The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Custer County

Idaho · Public K-12

Custer County in Idaho has 6 public K-12 schools in service today, collectively responsible for roughly 550 students with Challis Joint District the largest district. By grade band, the county runs 4 elementary and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Custer County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
550
-30 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
5
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 90%
% Hispanic
7%
was 6%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
550
NCES CCD
Median income
$67,574
Below Idaho avg
Free/reduced lunch
47.1%
Above Idaho avg
Elementary
4
310 students
Middle
0
schools
High
2
240 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
CHALLIS JOINT DISTRICT
332 students · 2 districts in Custer County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Custer County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
89%
Hispanic
5%
Black
0%
Asian
3%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
89%
Hispanic
7%
Black
0%
Asian
n/r
Two or more
2%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
29.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.0%
civilian labor
Median age
60
13.9% under 18

Test scores in Custer County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Idaho state average: 53.7%.

See all 4 schools in Custer County ranked by score →

All schools (6)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
CHALLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLChallisElementaryPK-06173·
CHALLIS JR/SR HIGH SCHOOLChallisHigh07-12136·
MACKAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLMackayElementaryPK-06114·
MACKAY JR/SR HIGH SCHOOLMackayHigh07-12104·
STANLEY ELEM/JR HIGH SCHOOLStanleyElementaryKG-0823·
CLAYTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLClaytonElementaryM-M··

Cities in Custer County

Challis2 schoolsMackay2 schoolsClayton1 schoolStanley1 school

About Custer County

Custer County is a thinly populated county of about 4,470 residents in Idaho. Its public-school system teaches approximately 550 students across 6 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $67,574, roughly 29% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

For a sense of the school types, Custer County comprises 4 elementary schools (310 students), and 2 high schools (240).

The largest single district in Custer County is CHALLIS JOINT DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 332 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 550 students, declined 5% from the 580 reported in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for Custer County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Custer County?
There are 6 public K-12 schools in Custer County, Idaho, with a combined enrollment of about 550.
How many high schools are in Custer County?
Custer County, Idaho has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 240 students.
How many elementary schools are in Custer County?
Custer County, Idaho has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 310 students.
What is the largest school district in Custer County?
CHALLIS JOINT DISTRICT is the largest school district in Custer County, serving approximately 332 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
How many people live in Custer County?
Custer County has roughly 4,470 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Custer County?
Median household income in Custer County is $67,574, below the Idaho average of $69,041. About 5.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Custer County?
Approximately 29.3% of adults 25 and older in Custer County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Custer County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 47.1% of students in Custer County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Idaho county average of 46.6%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Custer County schools?
Across Custer County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.8 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Custer County?
Custer County residents are approximately 89% White, 5% Hispanic, 0% Black, 3% Asian, 5% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data