Serving 34 students in grades 6-12, High Desert ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Idaho for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is <50% (which is higher than the Idaho state average of 40%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is <50% (which is lower than the Idaho state average of 54%).
The student:teacher ratio of 34:1 is higher than the Idaho state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Idaho state average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2025)
- School Type: Alternative school
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 34 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 34:1
- Minority Enrollment: 50%
- Graduation Rate: ≥50% (Btm 50% in ID)
- Math Proficiency: <50% (Top 1%)
- Reading Proficiency: <50% (Top 1%)
- Science Proficiency: <50% (Top 30%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ID Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
High Desert ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Idaho for:
Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Community Size
School Overview
High Desert's student population of 34 students has grown by 70% over five school years.
The teacher population of 1 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 6-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
34 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
1 teacher
School Rankings
The diversity score of High Desert is 0.53, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.43. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)<50%
40%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)<50%
54%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
<50%
41%
Student : Teacher Ratio
34:1
17:1
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
n/a
1%
Hispanic
47%
20%
Black
n/a
1%
White
50%
73%
Hawaiian
3%
n/a
Two or more races
n/a
4%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
≥50%
80%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
68%
26%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
18%
8%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ID Dept. of Education
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
<50% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 40% ID state average), while <50% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 54% ID state average).
What is the graduation rate of High Desert?
The graduation rate of High Desert is 50%, which is lower than the Idaho state average of 80%.
How many students attend High Desert?
34 students attend High Desert.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
50% of High Desert students are White, 47% of students are Hispanic, and 3% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of High Desert?
High Desert has a student ration of 34:1, which is higher than the Idaho state average of 17:1.
What grades does High Desert offer ?
High Desert offers enrollment in grades 6-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is High Desert part of?
High Desert is part of Shoshone Joint School District.
School Reviews
Review High Desert. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles

Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.

Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.

Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.