The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Star Middle School
Star Middle School sits in one of Idaho's fastest-growing communities, a residential suburb west of Boise that has transformed from a small farming town into a bedroom community for the metropolitan area. The city of Star incorporated relatively recently and never developed a traditional downtown grid. Commercial activity clusters along the State Street corridor, and the Boise River cuts through the community, offering recreational pathways. The built environment is car-dependent, with single-family subdivisions connected by arterial roads. Public transit does not serve the city, and no standalone public library branch was identified within its limits. For families, this means a quiet suburban setting where getting around requires a car and where civic and school functions are spread across residential areas rather than walkable from one another.
The school serves grades six through eight as part of Joint School District No. 2, publicly known as the West Ada School District. Enrollment is large for a middle school, with each grade band filling several hundred seats. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic minority and smaller representation from other racial and ethnic groups. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the relative affluence of the surrounding area. The median home value in Star's zip code sits well above both state and national benchmarks, and the price-to-income ratio is elevated. Renting is meaningfully cheaper per month than carrying a mortgage, which may be relevant for families weighing a move into the attendance area.
Academic results from the most recent Idaho ISAT show a school with clear strengths in English language arts and more moderate outcomes in mathematics and science. In ELA, a strong majority of students reach proficiency across all three grade levels, with seventh grade posting the highest rate. These are solid results that point to a literacy program working well. Math proficiency sits around the midpoint across grades, with roughly half of students meeting the bar in each grade. Science, tested only in eighth grade, landed in a similar moderate range. A parent looking at these patterns might ask the school how math instruction is structured across the grade span and what interventions or enrichment are available for students working below grade level.
Several data categories were not available. Special education and English learner enrollment figures were not reported, so the size of those populations and the level of specialized support cannot be assessed from the information at hand. Title I status was not specified. Discipline, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance information were all absent. Programs data was not provided, so details about electives, extracurriculars, or advanced offerings are not captured here. A family wanting to understand the full shape of the school's offerings would need to go directly to the school or district. The district brief for Joint School District No. 2 did not surface any recently reported parent-relevant changes.
Because this is a middle school serving only grades six through eight, no graduation rate applies, and that is expected for the grade band rather than a gap. The school does not administer the full range of state assessments that elementary and high schools do, so science is tested only in eighth grade, which is standard for Idaho's middle school assessment schedule.
Star's growth context shapes the school environment. The city's population has climbed rapidly, and projections suggest that trajectory will continue. Public infrastructure, including parks and pathways, was built for a much smaller community, and city documents flag pressure on services. For a family considering the area, this means the school is likely absorbing enrollment growth and operating within a district and municipality both adjusting to rapid expansion. The housing market reflects this pressure, with home values well above state and national levels and rents rising year over year.
Star Middle School presents a profile of a large, relatively affluent suburban middle school with strong literacy outcomes and moderate math and science results. Families drawn to Star's residential character and Boise-area proximity will find a school serving a broad student body in a community still finding its footing as a fast-growing suburb.
See more original research from School Decision →