The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Syringa Middle School
Syringa Middle School sits on Willow Street in Caldwell, the Canyon County seat, serving sixth through eighth graders as part of the Caldwell School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its enrollment places it among the larger middle schools in its area for that grade band. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial white population and small representation from other racial and ethnic groups. An overwhelming share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which speaks to the economic conditions of the surrounding community.
Caldwell itself is a city in transition. Publicly reported descriptions paint it as a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial strips, and agricultural land, rooted in irrigation farming and food processing. The J.R. Simplot Company was founded here and remains a major employer, alongside the city, Canyon County, the College of Idaho, the school district, and West Valley Medical Center. The city has grown rapidly in recent years, part of the broader Boise metropolitan area expansion, with a downtown revitalized around the restoration of Indian Creek. Residents have access to a dozen city parks, two golf courses, walking paths, and annual civic events like the Canyon County Fair and the Caldwell Night Rodeo. It sits roughly two dozen miles west of Boise.
The housing market in the school's zip code is more affordable than the Idaho state benchmark, with typical home values sitting below the state level and closer to the national figure. Rents are modest relative to income, and renting remains meaningfully cheaper than carrying a mortgage at current interest rates. For families considering a move into the Syringa attendance area, the cost of living is comparatively accessible, though the broader economic picture includes a high poverty rate among the school's families.
On state assessments, the most recent ISAT results show a clear pattern. English language arts proficiency is stronger than mathematics, with roughly two-fifths of eighth graders and a somewhat smaller share of seventh graders scoring proficient or above. Math results are considerably lower, with fewer than one in five students reaching proficiency in either grade. Science proficiency for eighth graders falls in between, at roughly a quarter of tested students. Average scale scores were not available, and participation rates were not reported in the data provided. No prior-year trend data was available in a form that allows for reliable comparison, so families looking to understand whether performance is improving or declining over time would need to consult the school or district directly. These proficiency levels are modest, and a parent may want to look into what targeted supports or interventions the school has in place for math instruction.
Several data gaps are worth naming. The school does not have a graduation rate because it serves only middle school grades. Information on English learner enrollment, special education rates, discipline, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance was not available in the data provided. Program offerings were not listed. A comparison fact-set positioning Syringa against neighboring schools was also absent, so the proficiency figures stand on their own without a peer benchmark.
The district context adds a layer families should be aware of. Publicly reported coverage describes a failed levy renewal that led the Caldwell School District board to implement school closures, new attendance boundaries, student relocations, and restructuring of the high school. These changes, tied to declining enrollment and the loss of levy funding, carry lasting impact for families and may affect which schools children attend and what resources are available. How these district-level decisions will affect Syringa specifically was not detailed in the available information, so families may want to ask the school directly about any anticipated changes.
Taken together, Syringa is a middle school serving a predominantly Hispanic, high-poverty student population in a growing but affordable city. Its ELA results suggest some real instructional traction in literacy, while its math and science outcomes indicate an area where families would want to ask focused questions. The district's fiscal pressures add a practical consideration for any family making a longer-term commitment to the area.
See more original research from School Decision →