Boise School District News
|
A total of 23 students from the Boise School District have been named candidates for the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the highest number of candidates from any school district in Idaho.
Statewide, 82 students were selected as candidates, with Boise School District students representing 28% of Idaho’s total—a remarkable accomplishment considering the district serves about 7% of the state’s public school students.
Candidates were recognized for their academic achievement, leadership, and contributions to their school communities and now move forward in the national selection process.
|
Boise School District students earned multiple Gold and Silver medals at the Idaho FCCLA State Leadership Conference, joining hundreds of students from across the state to showcase leadership skills, career exploration projects, and community-focused work.
Capital High Chapter (Riverglen & Capital):
- Siya Anand — Professional Presentation — Silver
- Mazzy Kennedy — Career Investigation — Silver
- Emery Stevens — Sports Nutrition — Silver ✔ Nationals qualifier
- Grace Marks — Teach or Train — Gold ✔ Nationals qualifier
- Harper Lanningham & Ella Liese — Focus on Children — Gold ✔ Nationals qualifiers
Borah High Chapter:
- Ally Burke & Paige Nelson — Chapter Service Project Portfolio — Silver ✔ Nationals qualifiers
Boise High Chapter:
- Akshara Nataraj — Nutrition and Wellness — Gold ✔ Nationals qualifier
FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) is a student leadership organization connected to Family and Consumer Sciences courses that helps students build real-world skills in areas like teaching, nutrition, early childhood development, and community service - preparing them for college, careers, and meaningful contributions to their communities.
Boise School District is proud of these students as they prepare to represent Idaho at the national level.
|
Capital High Chapter FCCLA students from Riverglen Junior High and Capital High School earned multiple honors at the Idaho FCCLA State Leadership Conference.
Top row (left to right): Aylah Johnson (Silver, Career Investigation), Harper Lanningham & Ella Liese (Gold, Focus on Children), Eva Muhlenkamp & Diana Martinez (Silver, Nutrition & Wellness).
Bottom row (left to right): Grace Marks (Gold, Teach or Train), Siya Anand (Silver, Professional Presentation), Mazzy Kennedy (Silver, Career Investigation), Emery Stevens (Silver, Sports Nutrition).
Emery, Grace, Harper, and Ella qualified for national competition. Congratulations to these students for representing their schools and community with excellence!
|
Borah High School FCCLA students Paige Nelson (left) and Ally Burke (right) earned a Silver medal in Chapter Service Project Portfolio at the Idaho FCCLA State Leadership Conference and qualified for national competition. Congratulations on representing Borah and the Boise community with pride!
|
Boise High School FCCLA student Akshara Nataraj earned a Gold medal in Nutrition and Wellness (Level 2) at the Idaho FCCLA State Leadership Conference and qualified for national competition. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement representing Boise High and our community!
|
Fifth and sixth grade students from 14 Boise School District elementary schools recently put their math skills to the test during this year’s Math Meet, tackling team challenges, spatial reasoning activities, quick-response questions, and individual problem-solving events.
This year’s featured challenge asked students to analyze wildland fire data and recommend how firefighters could be positioned across the United States for the most effective response - showcasing impressive teamwork and real-world thinking. 🔥📊
👏 Congratulations to this year’s winning schools:
5th Grade:
Amity • Cynthia Mann • Dallas Harris • Hawthorne • Highlands • Mountain View • Pierce Park • Trail Wind • Valley View
6th Grade:
Amity • Cynthia Mann • Highlands • Horizon • Koelsch • Mountain View • Pierce Park • Shadow Hills • Trail Wind • Valley View
Thank you to WSP and the Boise State University Fire Grant for supporting this exciting learning experience. Way to go, mathematicians! Learn more...
|
Fantastic news from East Junior High School! For the seventh consecutive season, East has earned 1st Place in Idaho in the MATHCOUNTS Competition Series - an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects the dedication and talent of its students and coaches.
Even more exciting, Angela Ding, Emma Gao, Chris Li, Lily Lim, Ryder Mak, and Jonah Cover (Collister Elementary) have qualified to represent Idaho at the MATHCOUNTS National Competition this May.
Congratulations to these outstanding students and to Coach Charles McAllister for continuing a remarkable tradition of math excellence. We’re proud of you all! 🐝📐
|
Congratulations to Borah High School senior Landon Hunt and Boise Online Secondary School senior Marques Ramirez, who have qualified for the Esports Series Championship in Orlando, Florida, June 25–28!
Competing as a Fortnite duos team during the Valhallen season last fall, Landon and Marques earned their place on the national stage through strong teamwork, strategy, and persistence - an exciting accomplishment that highlights the growing impact of esports opportunities for Boise School District students.
The team is currently working to raise funds and identify additional community support to help make the trip to Orlando possible. Their qualification represents not only a personal achievement, but also a proud moment for Borah High School, Boise Online Secondary School, and the district’s expanding esports programs.
Best of luck to Landon and Marques as they prepare to represent Boise on the national stage!
|
Horizon Elementary recently welcomed a wonderful group of guest readers as part of its annual READ Week celebration, helping inspire students and reinforce the joy of reading. This year’s event featured several visitors from the Boise School District Service Center, including Superintendent Lisa Roberts (pictured), Deputy Superintendent Wendy Johnson, and Administrators Robb Thompson, Randy Lance, Stacey Roth, and Rebecca Severson.
Students also enjoyed visits from community partners, including Lisa Graafsma from Horizon Credit Union, Devon Kamann from the Ada Community Library, Kelly Cross from Boise State University, Detective Perez (School Resource Officer), and Horizon’s own custodian, Kevin Linville.
READ Week is a special tradition at Horizon that highlights the importance of literacy while strengthening connections between students and the many caring adults who support their learning—both in school and across the community. 📖✨
|
🧭 Community Feedback Helping Shape Boise School District’s Strategic Plan
Thank you to the many students, staff, parents, and community partners who recently participated in Boise School District Strategic Plan focus groups. Your input is helping guide updates to the District’s long-term priorities and continuous improvement efforts.
Participants shared strong support for Boise School District’s dedicated educators, academic programs, Career Technical Education pathways, Advanced Placement and dual credit opportunities, and extracurricular activities. Many also recognized ongoing efforts to support student safety, mental health, and welcoming school environments.
At the same time, participants identified opportunities to continue strengthening communication about district initiatives, supporting staff recruitment and retention, improving facilities and safety systems, and expanding access to academic and postsecondary pathways for students.
Community feedback will help inform future updates to the Strategic Plan as district leadership continues its review and shares recommendations with the Boise School Board.
Learn More
|
The Boise School District is launching a comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Master Planning process - and we’re inviting our community to be part of it.
This important effort will serve as a roadmap for future school facility investments, ensuring our buildings continue to support high-quality learning environments while aligning with current and projected enrollment. As Boise continues to evolve, thoughtful planning today will help ensure our schools are ready for tomorrow.
Community Feedback Event – April 2, 2026
Community members are encouraged to attend a public feedback meeting focused on the District’s Long-Range Facilities Master Planning process:
Location: Timberline High School Cafeteria, 701 E. Boise Ave., Boise, ID
Date: April 2, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
This is a general invitation to the entire community, including parents, teachers, students, and district patrons.
Your perspective matters. The feedback gathered will directly inform the development of the District’s 10-year Long-Range Facilities Master Plan.
Together, we can shape a plan that reflects our shared values and supports student success for the next generation.
We hope to see you there.
|
Boise School District is hosting a series of parent information sessions this spring to help families learn more about standards-based reporting (SBR). These sessions are designed primarily for elementary families, though secondary parents are also welcome to attend. Additional opportunities specifically for secondary families will be offered during the 2026–27 school year.
Each session will be facilitated by the area director for that quadrant and will provide helpful information, context, and opportunities for questions.
All sessions will be held from 6:00–7:00 p.m.:
- April 28 – Boise Quad (Hillside Junior High)
- April 30 – Capital Quad (Fairmont Junior High)
- May 5 – Borah Quad (South Junior High)
- May 7 – Timberline Quad (East Junior High)
Families are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them. Staff are also welcome to join, as these meetings provide a great opportunity to connect with families and support understanding of this important work.
Please watch for additional details in upcoming school newsletters and communications.
|
Families with children ages 2–5 are invited to attend the annual READY! for Kindergarten workshops at the Lincoln Early Learning Center.
READY! for Kindergarten is a free series of parent education workshops that shows how play-based activities help build the academic and social-emotional skills children need for kindergarten success. Parents learn simple, hands-on strategies they can easily use at home.
The three-part series includes:
- Language & Literacy – March 11, 2026
- Math & Reasoning – April 8, 2026
- Social & Emotional Development – May 6, 2026
Workshops are held at Lincoln Early Learning Center, 300 W. Fort St. Meals and child care are provided. Register online.
|
Boise School District is proud to join the Idaho National Guard Child & Youth Program in recognizing Purple Up Day on April 10, a day dedicated to honoring military-connected students in our schools and community.
Many Boise School District students have parents or guardians serving in the military. Purple Up Day is a meaningful opportunity to show appreciation for their strength, flexibility, and the important role they play in supporting military families.
Students, staff, and families are encouraged to:
- Wear purple on April 10 💜
- Recognize and support military-connected students
- Help raise awareness about military families in our community 🇺🇸
Together, we’re proud to celebrate and support the students and families who serve. Please see the attached letter for additional ways your school can participate.
|
Join us Thursday, April 16 from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Washington Elementary for an informative evening focused on helping families navigate today’s digital world. Learn tips for monitoring your child’s school Chromebook, understanding tools like ParentSquare and Qustodio, and supporting safe technology use at home.
🍽 Food provided • 🎟 Raffle prizes • 👶 Free childcare available
Please RSVP using the QR code or click on the flyer for a chance to win a raffle prize. We hope to see you there!
|
Boise School District’s Spring 2026 Community Education session is now open for registration at www.boiselearns.org.
Classes run April 13–May 7 and are offered at Riverglen Junior High, Timberline High, West Junior High, multiple community locations, and online.
Choose from hundreds of affordable classes in arts, cooking, fitness, gardening, technology, career skills, languages, and more - perfect for trying something new or building your skills.
|
Boise School District is pleased to announce graduation dates and locations for the Class of 2026. Families and community members are invited to join us in celebrating this important milestone as students from across the district prepare to walk the stage.
Frank Church High School
May 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Capital High School Auditorium
Boise Online School
May 15 at 5:00 p.m.
Borah High School Auditorium
Capital High School
May 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Extra Mile Arena
Timberline High School
May 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Extra Mile Arena
Boise High School
May 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Extra Mile Arena
Borah High School
May 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Extra Mile Arena
We look forward to celebrating our graduates and wish the Class of 2026 continued success as they take their next steps.
|
Want to know more about how our schools work behind the scenes? Beyond the Bell is a new publication from the Boise School District that offers an inside look at the financial, operational, and policy decisions shaping public education in our community.
Each issue dives into key topics like budgeting, strategic planning, student safety, and our instructional approach—providing timely insights for parents, employees, business leaders, elected officials, and anyone invested in the future of our schools.
Beyond the Bell – Latest Edition 🔔
Stay informed on key issues impacting Boise School District, including legislative updates, research on our Free Breakfast for All initiative, progress toward Standards-Based Reporting, and the timeline for developing the 2026–2027 district budget.
🛎️ Don’t miss out—
|
ParentSquare is introducing Smart Notification Delivery to simplify how messages are received and reduce duplicate alerts.
What’s changing:
- 📲 Most updates will arrive through the ParentSquare app first
- 📱 Text messages will be used only as a backup
- ⏱️ Urgent alerts and Direct Messages will still go to all selected methods
- 📩 Email notifications remain the same
What you need to do:
- ✅ Already using the app? You’re all set
- 📥 Prefer more control over how you receive messages? The ParentSquare app makes it easy to customize your notification settings
|
|
Follow us for stories, celebrations, and updates from across the Boise School District!
Join the conversation and show your #BSDProud! 💙
|
- April 13: Regular monthly meeting of the Boise School Board, 6 p.m., District Services Center, 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise, ID. Agenda will be posted online. Public is invited to attend.
- May 14: Last Day of School for Seniors, Early Childhood Special Education Programs and Pre K
- May 19: Pre K-12 No School; Teacher Directed Day/Professional Development
- May 22: Last Day of School - Early Release K-12
- June 2-26: Secondary Summer School - Semester 1 (18 days)
- June 19: Juneteenth - No Summer School
- June 30-July 23: Secondary Summer School - Semester 2 (18 days)
- July 4: Independence Day - No Summer School
- August 12: First Day of School - Early Release K-12
- August 17: First Day of School - Pre K and Early Childhood Special Education Programs
|
|