The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Math. The lowest is 45% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on John Brown Elementary School
John Brown Elementary sits in Rathdrum, a growing residential city in the Idaho Panhandle, positioned at the crossroads of State Highways 41 and 53. The town sits between Coeur d'Alene to the southeast and Spokane to the west, close enough that families commute into either city for work while sending children to this Lakeland District school. Rathdrum has retained a small-town feel despite rapid residential expansion, with a historic downtown along Main Street that still holds buildings from its late-19th-century origins. Saint Stanislaus Church, the oldest brick church in Idaho, stands as one of the town's civic anchors alongside City Hall and the Old County Jail Museum. The BNSF Railway line runs through town, and the surrounding area mixes residential subdivisions with rural prairie land at the base of Rathdrum Mountain in the Selkirk Range. These details about Rathdrum's character come from publicly reported city and county sources.
The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school. Enrollment is moderate for an elementary building of this grade range, with a fairly even distribution across grade levels. The student body is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic population and a few students identifying as two or more races or American Indian/Alaska Native. Just under half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Information on individualized education programs and English learner services was not available in the data provided, so families whose children need those supports may want to ask the school directly about what is in place.
On Idaho's ISAT assessments for the most recent school year, math results were a clear strength in the lower grades. Third and fourth graders showed strong proficiency, with a solid majority meeting or exceeding standards. Fifth grade math proficiency dropped off, with closer to half the class reaching proficiency. ELA results followed a similar pattern, though third and fourth grade ELA proficiency figures were suppressed in the data, meaning a precise rate could not be confirmed for those grades. Fifth grade ELA showed just over half the class proficient. Science was tested only in fifth grade, where fewer than half of students reached proficiency. The pattern of stronger outcomes in earlier grades with a decline by fifth is one a parent may want to look into further with the school, particularly around how instruction and support shift as students approach the transition to middle school.
Participation rate data was not reported for any of the assessments, and average scale scores were not available. Multi-year trend data was not clearly comparable from what was provided, so it is difficult to say whether these results represent a shift from prior years or a stable pattern.
Rathdrum sits in Kootenai County, and the local housing market reflects the growth pressures common to the broader Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area. Typical home values in the school's zip code run well above both the Idaho state benchmark and the national benchmark, making this one of the more expensive corners of the state for buyers. Rents are more manageable relative to local incomes, and renting costs substantially less per month than carrying a mortgage on a typical home at current rates. For families considering a move into the school's attendance area, the gap between buying and renting is wide enough that it may shape housing decisions. The broader economy shows a moderate unemployment rate, and median household income has been climbing gradually in recent years.
The data did not include a district brief for Lakeland District, so information on recent bond measures, levy outcomes, or strategic initiatives was not available. Program offerings, staffing levels, discipline data, attendance figures, and Title I status were also absent from what was provided. Families looking for detail on extracurricular offerings, class sizes, or school climate will want to contact the school or district directly. What the available picture does show is a growing community school with solid early-grade math performance, some softening in upper-elementary results, and a housing market that reflects the broader growth story of the Idaho Panhandle.
See more original research from School Decision →