Idaho Education Statistics 2026: Schools, Enrollment & Spending
Idaho reported 309,340 public K–12 students on October 1, 2025. The state education system includes 736 public schools, 116 school districts, and 77 public charters.
Final Census Bureau finance data place Idaho’s FY2024 current spending at $11,060 per pupil. Enrollment, organization, and finance figures retain their separate reporting periods.
Idaho Education Snapshot
Visible figures use the latest applicable Idaho or federal reporting period available as of 2026.
Public School Enrollment by Grade
Student headcounts on October 1 and December 1, 2025
Grade 9 had the largest October headcount at 25,192. Kindergarten FTE is lower than its headcount because Idaho’s FTE calculation reflects enrolled instructional time.
Chart analysis
- Total K–12 headcount declined by 1,147 students, or 0.4%, between the two reporting dates.
- Grade 9 had the highest count on both dates: 25,192 in October and 25,145 in December.
- Grade 12 recorded the largest grade-level decline, falling by 259 students.
- Kindergarten and grade 1 were the only grades with higher December counts.
- Grade-level rows may not sum exactly to the unduplicated statewide total because a small number of dual-enrolled students appear in more than one grade-level record.
Full Idaho Enrollment Table by Grade
Student count and full-time enrollment figures come from the Idaho System for Educational Excellence.
| Grade | Oct. count | Dec. count | Change | Oct. FTE | Dec. FTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K–12 total | 309,340 | 308,193 | −1,147 | 296,329.91 | 294,600.40 |
| Kindergarten | 20,148 | 20,150 | +2 | 9,978.48 | 9,980.05 |
| Grade 1 | 21,269 | 21,281 | +12 | 21,112.24 | 21,112.77 |
| Grade 2 | 21,536 | 21,507 | −29 | 21,451.84 | 21,426.36 |
| Grade 3 | 23,411 | 23,332 | −79 | 23,322.76 | 23,239.38 |
| Grade 4 | 24,201 | 24,158 | −43 | 24,129.30 | 24,076.35 |
| Grade 5 | 24,336 | 24,252 | −84 | 24,163.32 | 24,070.59 |
| Grade 6 | 24,566 | 24,505 | −61 | 24,372.93 | 24,287.23 |
| Grade 7 | 24,749 | 24,616 | −133 | 24,620.61 | 24,467.47 |
| Grade 8 | 24,725 | 24,582 | −143 | 24,559.88 | 24,397.49 |
| Grade 9 | 25,192 | 25,145 | −47 | 24,968.98 | 24,835.26 |
| Grade 10 | 25,115 | 24,988 | −127 | 24,851.29 | 24,618.63 |
| Grade 11 | 24,934 | 24,777 | −157 | 24,531.93 | 24,295.77 |
| Grade 12 | 25,188 | 24,929 | −259 | 24,266.35 | 23,793.07 |
Table analysis
- October K–12 FTE was 296,329.91, equal to 95.8% of the reported headcount.
- December K–12 FTE declined by 1,729.51, compared with a headcount decline of 1,147.
- Grades 6 through 12 each enrolled more than 24,500 students in October.
- Grades 9, 10, and 12 each exceeded 25,000 students in October.
- The kindergarten count remained nearly unchanged, while kindergarten FTE rose by 1.57.
- December declines were recorded in grades 2 through 12.
- The statewide total is an unduplicated count; grade-level records include limited dual-enrollment effects described by the source.
School Organization and Staffing
Agency profile counts describe Idaho’s public school structure and certificated workforce.
| Indicator | Reported value | Coverage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public schools | 736 | Statewide public system | Idaho Department of Education |
| School districts | 116 | Public school districts | Idaho Department of Education |
| Public charters | 77 | Public charter organizations or schools reported by the agency | Idaho Department of Education |
| Certificated teachers | More than 32,000 | Statewide certificated workforce | Idaho Department of Education |
| Teachers with a master’s degree or higher | More than 7,000 | Certificated teacher subset | Idaho Department of Education |
Table analysis
- Idaho reports 736 public schools across its statewide system.
- The organizational profile lists 116 districts and 77 public charters.
- More than 32,000 certificated teachers are reported.
- More than 7,000 teachers hold a master’s degree or a higher credential.
- District, charter, school, and teacher counts measure different entities and should not be added together.
Idaho and U.S. Current Spending per Pupil
Final FY2024 nominal current spending
Idaho reported $11,060 per pupil compared with the national average of $17,619. Values are not adjusted for inflation or regional price differences.
Chart analysis
- Idaho’s FY2024 current spending was $6,559 below the national average.
- The Idaho value equaled 62.8% of the U.S. average.
- Idaho ranked 51st among the 50 states and District of Columbia for this indicator.
- The comparison uses current spending rather than total expenditures or total revenue.
- Nominal dollar comparisons do not account for regional price levels.
| Finance metric | Value | Period | Unit or basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho current spending per pupil | $11,060 | FY2024 | Nominal dollars per pupil |
| U.S. current spending per pupil | $17,619 | FY2024 | National average |
| Idaho–U.S. dollar difference | −$6,559 | FY2024 | Idaho minus U.S. average |
| Idaho share of U.S. average | 62.8% | FY2024 | Calculated ratio |
| Idaho indicator rank | 51 of 51 | FY2024 | States plus District of Columbia |
| Prior-year Idaho spending | $11,155 | FY2023 | Nominal current spending per pupil |
| One-year dollar change | −$95 | FY2023 to FY2024 | Nominal change per pupil |
| One-year percentage change | −0.9% | FY2023 to FY2024 | Calculated from unrounded values shown |
Table analysis
- Idaho’s current spending per pupil moved from $11,155 in FY2023 to $11,060 in FY2024.
- The nominal one-year change was −$95 per pupil, or approximately −0.9%.
- The national FY2024 average exceeded Idaho’s value by 37.2% when measured against the national figure.
- The 51st-place position applies only to current spending per pupil.
- Current spending excludes capital outlay, debt service, and other expenditure categories excluded by the Census measure.
Student Group Enrollment
Group counts overlap and cannot be summed to calculate a separate statewide enrollment total.
| Student group | Oct. count | Dec. count | Change | Oct. share | Share basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economically disadvantaged | 123,522 | 122,515 | −1,007 | 39.9% | K–12 headcount |
| English language learners | 20,116 | 19,881 | −235 | 6.5% | K–12 headcount |
| Gifted and talented | 12,849 | 13,123 | +274 | 4.2% | K–12 headcount |
| Special education | 39,105 | 38,864 | −241 | 12.6% | K–12 headcount |
| At-risk, grades 6–12 | 11,930 | 12,085 | +155 | 6.8% | Grades 6–12 headcount |
| At-risk in alternative schools | 8,178 | 8,568 | +390 | 68.5% | At-risk grades 6–12 count |
Table analysis
- Economically disadvantaged students represented 39.9% of the October K–12 headcount.
- Special education enrollment represented approximately 12.6% of the October total.
- English language learners represented 6.5% of K–12 enrollment.
- Gifted and talented enrollment increased by 274 students between reporting dates.
- The at-risk count increased by 155 students across grades 6–12.
- Alternative-school students accounted for 68.5% of the October at-risk count reported for grades 6–12.
- Shares are calculated from published headcounts and rounded to one decimal place.
- Students may qualify for more than one reported group.
What the Idaho Data Shows
The indicators describe system scale, enrollment composition, and reported finance levels.
Enrollment dates
October and December counts are point-in-time measures from the 2025–26 school year. They are not annual average enrollment.
Headcount and FTE
Student count records individual students. FTE adjusts enrollment for instructional participation and is lower than headcount.
District and charter structure
Idaho treats school districts and public charter schools as local education agencies. Their counts should not be interpreted as school totals.
Spending measure
Current spending per pupil covers operating expenditures defined by the Census Bureau. It does not equal total revenue, total expenditure, or a state appropriation.
State ranking
The 51st-place position is based only on nominal FY2024 current spending per pupil. It does not rank school quality, outcomes, or resource adequacy.
Student group coverage
Student group definitions come from Idaho reporting rules. Counts overlap because one student may appear in several categories.
Source and Methodology
Enrollment source
Idaho Department of Education, Student Enrollment Report, January 15, 2026
October 1 and December 1, 2025 student counts and FTE.
School organization source
Idaho Department of Education, Idaho Public School Facts
Schools, districts, charters, and certificated teacher counts.
Finance source
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data
Final FY2024 current spending per pupil.
Federal finance release
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 School System Finances
National average, Idaho value, and state position published May 7, 2026.
Prior-year reference
U.S. Census Bureau, FY2023 Current Spending per Pupil by Region
Idaho FY2023 comparison value.
Geographic coverage
Enrollment and organization figures cover Idaho public K–12 education. The Census finance measure covers public pre-K through grade 12 school systems.
Enrollment counts are drawn from ISEE records and follow Idaho’s statutory reporting definitions. The statewide K–12 total is an unduplicated count, while grade-level figures may contain limited duplication when dual-enrolled students are reported at different grade levels. Student-group percentages were calculated from published October headcounts. Finance values are nominal dollars and follow Census Bureau current-expenditure definitions. Counts are displayed as reported; calculated percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
The 2025 enrollment dates and FY2024 finance period are separate datasets and should not be treated as one reporting year. Spending figures are not adjusted for inflation, regional price differences, student needs, district size, or local operating conditions. A spending rank does not measure academic performance or school quality.