Best Public Schools in Zip Code 83713

Zip code 83713 in Boise, Idaho, serves 6,485 students across 12 schools—7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools—with the vast majority belonging to Joint School District No. 2, a strong 4-star district ranked 12th out of 101 in the state. Families here have access to some excellent traditional public schools, but also to several low-performing virtual/online programs that dramatically skew the overall picture.

Among in-person schools, Pioneer School Of The Arts stands out as the highest-performing elementary, ranking 29th in Idaho with 70.5% math proficiency and 74% ELA proficiency, despite slipping from its previous #10 spot. Lowell Scott Middle School is the lone middle school and ranks 20th out of 174, with strong math (61.4%) and ELA (74.9%) scores. Centennial High School is the only comprehensive high school in the zip, ranking 24th out of 122 with improving trends and solid end-of-course proficiency. Meanwhile, Ustick Elementary is the most improved school, jumping from the 29th to 60th percentile in two years despite high poverty and absenteeism. Other elementary options like Cecil D Andrus Elementary, Frontier Elementary, McMillan Elementary, and Joplin Elementary all perform at or above state averages, though several have seen recent ranking declines.

The biggest red flag in 83713 is the virtual school sector. iSucceed Academy ranks dead last among Idaho high schools (122nd) with 40.1% chronic absenteeism, just 25% ELA proficiency, and only $838 spent per student. iSUCCEED Virtual High School performs slightly better but still far below state averages, and Idaho Connects Online Alternative School also trails significantly. These online options belong to districts ranked in the bottom 2nd percentile or unranked, creating a sharp divide: families in 83713 who attend JSD2 neighborhood schools typically receive a high-quality education, while those in virtual programs face serious academic and attendance challenges. The takeaway is that the zip code offers excellent traditional school choices, but the online alternatives should be approached with caution.