What share of students in Idaho are proficient in math?

In 2024, 31% of eighth graders in Idaho public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (16th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 32% in reading, compared with 37% and 37% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Idaho, United States: official figures

79.9% of public high school students in Idaho graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 4th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

79.9%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

278

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$11,060

FY2024

Public school enrollment

316,414

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

33.0%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Idaho rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Idaho was 79.9% in 2021-22, compared with 80.8% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Idaho?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Idaho was 69.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 57.0% for students with disabilities and 65.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Idaho?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Idaho was 69.0% for Black, 73.1% for Hispanic and 81.9% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Idaho score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Idaho averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 223 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Idaho score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Idaho averaged 261 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 8th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 266 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 29% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Idaho score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Idaho averaged 238 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 242 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 41% scored at or above Proficient and 24% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Idaho score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Idaho averaged 278 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 286 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 33% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Idaho spend per student?

Public school systems in Idaho spent $11,060 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, the lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Idaho going up?

Current spending per pupil in Idaho rose from $7,985 in fiscal 2019 to $11,060 in fiscal 2024, up 38.5% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 7.5%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Idaho spend school money on?

Of the $11,060 spent per pupil in Idaho in fiscal 2024, $6,588 went on instruction and $4,020 on support services; salaries and wages came to $6,315 per pupil and employee benefits $2,411.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Idaho come from?

Public school systems in Idaho received $3.8 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 11.7% from the federal government, 67.4% from the state and 20.9% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Idaho spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Idaho was $3.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $3.2 billion was current spending and $216.59 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $1.2 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Idaho?

316,414 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Idaho in fall 2023, up 1.7% on fall 2019 (311,096) and up 6.7% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Idaho?

Public schools in Idaho had 18,121 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 17.5 pupils per teacher, joint 10th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Idaho in fall 2019: 18.1).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Idaho have a college degree?

33.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Idaho, about 441,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 16th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.3 percentage points on 2021 (30.7%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Idaho have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 11.2% of adults 25 and over in Idaho had a graduate or professional degree and 9.9% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Idaho did not finish high school?

92.5% of adults 25 and over in Idaho had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 7.5% without one; that share is 16th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Idaho compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Idaho ranks 46 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
43	Nevada	81.7%
44	Oregon	81.3%
45	Michigan	81.0%
46	Idaho	79.9%
47	Alaska	77.8%
48	Arizona	77.3%
49	District of Columbia	76.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Idaho ranks 44 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
41	Minnesota	71.1%
42	Alaska	70.2%
43	Michigan	69.6%
44	Idaho	69.6%
45	North Dakota	69.0%
46	Wyoming	68.0%
47	District of Columbia	65.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Idaho ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
15	Washington	216
16	Maryland	216
17	Louisiana	216
18	Idaho	216
19	Hawaii	216
20	Rhode Island	216
21	North Dakota	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Idaho ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
7	Indiana	262
8	Utah	261
9	Iowa	261
10	Idaho	261
11	Montana	261
12	Ohio	260
13	Wisconsin	260

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Idaho ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
22	Washington	238
23	South Carolina	238
24	Kentucky	238
25	Idaho	238
26	Nebraska	238
27	Montana	238
28	Iowa	237

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Idaho ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
11	Montana	279
12	Indiana	278
13	Colorado	278
14	Idaho	278
15	Wyoming	278
16	Illinois	277
17	Connecticut	277

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Idaho ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
13	Connecticut	31.9%
14	North Carolina	31.5%
15	Pennsylvania	31.4%
16	Idaho	30.9%
17	Indiana	30.8%
18	Tennessee	30.5%
19	Wyoming	30.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Idaho ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
33	Hawaii	39.1%
34	Tennessee	38.9%
35	Wisconsin	38.8%
36	Idaho	38.6%
37	North Dakota	38.4%
38	Ohio	38.2%
39	Pennsylvania	37.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Idaho ranks 51 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
45	South Dakota	$12,828
46	Florida	$12,693
47	Mississippi	$12,324
48	Oklahoma	$12,162
49	Arizona	$12,003
50	Utah	$11,347
51	Idaho	$11,060

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Idaho ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
10	Georgia	+41.0%
11	District of Columbia	+39.7%
12	Arizona	+39.2%
13	Idaho	+38.5%
14	Massachusetts	+37.6%
15	Maine	+36.6%
16	Delaware	+36.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Idaho ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
43	Washington	26.1%
44	North Carolina	25.5%
45	Alaska	23.8%
46	Idaho	20.9%
47	New Mexico	16.7%
48	Nevada	16.3%
49	Arkansas	16.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Idaho ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
7	Alaska	18.3
8	Alabama	17.9
9	Louisiana	17.5
10	Idaho	17.5
11	Washington	17.2
12	Michigan	16.7
13	Oklahoma	16.6

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Idaho ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
1	District of Columbia	+3.2%
2	North Dakota	+2.5%
3	Idaho	+1.7%
4	Delaware	+1.4%
5	South Dakota	+1.1%
6	South Carolina	+0.9%
7	Utah	+0.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Idaho ranks 36 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
33	Missouri	33.5%
34	Michigan	33.3%
35	South Carolina	33.3%
36	Idaho	33.0%
37	Alaska	32.8%
38	Ohio	32.4%
39	Tennessee	32.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Idaho ranks 36 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
33	Washington	7.7%
34	Oregon	7.7%
35	Pennsylvania	7.6%
36	Idaho	7.5%
37	Nebraska	7.4%
38	Iowa	7.0%
39	Colorado	6.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Idaho: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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