades 7 through 9 with 533 students, this school is part of the Boise Independent District. The school serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with 97% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
South Junior High School has consistently received a 1-star state rating, ranking in the 22nd percentile of Idaho middle schools in 2025–2026. Academic proficiency trails district and state averages across most subjects. In math, 34.7% of students are proficient compared to 46.4% in the district and 43.1% statewide. ELA proficiency is 45.8%, versus 53.3% for the district and 54.0% for the state. Science proficiency is 33.1%, compared to 43.0% for the district. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, affecting 29.0% of students — more than double the statewide rate of 13.8%. The student–teacher ratio is 14.5:1, and per-student spending was $11,445 in 2018–2019.
There are encouraging signs despite the challenges. Eighth graders at South Junior High perform much closer to state averages than 7th graders — in fact, 8th grade math proficiency (41.8%) exceeds the state average (41.2%). The school's percentile ranking has improved from the 11th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 22nd percentile in 2025–2026. However, 7th grade math remains the most urgent concern, with only 27.4% proficiency. Test scores have remained highly stable year over year, suggesting persistent structural factors rather than a one-year anomaly. As the only middle school in zip code 83705, South Junior High School is the sole focus for families in the area seeking public middle school education.
Thank you for your feedback!