The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Math. The lowest is 48% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Twin Lakes Elementary School
Twin Lakes Elementary sits on West Rice Road in Rathdrum, a growing residential city in the Idaho Panhandle at the base of Rathdrum Mountain. The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Lakeland District and carries the character of its setting: a small-town community that has been absorbing steady residential growth as the Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area expands. Rathdrum sits at the crossroads of State Highways 41 and 53, roughly a dozen miles northwest of Coeur d'Alene and a short drive east of Spokane. Its historic downtown along Main Street still holds buildings from the late nineteenth century, including Saint Stanislaus Church, the oldest brick church in Idaho. The BNSF Railway line runs through town, and civic anchors like the Old County Jail Museum reflect Rathdrum's earlier role as the first county seat of Kootenai County. Schools here appear woven into the residential fabric rather than set apart on large campuses, consistent with the town's compact layout.
The student body is modest in size for a school covering seven grade levels. It is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic presence and a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is low relative to what many public elementary schools serve. Information on English learners and students receiving special-education services was not available, so those populations could not be characterized here.
On Idaho's state assessments, math results were the clearest signal. Across third, fourth, and fifth grade, proficiency rates landed at or above what would typically be considered solid for an elementary school, with fourth grade standing out as the strongest cohort. More than half of tested students in each grade reached proficient or above, and the middle grade was notably strong. English language arts told a more uneven story. Third-grade proficiency was moderate, with roughly half of tested students meeting the bar. Fourth- and fifth-grade ELA results were suppressed by the state, so only a wide possible range is visible rather than a reliable point estimate. Science was tested only in fifth grade, and those results were also suppressed. A parent weighing the academic picture would do well to ask the school directly about ELA and science outcomes, since the state data does not give a clear reading for the upper elementary grades in those subjects.
The housing market in the school's zip code is expensive relative to both state and national benchmarks. Typical home values sit well above the Idaho median and substantially above the national figure. Renting is more accessible than buying, with typical rents taking up a manageable portion of household income, while estimated monthly mortgage costs run far higher. The gap between renting and owning is wide. For families considering a move into the Twin Lakes attendance area, this means rental entry may be feasible while purchasing a home requires a considerable income or substantial down payment. Kootenai County's broader growth trajectory suggests this pressure is unlikely to ease soon, given the rapid residential expansion Rathdrum has experienced as part of the Coeur d'Alene metro.
What the data does not capture is equally worth naming. No information was available on the school's Title I status, staffing ratios, attendance patterns, disciplinary records, or course and program offerings beyond the standard elementary curriculum. Walkability and street-life details for the immediate area around the school were not found. The Lakeland District's recent bond or levy activity was searched for but returned no usable findings, so any recent facilities or funding decisions could not be included. A parent wanting a full picture would want to ask the district directly about those priorities.
Twin Lakes presents as a small, relatively homogeneous elementary school in a fast-growing corner of North Idaho with solid math outcomes and an incomplete but mixed ELA picture. Its community is compact and historically rooted, with housing costs that reflect the region's desirability. For families already in or near Rathdrum, the school offers a stable neighborhood option. For those weighing a move, the academic results are encouraging in math, and the ELA gap is worth a direct conversation with the school.
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