Original Research by School Decision on Basin Alternative High School
Basin Alternative High School sits in Driggs, a small mountain town in the Teton Valley that serves as the county seat of Teton County, Idaho. The town has grown steadily over recent years, with a downtown commercial core along Main Street and a recreation and tourism economy tied to its position as an Idaho-side gateway to the Teton Range. Grand Targhee Resort lies a short drive east, and the Wall Street Journal publicly reported that Driggs could become "the next Jackson Hole" with the resort's expansion, a prospect that has stirred concern among some residents about growth and change. Housing here is expensive relative to both state and national benchmarks, with typical home values running well above what most Idaho communities see. A substantial share of housing units appear to serve as second homes or vacation properties. Renting is somewhat more manageable than buying but still takes a meaningful share of household income. The unemployment rate has held steady at a modest level.
This is an alternative school, which means it exists to serve students who may need a different path than what a traditional high school offers. The school serves grades six through twelve on paper, though in practice its enrollment is concentrated in the upper grades, with the largest group in twelfth grade. The total enrollment is very small, even for an alternative setting. The student body is roughly evenly split between Hispanic and White students, with a small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students. This is a place where students who have not found their footing in a conventional classroom can continue their education.
State assessment data was largely absent from what was available. The academic performance summary carried no metrics. A multi-year trend series for English language arts proficiency showed a few data points, with proficiency declining across the period. No math or science assessment results were provided. Given the alternative designation and the very small enrollment, limited assessment reporting is common for schools of this type. A parent may want to ask the school directly about how it tracks student progress and what academic supports it offers.
Free or reduced-price lunch counts, special education rates, and English learner rates were all missing from the available data. Without these, it is hard to gauge the level of economic need or the share of students receiving specialized services. Course access, staffing, attendance, and discipline data were also absent, so we cannot speak to class sizes, program offerings, or school climate from the provided information.
No graduation rate was reported. For an alternative high school, graduation outcomes can look different from a traditional school, and the absence here may reflect the school's small size and alternative status. A parent considering this school would want to ask directly about how many students complete their diplomas and what pathways are available, whether credit recovery, a GED track, or a return to the traditional high school.
The broader district, Teton County District, is headquartered in Driggs. The county's traditional high school, middle school, and upper elementary school are all located in town, so Basin Alternative operates alongside a conventional pathway rather than as the only option. We searched for recent district-level changes such as bonds, levies, curriculum shifts, or property tax developments but found little in available sources, so we left that out rather than guess.
Driggs itself has a traditional Main Street with restaurants, craft breweries, a distillery, a neighborhood butcher, and a long-running soda fountain. Summer brings outdoor concerts, farmer's markets, artisan fairs, and a county fair. The town has an airport, a historic drive-in theater restored with a new screen, and a geotourism center. State Highway 33 connects Driggs to Victor to the south and Tetonia to the north. The local economy runs on small businesses and entrepreneurs, with Grand Targhee Resort as a significant nearby employer in the recreation sector.
For a family weighing Basin Alternative, the central question is whether a very small alternative setting fits the student. The school offers a different route for students in the upper grades of a community that is growing and changing around them. The housing market is expensive and competitive. The academic data is thin. The best next step is a direct conversation with the school about what it offers day to day and how it measures success.
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