Elementary/middle schools in Boise (Meridian, Kuna: real estate, rentals, homes)

[mille]

We're talking about moving to Boise. I am interested to hear if there are schools or districts that are *better* than the others. For the next school year I'll have 5th and 3rd graders. Currently we are in one of the best school districts in the area, so I was hoping to find something similar out there. Are there any schools to avoid? Do particular schools have influence on housing prices (both rentals and not)? Thanks.

[Positiveone]

Good question. I'm not in Boise just yet. Hope someone from Boise responds

[Lacerta]

I don't have kids, so can't speak from that perspective, but I grew up in Boise, going to Meridian schools, some of my family went to Boise schools. I now work in a real estate office in Boise, so I hear a lot of people talking about what areas they want, etc. So that is the perspective I am speaking from.

From that perspective, I can say that growing up, I didn't feel like any particular Boise or Meridian schools were any "better" than any others. In the real estate office, I don't notice there is any more demand for one area or another. The only district I've heard anyone say is "better" is Kuna. People who have kids in Kuna seem to love the schools out there.

But there really aren't any bad schools or bad districts in town, and I wouldn't say that school boundaries have much if any effect on values here.

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by mille

We're talking about moving to Boise. I am interested to hear if there are schools or districts that are *better* than the others. For the next school year I'll have 5th and 3rd graders. Currently we are in one of the best school districts in the area, so I was hoping to find something similar out there. Are there any schools to avoid? Do particular schools have influence on housing prices (both rentals and not)? Thanks.

My son went to Cecil D Andrus in North West Boise, Hobble Creek subdivision. That was the best school we have ever attended. We are now in the Phoenix area it s been two year since he has attended Cecil D. Andrus and he is still way ahead of the current high rated school he attends here in Gilbert AZ.

[robohead]

I'm not in Boise yet (will make the move this summer). I grew up in Orange County, CA where there are great schools and downright scary schools (all relative to the good and not so good neighborhoods). Most are probably just average, but trust me, there are plenty of real slummy areas in OC with schools that match. So when I read what Lacerta wrote up above, it sort of reconfirms that anywhere in Boise is generally a good place to raise a family. I'll bet any of Boise's schools are better than the school's I went to as a kid.

[zoso1979]

Minor detail. The Meridian SD has middle schools, in Boise has Junior High Schools.

[benchfan]

Overall, Boise schools out perform the other area districts. Boise has all four of its high schools on the Washington Post list of America's Best High Schools. Boise has lots of varied options at their smaller, neighborhood grade schools. For example, Pierce Park offers Latin starting in Kindergarten, Collister is a math/science magnet school, Whittier and Whitney have Spanish immersion programs, Valley View/Monroe/Cynthia Mann/Highlands all have full-day gifted classrooms, and there are many other options in Boise. Boise has smaller class sizes and more AP options at the high schools. Meridian has larger schools and class sizes in general, but they still have some great schools. I have not heard the strongest things about Kuna schools so I would research that.

[berkey6175]

Thanks for posting this question mille and thanks for the input from others. We are in the same boat with wondering about the schools for our kiddos along with a possible move to Boise. benchfan seems to be saying what I have gathered from a bit of research. Now to find the right home in those school zones :-)

[benchfan]

Well, one way to find great schools is to find where all of the most expensive real estate is. In Boise, Highlands, Riverside, Longfellow, Washington, Roosevelt and Adams are among the top performing grade schools, but are also in some of the most affluent areas of town. As an agent, I work with folks often to find homes in the best school areas. I think some schools that have a nice balance between some good housing options, highly liveable neighborhoods and strong schools include Cynthia Mann, Shadow Hills, Collister (NW), Monroe on the bench, Liberty in SE and Mountain View in the west bench area and Longfellow in the west part of the north end. There are lots of other great schools, but these are top of mind for parents who really love their neighborhood schools.

[pll]

I prefer the Boise district over the Meridian.