The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Morley Nelson Elementary
Morley Nelson Elementary sits on Boise's west side, serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade as part of the Boise Independent District. As a regular public school, it draws from the surrounding neighborhood in a city that functions as Idaho's capital and its largest population center.
The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary spanning its grade range. Its student body reflects Boise's mix of backgrounds. White students form the largest group, with a substantial Hispanic contingent and a meaningful Black population, alongside smaller Asian and multiracial groups. Nearly every student at Morley Nelson qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school among the most economically disadvantaged in the district. The data does not include English learner or special education rates, so those population shares are not visible here.
On Idaho's state assessment, administered in the most recent school year, proficiency rates were low across most grades and subjects. In math, third, fifth, and sixth grade each saw only a small fraction of tested students reach proficient or above. Fourth grade stood apart, with a noticeably higher share meeting that bar. In English language arts, third and fifth grade results were reported in a range that tops out well below a third of students, with no proficient students counted in either grade. Fourth grade landed somewhat higher, and sixth grade came in as the strongest ELA result, with roughly a third of tested students proficient. Science was tested only in fifth grade, and those results fell into a similarly limited range. Average scale scores and participation rates were not available in the data provided.
A parent comparing these results to statewide patterns would see that Morley Nelson's outcomes sit well below what most Idaho elementary schools post. The fourth grade math result is the one data point that approaches a more typical range. The school does not have multiple years of comparable assessment data available, so it is not possible to read a trend from the numbers here. A parent may want to ask the school directly what improvement strategies are in place and how the district is supporting this campus.
The school sits in a residential pocket on the western side of Boise. Housing in this area is less expensive than the Ada County average but still above the national benchmark. Typical home values here also sit below the broader state median, making this one of the more affordable corners of the Boise metro for ownership. Rents have risen modestly in the past year, and renting takes a smaller share of household income than carrying a mortgage at current rates, given the gap between monthly rent and the estimated monthly mortgage payment. For families weighing buying versus renting near the school, renting carries a clear monthly cost advantage.
Boise itself is a city in sustained growth. The broader Treasure Valley metro area, anchored by Boise, Nampa, and Meridian, has drawn in-migration for years, with technology investment from companies like Micron driving expansion. The city's economy spans government, technology, healthcare, education through Boise State University, and food processing tied to companies like J.R. Simplot and Lamb Weston. Downtown Boise and the Boise State campus sit close together, with the Boise River Greenbelt threading through the city as a recreational corridor. Outside the downtown core and near-river corridors, the city is largely auto-oriented, and the school's west-side location fits that suburban pattern.
The district brief turned up little on recent parent-relevant changes at Boise Independent District, so there is nothing specific to report on recent shifts in programming, boundaries, or leadership. The school's own profile does not include data on discipline, staffing ratios, attendance rates, course access, or Title I status. Locale classification, civil-rights reporting, and program offerings were also absent from what was provided. A parent wanting a fuller picture would need to go directly to the school or district for those pieces.
Morley Nelson is a neighborhood elementary serving a high-need population in a growing capital city. Its assessment results are low, and the available data does not yet show a trajectory. The housing market around it is relatively accessible for Boise, and the city's broader economy offers employment depth. For a family considering this school, the most productive step is to ask the administration about academic support, intervention programming, and what the current year looks like in practice.
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