This spring, Boise School District is excited to welcome families to a fun, friendly, and interactive Kindergarten Registration Night at all Boise elementary schools. This special event is the first step in your child’s educational journey—and a great way to get connected to your neighborhood school community.

📅 Thursday, March 5, 2026

🕒 3:45–5:30 p.m. (regular start schools)

🕓 4:00–5:45 p.m. (late start schools*)

*Late start schools: Lowell, Whittier, Amity, Hawthorne, Hillcrest, Morley Nelson, Shadow Hills, Riverside, and Dallas Harris

Families are encouraged to attend registration at their child’s boundary school. Not sure which school that is? The boundary locator on the Boise Schools website makes it easy to find. If you’re planning to apply for open enrollment at a different school, you’ll still need to attend kindergarten registration at your boundary school.

Please plan to bring:

To make registration night quick and easy, families are encouraged to use the online registration system, which opens February 1, 2026. Prefer paper forms? You may complete enrollment paperwork in advance and bring it with you on March 5.

Kindergarten Registration Night is more than paperwork—it’s a chance to meet teachers, explore classrooms, ask questions, and see firsthand how Boise schools support students from day one. We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2039 and partnering with families to build a strong foundation for a bright future. 🌟

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 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.

A recent Sustainable Idaho segment spotlights how the Boise School District is turning small actions into meaningful environmental impact — from energy conservation and solar efforts to student-driven sustainability projects.

That impact is measurable. During this year’s Winter Powerdown Challenge, the District saved 349,732 kWh of energy, a 25.8% reduction districtwide compared to pre-break usage. The avoided electricity cost totals nearly $28,852, based on Idaho Power’s average rate of $0.0825/kWh. In environmental terms, that’s equivalent to removing 52 vehicles from the road for a year or growing 4,190 tree seedlings for 10 years — all in just two weeks. The Borah Quad led the way with a 30.65% reduction, and cohort schools improved savings by 3.53% over last year, normalized for weather.

Beyond the numbers, hundreds of students and staff participated, reinforcing a culture of shared responsibility. The District has also launched a new Energy Internship program, with 12 students working alongside the Sustainability team over the next three semesters — ensuring the next generation continues leading this work (see BSD Energy Interns below).

At the national level, the U.S. Green Building Council recently welcomed new volunteers to its School District Advisory Committee, including Boise School District's Sustainability Supervisor Ali Ward (pictured), supporting districts across the country as they advance sustainability goals.

Together, these local achievements and national partnerships reflect a strong commitment to building greener, healthier schools for our community.

At its January meeting, the Parent Advocacy Group explored our long-term work to implement Standards Based Reporting (SBR), an approach designed to provide clearer, more meaningful information about what students know and are able to do.

Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Wendy Johnson explained how SBR separates academic learning from behaviors such as effort and participation, giving families a more accurate picture of student progress toward specific learning goals. Rather than emphasizing points and averages, SBR focuses on feedback, growth, and mastery of clearly defined standards.

Borah High School Principal Tim Standlee shared Borah’s experience with standards-based reporting, highlighting improved student engagement, more accurate measurement of learning, and greater consistency across subjects and teachers.

Parents also reviewed our phased timeline, which reflects nearly a decade of preparation and professional learning. Elementary implementation is planned to begin in 2026–27, followed by grades 8–12 in 2027–28, with full districtwide implementation expected in 2028–29. Throughout the transition, the district will continue alignment, training, and calibration to ensure students are not negatively impacted.

The discussion emphasized the essential role families play in this work. Parents were invited to ask questions, share experiences, and offer feedback as the district continues to refine its approach.

Thank you to our Parent Advocacy Group members for their time, insight, and partnership in strengthening grading and reporting practices for all students!

Last week, Boise School District students proudly took the stage at the State IMEA Conference at Northwest Nazarene University’s Brandt Center — and they represented our district beautifully.

🎺 District Junior High Honor Band

The District Junior High Honor Band featured 50 outstanding students from Boise School District junior high schools, along with one elementary student, coming together for a powerful and polished performance. Representing schools from across the district, these musicians demonstrated not only technical skill, but also the teamwork and dedication that define Boise’s strong music programs.

🎷 Borah High School Jazz Ensemble

The Borah High School Jazz Ensemble wowed the audience with their incredible talent, precision, and vibrant musicianship. Their performance reflected countless hours of dedication and the strong tradition of jazz education in Boise schools.

⭐ North Junior High 9th Grade Orchestra – A Celebration of Belonging

A special highlight of the conference was the North Junior High 9th Grade Orchestra’s collaborative performance centered on the theme of belonging. Joined by the North Junior High Chamber Choir, Boise Women’s Chorus, and Open Arms Dance Project, students and community artists came together to present an inspiring program celebrating connection, shared humanity, and the unifying power of music and dance. The performance was both moving and memorable — a true example of the arts bringing people together.

These performances reflect Boise School District’s Strategic Plan commitment to fostering student engagement, creativity, and strong community connections through the arts. Opportunities like the IMEA Conference allow students not only to perform at the highest level, but also to collaborate, grow, and represent their community with pride.

We are incredibly proud of our students and educators for an unforgettable week of performances. Bravo to all! 👏

Recently, West Junior High School came alive with culture, color, and celebration during its Multicultural Celebration! 🌍🎉

Students kicked off the event with a flag procession representing countries from around the world, followed by an energetic Flamenco dance performance. They then rotated through interactive stations, explored peer-created cultural posters, learned from the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, and sampled desserts from different countries.

It was a joyful afternoon of learning, sharing, and celebrating the diverse cultures that make West Junior High so special. ❤️✨

Each month, the Boise School District Board of Trustees honors outstanding staff members whose work exemplifies our mission of Educating Today for a Better Tomorrow. This February, we are proud to recognize three exceptional leaders and educators:

🍎 Karyn Boersig – Red Apple Award

A Learning Coach at Pierce Park Elementary School, Karyn brings 25 years of dedication, instructional excellence, and an unwavering commitment to student success. Her thoughtful, research-based coaching strengthens teaching across multiple content areas and leaves a lasting impact on both educators and students.

Boise School District is representing our community this week at the National ESEA Conference (National Title I Conference), where educators from across the country are sharing strategies to advance student achievement and educational equity.

Beth Harju, Intervention Specialist at Morley Nelson Elementary, led the session “Equitable Grading for MLs: A Framework Using WIDA Can Do Descriptors,” with contributions from Andrea May, District ML Coach. The presentation highlighted practical approaches to grading multilingual learners in ways that reflect both content knowledge and language development. By aligning grading practices with students’ language proficiency levels, the work supports the Boise School District’s Strategic Plan commitment to equitable access to rigorous instruction and high levels of achievement for every student.

Whitney Elementary Principal Brigette Warner and Counselor Jenny Zarak also represented Boise School District, presenting “Turning Chaos into Calm,” a session highlighting Whitney’s Restorative Center and the role restorative practices play in fostering belonging, accountability, and supportive learning environments.

By participating in national conversations like this, Boise educators are not only showcasing the innovative work happening in our schools — they are bringing back ideas and strategies that strengthen outcomes for Boise students and families.

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.

May 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Capital High School Auditorium

May 15 at 5:00 p.m.

Borah High School Auditorium

May 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Extra Mile Arena

May 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Extra Mile Arena

May 20 at 7:00 p.m.

Extra Mile Arena

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.