As we get close to the end of the 2025-2026 school year, you might be more interested in your summer plans than the next school year. But with recent changes in the options parents and students have with their type of schooling and funding, many are looking at their future options.

While public school remains a solid choice in Idaho, homeschooling, private, and charter schools are becoming more popular. Some are turning away from public schools due to a loss of faith in the type and quality of education kids might be receiving, and others may choose a charter school, or a private school, for a focus on the arts or STEM.

These Are the 18 Best Private Schools in Idaho

Private schools often have selective admission processes to carefully choose the students allowed to attend. The process could include an exam or an interview. Private schools also charge tuition, at an average of $11,000 per year in Idaho, and are allowed to make up their own accredited curriculum and accountability based on input from a board, parents, or donors, making them different than public schools or charter schools, which are held to a state-based accountability for performance and aren’t allowed to charge tuition.

There are only around 158 private schools in Idaho, serving less than 6 percent of Idaho students, based on data from the 2012-2022 school year. 58 of those schools are nonsectarian (not church, religion, or politically affiliated). We used data from Stacker and Niche to determine the best private schools in the Gem State. Most of the schools on this list have fewer than 500 students, and a few have less than 100 kids enrolled.

Home schooling is another option for parents and students in Idaho that allows the home to create the curriculum and pace of the education, but requires extensive dedication from a parent at home. The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit allows some families to receive money to help pay for home school expenses.

READ ALSO: What Are The Best Schools For Student Athletes In Idaho

There are a lot of great public schools in Idaho, too. These are the best school districts.

Last Tuesday’s election in Virginia over adopting a redistricted — gerrymandered — congressional district map was, whatever else, dramatic. As the vote trickled in over a couple of hours, it stayed close almost always, and while the “no” side narrowly led most of the time, the “yes” side eventually prevailed.

Idaho doesn’t have a lot of election nights like that anymore, but the primary election about a month from now does have some unpredictability about it, and some races that could be close in the Republican primary, where most of the action will be.

A bunch of contests have emerged, pitting two clear sides against each other: mainstream candidates against the harder-edged contenders aligned with the state party structure. Both have scored wins in recent years. In 2024, the state party side seemed to get the better of it. This year, especially in the Magic Valley, we’ll see if a pushback attempt succeeds.

One of those contests stands out for the stark choices involved and the unmistakability of whatever the voters decide. That is the race for the Idaho Senate in District 6, which includes Moscow, part of Lewiston and rural areas around them.

It’s a district that in theory might have been designed for something resembling moderation, but has not turned out to be. Moscow is nearly central, but its university community is offset by a large religious group development. The district’s senator is third-term Republican Dan Foreman, of Moscow. His challenger is Lori McCann, of Lewiston, a Republican House member appointed in 2021 and elected twice since.