Salt Lake District

Salt Lake District includes 33 schools serving roughly 22,000 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades in the Salt Lake area, with 23 elementary schools, five middle schools, and five high schools. The district offers a wide range of experiences: some schools rank among Utah’s strongest, while others face significant challenges in attendance, achievement, and graduation. School performance varies considerably even among schools serving similar grade levels.

The strongest options are concentrated in the elementary and middle grades. Indian Hills School ranks first among Utah elementary schools, followed by highly rated Bonneville School and Uintah School. These schools combine high test scores with relatively low chronic absenteeism. Other notable elementary schools include Highland Park School, Dilworth School, and Ensign School. Among middle schools, Clayton Middle is the clear leader, while Hillside Middle has improved substantially. Highland High is the strongest academically among the high schools.

Parents should also consider attendance and completion measures, not rankings alone. Chronic absenteeism is below 20% at several top schools but exceeds 40% at North Star School, Liberty School, Rose Park School, Meadowlark School, and Franklin School. High-school outcomes also differ: West High has the highest graduation rate, while Horizonte Instruction & Training Center and Innovations Early College High School report much lower graduation rates and higher dropout levels. Families comparing schools should review current achievement, attendance, school size, and the school’s specific program before making a decision.