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BaldmountainidPhoto: Greg L. Wright - SnapJag · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Sun Valley · Blaine County School District 61

Sun Valley’s public schools outscore 65% of Idaho districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Sun Valley, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Idaho, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Idaho state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
58%
▲ 3 pts vs ID 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
43%
▲ 1 pts vs ID 42%
2021–22
Graduate on time
84%
▲ 3 pts vs ID 81%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.9K
▲ 88% vs ID $11.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.2
ID 17.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
3,051 students on the public path
In brief

Sun Valley’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 18 Idaho towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sun Valley’s, its schools beat 44%, lower than their 65% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 58% and math 43% in spring 2022, against 55% and 42% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 81%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,935 per student, against $11,119 across Idaho (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Five elementary schools, then three middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Sun Valley Community School-Middle (private), Sun Valley Community School-Upper (private) and Sun Valley Community School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Sun Valley’s grade

B+ Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 65% of Idaho school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Idaho average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Idaho school districts we grade (170)Better than 65%
Lower resultsHigher results
Idaho towns with similar household incomes (18)Better than 44%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,711 test results and a graduating class of 306 could put Sun Valley anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Sun Valley’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,716 in math, 1,706 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Sun Valley, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A−
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−

Sun Valley’s public schools are run by Blaine County School District 61, which also serves Bellevue, Carey, Hailey and Ketchum. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Blaine County School District 61Grades PK–12 · 8 schools · 3,102 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 12.2 per teacher (ID 17.9)
$20,935ID $11,119 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading58%
State average 54.8% · 1706 students tested
Math43%
State average 41.9% · 1716 students tested

Sun Valley vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Idaho towns that share Sun Valley’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Sun ValleyB+Blaine County School District 61
KetchumB+Blaine County School District 61

Every school in Sun Valley

10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Idaho’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Sun Valleyin other towns
Alturas Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Hailey
C−
445 students12:1Rate it →
Ernest Hemingway STEAM School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Ketchum
A−
431 students11:1Rate it →
Hailey Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Hailey
C
291 students11:1Rate it →
Carey Public School
Grades PK–12 · Carey
B−
272 students11:1Rate it →
Bellevue Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bellevue
C
223 students11:1Rate it →
Wood River Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hailey
C+
467 students12:1Rate it →
Wood River High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Hailey
C+
922 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Sun Valley Community School-Middle
Grades PK–12
Private · Nonsectarian
435 students8:1Rate it →
Sun Valley Community School-Upper
Grades PK–12
Private · Nonsectarian
435 students6:1Rate it →
Sun Valley Community School
Grades PK–12
Private · Nonsectarian
429 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Sun Valley’s schools

Are Sun Valley’s schools good?

By Idaho’s own tests, yes: the public schools Sun Valley children attend outscore 65% of Idaho’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 44%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sun Valley in?

Blaine County School District 61, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,102 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Sun Valley kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Wood River High School and Carey Public School.

What is Sun Valley’s graduation rate?

84% of the class of 2023 in Blaine County School District 61 graduated in four years, against 81% across Idaho.

How much does Sun Valley spend per student?

$20,935 in Blaine County School District 61 (FY2024), against $11,119 across Idaho. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sun Valley?

Yes: Sun Valley Community School-Middle (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 435 students), Sun Valley Community School-Upper (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 435 students) and Sun Valley Community School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 429 students).

Parents talk

What Sun Valley families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sun Valley → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Idaho. Stars are from neighbors.