Summary:
Zip code 83858 in Rathdrum, Idaho, serves roughly 3,650 students across nine schools—four elementary schools, one middle school, three high schools, and one K-12 alternative charter—spanning the Lakeland District (ranked 21st of 101 districts, 4 stars) as well as the independent North Idaho Stem Charter Academy Inc. and the KTEC - Kootenai Technical Educational Campus. Enrollment ranges from just 37 students at KTEC School to 830 at Lakeland Senior High School.
The academic standout is North Idaho Stem Charter Academy, with 92.5% math, 94.5% ELA, and 87.8% science proficiency—roughly double state averages—while spending the least per student ($5,024) and posting the lowest chronic absenteeism (3.3%). Among traditional schools, John Brown Elementary School leads despite the highest free/reduced lunch rate (43%); it ranks in the 82nd percentile with strong math (64.5%) and ELA (64.2%). Lakeland Senior High School is the top traditional high school (77th percentile, 77.5% ELA, 5.2% absenteeism), while Betty Kiefer Elementary School and Twin Lakes Elementary School also earn 4-star ratings with math proficiency near 60%. Conversely, Garwood Elementary School fell to a 1-star rating (25th percentile) with 5th-grade math at 27%, science at 25.4%, and 17.4% chronic absenteeism. KTEC School is a specialized technical campus with a 2.6:1 student-teacher ratio and no comparable test scores.
Key takeaways for parents: performance varies enormously within this zip, from 92.5% math proficiency at North Idaho Stem Charter Academy to 21.7% at Mountainview Alternative High School, which also has the highest absenteeism (28.8%) and per-student spending ($10,206). Lakeland Middle School posts 41.2% math and 59.1% ELA, reflecting that middle and high school math is a weaker area district-wide. Chronic absenteeism tracks closely with low performance across schools. High spending and poverty don't determine outcomes—John Brown Elementary School thrives with high economic need while Garwood Elementary School struggles with less. Overall, this area offers excellent choices at the top end but requires careful school selection.
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