The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kendrick Jr/sr High School
Kendrick Jr/Sr High School sits on Highway 3, just outside the compact downtown of Kendrick, a very small rural community tucked into a canyon valley along the Potlatch River in Latah County. The town grew as a service hub for surrounding farming communities, and that agricultural character still defines the ridges beyond Main Street, where grain, fruit, vegetable, and livestock operations anchor the local economy. A pharmacy and a handful of small shops line the historic brick corridor, but commercial activity is limited. Many residents likely commute to Moscow, home of the University of Idaho, or to Lewiston for broader employment. The school district itself is the primary institutional employer in town.
The school serves grades seven through twelve in a single building, with a total enrollment that is small even for a rural secondary school. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a small number of students identifying as Hispanic, multiracial, or Black. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available, so we cannot characterize those populations here. The building sits apart from downtown civic life along Main Street and Railroad Street, where City Hall, the Fire Hall, the Kendrick Museum, and the Grange anchor community gatherings. The annual Locust Blossom Festival in the city park and the Ed Corkill Memorial Bike Trail, connecting Kendrick to neighboring Juliaetta along a former railroad bed, are among the few organized community events.
State assessment results from the most recent school year are partial. Eighth-grade math and English language arts proficiency rates were reported and land in a middle range, with roughly half of tested students meeting or exceeding state standards in each subject. Seventh-grade math and ELA results, along with eighth-grade science, were suppressed for privacy reasons, which is common in schools where the number of tested students is quite small. No reliable trend data across multiple years was available, so we cannot say whether performance is improving or declining. Average scale scores and participation rates were also missing. A parent may want to ask the school directly for fuller assessment results and any local trend information the state's public reporting does not display.
No graduation rate, Advanced Placement offerings, dual-credit pathways, career and technical education programs, or other course-access details were included in the available data. For a school this size, program breadth is often limited by staffing and enrollment, but we do not have specifics to confirm what is or is not offered. A family considering this school should inquire directly about college-preparation options, electives, and any cooperative arrangements with nearby districts or institutions that may expand what a small school can provide on its own.
The housing market in the Kendrick area has seen values climb noticeably in recent years, broadly tracking regional cost increases rather than local development pressure. Typical home values sit below the Idaho state benchmark but above the national one, and estimated monthly mortgage costs reflect current interest rates that remain elevated. No rent data was available for this area. The town is not experiencing significant growth, and no major new housing developments were identified. Population estimates suggest a gradual decline over recent decades with a possible modest rebound projected, though the community remains very small. The Kendrick-Juliaetta 7 Ridges Community Development Association works on volunteer-led community improvement rather than large-scale development.
What a family finds here is a quiet, tight-knit rural school in a town where the school district is one of the few institutions. The setting offers small class sizes and a close peer environment, but the available data tells us little about academic programming beyond middle-grade state test results. Families seeking detailed information about high school course offerings, graduation outcomes, and support services should reach out to the district office on Highway 3.
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