Popplewell Elementary School

Q: Is Popplewell Elementary School a good school?

Popplewell Elementary School ranks 210 th of 301 Idaho elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Popplewell Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Buhl, Idaho, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 552. The school has a diverse student body, with a racial makeup of 65.22% White and 32.79% Hispanic, and faces several challenges, including high chronic absenteeism, low test scores, and a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Popplewell Elementary has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.4% to 19.0% over the past three school years, significantly higher than the state average. The school's test scores are also consistently below the state and district averages across all subjects and grade levels, with only 34.3% of students proficient or better in ISAT Math and 40.3% proficient or better in ISAT English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 42.2% and 53.3%, respectively. Additionally, Popplewell Elementary has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 22.81% to 54.73% over the past three school years, suggesting a relatively high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Pinecrest Academy Of Idaho, a public charter school located about 15 miles away, Popplewell Elementary is underperforming across multiple metrics, including test scores and chronic absenteeism rates. Furthermore, Popplewell Elementary's performance, as measured by its statewide ranking and SchoolDigger star rating, has declined over the past decade, ranking 210 out of 301 Idaho elementary schools in the 2023-2024 school year, down from a ranking of 216 out of 354 in the 2011-2012 school year. Addressing the root causes of these issues, such as student engagement and access to resources, could be key to improving the school's overall performance and outcomes for its students.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

200 North 6th Avenue
Buhl, ID 83316-1248

(208) 543-8225

District: Buhl Joint District

SchoolDigger Rank:
210^th of 301 Idaho Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,001

Students who attend Popplewell Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Buhl Middle School
High:	Buhl High School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.7

Number of students: 544

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.8%

Hispanic:

31.1%

Asian:

0.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 54.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Popplewell Elementary School ranks worse than 69.8% of elementary schools in Idaho. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.67. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (67.8%), Hispanic (31.1%), Asian (0.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 54.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Popplewell Elementary School is 18.7. (See more...)

Compare Popplewell Elementary School employs 29 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Popplewell Elementary School is $8,001.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Popplewell Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

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Rank History for Popplewell Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ID State Percentile
2008	16.15	311^th	335	7.2%
2009	14.69	331^st	349	5.2%
2010	17.53	335^th	356	5.9%
2011	34.26	277^th	359	22.8%
2012	46.50	216^th	354	39.0%
2013	34.12	280^th	357	21.6%
2015	7.77	220^th	226	2.7%
2016	8.22	232^nd	240	3.3%
2017	13.34	265^th	292	9.2%
2018	15.58	225^th	254	11.4%
2024	29.67	210^th	301	30.2%

See the entire list of Idaho Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Idaho Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Idaho Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Popplewell Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	787	787
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	786	786
1993	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	763	763
1994	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	768	768
1995	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	755	755
1996	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	755	755
1997	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	714	714
1998	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	674	674
1999	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	665	665
2000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	662	662
2001	496	7	6	161	1	n/a	n/a	0	671
2002	464	2	4	170	1	n/a	n/a	0	641
2003	464	2	4	170	1	n/a	n/a	0	641
2004	445	0	2	173	1	n/a	n/a	0	621
2005	446	0	1	166	2	n/a	n/a	0	615
2006	435	25	4	135	6	n/a	n/a	0	605
2007	421	1	5	179	4	n/a	n/a	0	610
2008	420	2	6	175	4	n/a	n/a	0	607
2009	424	3	5	188	5	n/a	n/a	0	625
2010	409	1	3	203	4	n/a	n/a	0	620
2011	385	1	0	221	2	1	4	0	614
2012	366	1	1	237	3	1	4	0	613
2013	374	3	1	250	3	1	11	0	643
2014	369	3	1	236	1	2	13	0	625
2015	363	0	1	243	1	0	11	0	619
2016	384	1	1	253	0	1	12	0	652
2017	379	0	1	267	2	1	9	0	659
2018	393	0	0	240	0	1	7	0	641
2019	381	0	0	228	1	1	1	0	612
2020	371	1	0	225	2	1	2	0	602
2021	325	0	1	207	3	2	1	0	539
2022	377	1	3	197	2	1	2	0	583
2023	360	1	3	181	3	0	4	0	552
2024	369	1	2	169	1	0	2	0	544

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Popplewell Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	787	35.0	22.4	29.1
1992	786	34.8	22.5	49.6
1993	763	34.6	22.1	35
1994	768	35.3	21.8	32.2
1995	755	35.7	21.1	27.8
1996	755	35.7	21.1	27.8
1997	714	36.8	19.4	29.3
1998	674	37.1	18.2	33.2
1999	665	37.4	17.8	44.4
2000	662	37.0	17.9	43.7
2001	671	37.3	18.0	46.1
2002	641	37.1	17.3	49.3
2003	641	37.1	17.3	49.3
2004	621	37.1	16.7	56.2
2005	615	34.0	18.1	52.5
2006	605	32.7	18.5	50.7
2007	610	32.2	18.9	53.1
2008	607	33.1	18.3	56.3
2009	625	33.3	18.8	54.1
2010	620	33.9	18.2	58.5
2011	614	35.7	17.1	57.5
2012	613	35.0	17.5	75.2
2013	643	35.2	18.2	56.1
2014	625	31.6	19.7	73.4
2015	619	30.0	20.6	78.2
2016	652	31.0	21.0	77.3
2017	659	30.6	21.4	78
2018	641	29.0	22.1	78
2019	612	29.0	21.1	78.1
2020	602	30.0	20.0	63.1
2021	539	30.0	17.9	54.7
2022	583	30.0	19.4	22.8
2023	552	29.7	18.5	53.1
2024	544	29.0	18.7	54.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Popplewell Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	787	35.0	22.4	29.1
1992	786	34.8	22.5	49.6
1993	763	34.6	22.1	35
1994	768	35.3	21.8	32.2
1995	755	35.7	21.1	27.8
1996	755	35.7	21.1	27.8
1997	714	36.8	19.4	29.3
1998	674	37.1	18.2	33.2
1999	665	37.4	17.8	44.4
2000	662	37.0	17.9	43.7
2001	671	37.3	18.0	46.1
2002	641	37.1	17.3	49.3
2003	641	37.1	17.3	49.3
2004	621	37.1	16.7	56.2
2005	615	34.0	18.1	52.5
2006	605	32.7	18.5	50.7
2007	610	32.2	18.9	53.1
2008	607	33.1	18.3	56.3
2009	625	33.3	18.8	54.1
2010	620	33.9	18.2	58.5
2011	614	35.7	17.1	57.5
2012	613	35.0	17.5	75.2
2013	643	35.2	18.2	56.1
2014	625	31.6	19.7	73.4
2015	619	30.0	20.6	78.2
2016	652	31.0	21.0	77.3
2017	659	30.6	21.4	78
2018	641	29.0	22.1	78
2019	612	29.0	21.1	78.1
2020	602	30.0	20.0	63.1
2021	539	30.0	17.9	54.7
2022	583	30.0	19.4	22.8
2023	552	29.7	18.5	53.1
2024	544	29.0	18.7	54.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Popplewell Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,587 (19.8%)	$6,414 (80.2%)	$8,001

Data source: Idaho Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Popplewell Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
All Grades Math (Popplewell Elementary School)	33.2	34.6	1.4%
All Grades Math (Buhl Joint District)	30.3	29.6	0.7%
All Grades Math (Idaho)	44.4	41.5	2.9%
All Grades English Language Arts (Popplewell Elementary School)	39.3	38	1.3%
All Grades English Language Arts (Buhl Joint District)	39.2	41.7	2.5%
All Grades English Language Arts (Idaho)	55	52.2	2.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	612	552	9.8%
African American	0	1
American Indian	1	3	200%
Asian	0	3
Hispanic	228	181	20.6%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	381	360	5.5%
Two or More Races	1	4	300%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	78.1%	53.1%	25%

Schools Near Popplewell Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISAT Math (2024)				ISAT Science (2024)	ISAT English Language Arts (2024)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISAT Math 3rd Grade	ISAT Math 4th Grade	ISAT Math 5th Grade	ISAT Math All Grades	ISAT Science All Grades	ISAT English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISAT English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Popplewell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 North 6th Avenue	Buhl	83316	Twin Falls County	Buhl Joint District	No	No	No	Yes	(208) 543-8225	544	29	18.7	54.2%	369 (67.8%)	1 (0.2%)	169 (31.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	29.7	210^th of 301 public elementary schools	30.2%					(n/a)				34.3	35.8					40.3	$8,001	$1,587	$6,414
Filer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	700 Stevens Avenue	Filer	83328	Twin Falls County	Filer District	No	No	No	Yes	(208) 326-4369	406	23	17.2	39.2%	340 (83.7%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (13.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.0%)								(n/a)				40.2						37.8	$7,489	$996	$6,493
Wendell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	232 N Boise Street	Wendell	83355	Gooding County	Wendell District	No	No	No	Yes	(208) 536-6611	431	23	18.7	70.8%	211 (49.0%)	1 (0.2%)	205 (47.6%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.5%)	7 (1.6%)								(n/a)				33.3						38.4	$7,632	$1,758	$5,873
Rock Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	850 Federation Road	Twin Falls	83301	Twin Falls County	Twin Falls District	No	No	No	No	(208) 732-7566	627	35	17.9	25.0%	452 (72.1%)	18 (2.9%)	115 (18.3%)	9 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (4.9%)	62.2	107^th of 301 public elementary schools	64.5%		56	107^th of 252 public elementary schools	57.5%		64.8	67.6	40.3	57.2	40.3	59.4	61.3	47.4		55.9	$5,958	$496	$5,461
I B Perrine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	452 Caswell Avenue West	Twin Falls	83301	Twin Falls County	Twin Falls District	No	No	No	Yes	(208) 733-4288	426	27	15.7	51.6%	257 (60.3%)	29 (6.8%)	97 (22.8%)	13 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.9%)	21 (4.9%)	6.7	289^th of 301 public elementary schools	4.0%		12	227^th of 252 public elementary schools	9.9%	62	14.0	17.6	27.2	20.3	24.7	12.7	19.3	31.3		22.0	$6,790	$1,205	$5,585
Gem Prep: Twin Falls	Public, Charter	K-5	151 Federation Road	Twin Falls	83301	Twin Falls County	Gem Prep: Twin Falls LLC	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(208) 735-5646	165	9	18.3		118 (71.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (20.6%)	8 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.0%)								(n/a)	52.0	52.2	25.0	43.1		52.0				50.7
Heritage Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	500 South Lincoln Avenue	Jerome	83338	Jerome County	Heritage Academy Inc.	Yes	No	No	Yes	(208) 595-1617	175	11	16.2	65.1%	77 (44.0%)	0 (0.0%)	86 (49.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	9 (5.1%)	10.4	278^th of 301 public elementary schools	7.6%					(n/a)			29.2	16.8	21.4			25.0		33.6	$10,619	$2,541	$8,078
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	238 Buhl Street North	Twin Falls	83301	Twin Falls County	Twin Falls District	No	No	No	Yes	(208) 733-1321	357	27	13.2	75.6%	162 (45.4%)	42 (11.8%)	128 (35.9%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	20 (5.6%)	3.1	301^st of 301 public elementary schools	0.0%		7.3	245^th of 252 public elementary schools	2.8%	56		12.8		15.8	13.8	14.5				19.3	$7,733	$1,549	$6,184
Harrison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	600 Harrison Street	Twin Falls	83301	Twin Falls County	Twin Falls District	No	No	No	Yes	(208) 733-4229	370	25	14.8	65.1%	205 (55.4%)	25 (6.8%)	105 (28.4%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	25 (6.8%)	4.2	297^th of 301 public elementary schools	1.3%		8.1	243^rd of 252 public elementary schools	3.6%	54			16.7	18.0	20.0	13.1	12.3	23.8		16.9	$9,238	$1,897	$7,341
Pinecrest Academy Of Idaho	Public, Charter	K-8	586 Orchard Drive	Twin Falls	83301	Twin Falls County	Pinecrest Academy Of Idaho Inc.	Yes	No	No	No	(208) 944-2129	382	21	18.1		253 (66.2%)	2 (0.5%)	105 (27.5%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	13 (3.4%)	41.2	176^th of 301 public elementary schools	41.5%					(n/a)		54.9	40.5	43.4	44.1	28.2	43.2	58.2	46.3	47.1

Frequently Asked Questions about Popplewell Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Popplewell Elementary School?

Students at Popplewell Elementary School are 68% White, 31% Hispanic.

Is Popplewell Elementary School a good school?

Popplewell Elementary School ranks 210^th of 301 Idaho elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Popplewell Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Popplewell Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Buhl Middle School
High : Buhl High School

How many students attend Popplewell Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 544 students attended Popplewell Elementary School.

What district is Popplewell Elementary School in?

Buhl Joint District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Idaho Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.