The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Math. The lowest is 34% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Howard E Thirkill Primary School
Howard E Thirkill Primary School sits in Soda Springs, the county seat of Caribou County, Idaho. It is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, part of the Soda Springs Joint District. The town is small and self-describes as a mix of residential community and commercial hub for the surrounding agricultural and industrial area. Publicly reported descriptions emphasize its Oregon Trail heritage, natural carbonated springs, and a compact historic downtown centered on First South and Main Street, where Geyser Park and the visitor center sit behind the Enders Hotel. The town has five parks with playgrounds, pavilions, trails, and a disc golf course. Caribou Medical Center is a named healthcare employer, and phosphate mining and processing have historically anchored the regional economy. Soda Springs promotes itself as ripe for growth and expansion, though no specific new housing developments or construction projects surfaced in the available research.
The school's enrollment is moderate for a primary building, with most grade levels fairly evenly distributed and a smaller pre-kindergarten cohort. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest Hispanic share and very small counts in other racial categories. Just over a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on individualized education programs and English learner status was not reported, so those population details are not available here.
Academic results come from the Idaho ISAT, reported for the most recent school year in third and fourth grade, which are the tested grades at this school. Proficiency in math sits in the lower-middle range, with fourth grade performing somewhat stronger than third. English language arts results are similar across both grades, landing below the math figures. A parent considering this school may want to look into these results further with the administration, asking how the school supports literacy development and what interventions are in place for students working below proficiency. No trend data across multiple years was available in a usable form, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. Average scale scores and participation rates were also missing from the reported data.
Because this school stops at fourth grade, there is no graduation rate, no advanced coursework, and no college or career readiness data to report. Those measures simply do not apply to this grade band. Program offerings beyond the standard curriculum were not included in the available data, and staffing, attendance, and discipline information was absent as well. A parent would need to contact the school or district directly to understand what specialized programs, extracurriculars, or support services exist for young children at this building.
Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared with both state and national benchmarks, with the typical home value sitting below the Idaho median and well below the national figure. Home values have been appreciating at a faster recent pace than either benchmark, which may reflect growing interest in the area or limited inventory. Rental data was not available for this location. The estimated monthly mortgage payment at current rates and a standard down payment is modest relative to many Idaho markets, and the price-to-income ratio sits below levels common in larger metropolitan areas. The broader economic environment shows steady unemployment and mortgage rates that remain elevated by recent historical standards.
No neighbor comparison data was provided, so it is not possible to position this school against others in Caribou County or the surrounding region. The district brief did not return specific information about recent bonds, levies, or strategic initiatives, so those topics are left out rather than guessed.
What the available picture shows is a small-town primary school in an affordable community with a strong local identity tied to history and natural features. Academic proficiency in the tested grades is modest in both subjects, with math outpacing English language arts. Families drawn to Soda Springs for its small-town character, outdoor recreation, and lower housing costs would be looking at a school whose tested outcomes suggest room for growth, particularly in early literacy. Asking the school directly about reading instruction, support staff, and how the district plans to address proficiency would be a reasonable next step for any parent weighing enrollment here.
See more original research from School Decision →