Idaho’s vast natural expanses of forests, mountains and rivers are perfect for after school adventuring and leisure activities. Luckily, the state’s wealth of excellent school districts ensure that children receive a great education while they are still tucked behind their desks.

The top school district in Idaho is the McCall-Donnelly School District, located in beautiful Valley County, a renowned resort destination with myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation. Owing to the quality of both the community and its schools, MDSD’s enrollment has increased for four consecutive years, topping 1110 students in 2016.

Ranked second is Garden Valley School District, a modest sized system of four schools based in Garden Valley, ID. Performance in GVSD schools has consistently improved in recent years, thanks to a coordinated plan focused on college and career readiness.

Blaine School District, located in Hailey, ID and comprised of eight schools, comes in third. The district is well-funded and boasts a graduation rate above the national average.

Fourth-ranked Moscow School District serves the community of Moscow, ID, a major agricultural hub and home to the University of Idaho. MSD 281’s schools and surroundings undoubtedly rank among the nation’s most beautiful, contributing to a positive learning environment.

Rounding out Idaho’s top five school districts is Westside Joint School District in Dayton, ID. The modestly-sized rural district boasts a graduation rate well above the national average.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?