West Ada School District

Joint School District No. 2
Location
Meridian, Idaho
Western Ada County, Idaho
United States
District information
Type Public
"Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's Challenges"
Grades K-12
Established 1945
Budget $253,745,101 (2010-11)
Students and staff
Students 35,118 (2011 est.)
Athletic conference Southern Idaho - 5A
(IHSAA)
Other information
Website westada.org

Joint School District No. 2, long known as the Meridian School District and now commonly called the West Ada School District, is a school district based in Meridian, Idaho. In addition to Meridian, the district operates public schools in Eagle, Star, Kuna, and western Boise. The district also has jurisdiction in parts of Garden City, rural areas in western and central Ada County, and small portions of eastern Canyon County. It is the largest school district in Idaho.[1]

In June 2014, the district board of trustees voted to change the common name of the district, previously known as the Meridian School District, to West Ada School District. The official name, Joint School District No. 2, remains unchanged.[2]

District information

The West Ada School District educates more than 35,000 students in 49 schools over an area of 382 square miles (990 km2). The district has grown by more than 5,000 students in the last five years. West Ada School District schools range in enrollment from 300 to over 2,000 students. School buildings vary in age with the oldest being more than 50 years old. The district is administered by a five-member Board of Trustees elected by voters residing within the district's boundaries.

At the elementary and middle school levels, academic emphasis is placed on refinement of basic skills through instruction in traditional subjects such as language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science.

The district's high schools have a rich tradition of winning regional and state academic and athletic championships and are often recognized for outstanding achievement in music and the arts. Students develop leadership skills through a variety of clubs and extracurricular activities.

Schools of choice

West Ada School District offers a variety of magnet schools throughout the district. These magnet programs are offered in three different types: focus, configuration and schedule/calendar. Students can continue their specific pathway through middle school and on to high school, or go to their traditional school at any time.

To provide options, students can study the arts, math, science, technology, literacy, or language and culture. The school district also understands that a large school may not be for everybody and provides smaller-scale school settings in their academies or K-8 schools. At the high school level, professional-technical classes are offered in the areas of construction, agriculture, welding, automotive services, culinary arts, health science, EMS services, and pre-engineering.

Faculty and staff

The district currently houses more than 1,900 teachers. More than 2,000 non-certified staff including library, computer and special education aides directly serve the district's students. The district's school buses, provided by Student Transportation Inc., log more than 3,116,000 miles (5,015,000 km) each year, shuttling over 13,000 students on 222 buses every school day.

West Ada School District's nutrition team serves approximately 21,000 meals every school day. The custodial staff maintains and cleans 4,610,000 square feet (428,000 m2) of building space and 860 acres (3.5 km2) of lawn.

Students

Over 70 different languages are represented among the district's students. On average, 94 percent of students in the West Ada School District graduate high school, with the state average at 89 percent. Since 1979, Joint School District No. 2 has won over 150 state titles among its sports teams, competitive academic teams and performing groups.

History

Timeline

SuperintendentsYears
L.A. Thomas 1950–1953
Roy G. Denton 1953–1963
J. Lowell Scott 1964–1973
August M. Hein 1973–1985
Nick Hallett 1985–1992
Bob L. Haley 1992–1998
Christine H. Donnell 1998–2004
Linda Clark 2004–2015
Mary Ann Ranells 2016–Present

High schools

There are currently 12 high schools and alternative schools in the district, five of which are classified 5A by the Idaho High School Activities Association.

Boise

Meridian

Eagle

Middle schools

There are currently 7 middle schools & 2 alternatives in the district.

Meridian

Boise

Eagle

Alternatives (Meridian)

Elementary schools

There are currently 31 elementary schools in the district.

Meridian

  • Chaparral Elementary
  • Chief Joseph School of the Arts
  • Discovery Elementary
  • Hunter Elementary
  • Linder Elementary
  • Mary McPherson Elementary
  • Meridian Elementary
  • Paramount Elementary
  • Peregrine Elementary
  • Ponderosa Elementary
  • Prospect Elementary
  • River Valley Elementary
  • Siena Elementary

Boise

  • Cecil D. Andrus Elementary
  • Christine Donnell School of the Arts
  • Desert Sage Elementary
  • Eliza Hart Spalding (Spalding) Elementary
  • Frontier Elementary
  • Gateway School of Language and Culture
  • Joplin Elementary
  • Lake Hazel Elementary
  • Pepper Ridge Elementary
  • Pioneer School of the Arts
  • Silver Sage Elementary
  • Summerwind School of Math & Science
  • Ustick Elementary

Eagle

Star

*Galileo Math and Science Magnet is both a middle school and an elementary school

References

  1. "Meridian to hold school levy election March 13", Idaho Statesman, February 2, 2012. (accessed 4 February 2012)
  2. "West Ada School District News Blog", July 9, 2014. (accessed 4 August 2014)
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