The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 34% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hacker Middle School
Hacker Middle School sits in Mountain Home, Idaho, serving fifth and sixth graders as part of the Mountain Home School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its two-grade configuration means it functions as a short transitional bridge between elementary and secondary schooling rather than a full middle school experience.
The most recent Idaho ISAT results show a school where English language arts is the relative bright spot. About half of fifth graders reached proficiency, and a somewhat smaller share of sixth graders did the same, with the rate dipping between the two grades. Mathematics is the softer area. Roughly a third of students in each grade met the proficiency bar. Fifth-grade science fell between these two, with somewhat fewer than half reaching proficiency. Participation rates on these assessments were not reported, so it is unclear whether all enrolled students were tested. A parent concerned about math outcomes may want to look into this further with the school.
Because Hacker serves only grades five and six, certain measures simply do not apply. There is no graduation rate, no high school course access, and no college or career readiness data. This reflects the grade band, not a reporting lapse.
The school serves a mid-sized population across its two grades. The student body is majority white, with a substantial Hispanic presence representing the largest non-white group, and smaller proportions from other backgrounds. Slightly more than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, pointing to a community where economic need is real but not dominant. Information on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported, so the size of those populations is unknown.
Mountain Home is a small city in Elmore County. The broader district has ties to nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base. Publicly reported information indicates that in 2026, Congressman Mike Simpson sought federal funding for a new building at Stephenson Elementary, a district school located on the base. If secured, that capital investment would modernize a facility serving military families. No other district-wide changes such as bond elections, curriculum overhauls, or property tax shifts surfaced in the available research.
The housing market in the school's area is relatively affordable compared with Idaho as a whole. Home values sit below the state benchmark and modestly below the national figure. Rents are moderate as well. At current mortgage rates, renting costs less per month than carrying a mortgage on a typical home, though both remain within reach relative to broader state norms. Home values have been rising at a slow pace.
Several pieces of information that would help complete the picture were not available. No comparison data positioning Hacker among neighboring schools was provided. The school's Title I status, staffing levels, discipline practices, attendance rates, and any specialized program offerings were absent from the data. No information on extracurriculars, advanced coursework, or dual-credit options was listed, though this is common for a school serving only two grades that precede high school. Average scale scores on state assessments were also missing.
Families weighing Hacker Middle School will find a short two-year stop where literacy outcomes are holding their own and mathematics needs attention. The community offers housing that is more affordable than much of Idaho, and the district's connection to the air force base brings a military-family presence that shapes the area. Given how quickly students pass through two grades, the transitions into and out of Hacker are especially formative, and parents may benefit from asking the school directly about how it supports students during those moves.
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