The Most Expensive Schools In Idaho Today

Idaho may be known for its french fries and abundance of potatoes, but they also offer some of the best education in the country.

Scenic mountain landscapes, miles of wilderness and nature, and gorgeous hot springs are what you may be most familiar with when you think of Idaho. However, Idaho also has some of the best and most expensive schools, from kindergarten to middle school to college. But what makes these schools stand out? What makes them unique or even better than the typical free education you might find in public schools?

To answer that question, we have to look at the most expensive schools, from elementary to college in Idaho and see what they offer students.

The Most Expensive Schools In Idaho

While Idaho may not be the first state that comes to mind when it comes to a national ranking, there still have some schools that offer exceptional education with class sizes, curriculum, and teachers.

To understand these schools better, let's look at some of the most expensive from elementary to college.

Lighthouse Montessori School

Located in Idaho Falls, Lighthouse Montessori School is a school that has a yearly tuition of around $66,000. With small class sizes, this school can commit to helping students from kindergarten through middle school excel in education. Some of these lower and higher education programs are committed to helping students beyond textbooks.

• Outside activities
• Independent research groups
• Montessori method of teaching

With a Montessori style of learning, there's a focus on helping kids through hands-on learning and collaborative play, taking a more practice approach to learning in the classroom.

Foothills School of Arts & Sciences

Located in Boise, Idaho, Foothills School of Arts and Science is a private school also considered one of the most expensive schools in Idaho. It has an annual tuition of $17,000. The grades offered are K-12.

The school size is around 170. More importantly, the student/teacher ratio of 9:1. One of the core focuses of the school is project-based learning, with a strong focus on visual and art teaching. One of the unique things about these programs is that it helps students connect with institutions outside of the school. Students can have lunch outside of campus and have a Socratic learning style. Students are also given jobs inside the classroom to mimic life outside school.

Other notable things that make this school stand out:

• Progressive-style education
• Inquiry-based curriculum
• A focus on social and emotional learning

The College of Idaho

Located in Caldwell, Idaho, The College of Idaho is one of the most expensive higher education institutions and has a tuition of $33,000. Founded in 1891, this college has grown into one of the most prominent colleges in the state and now has nearly 1,200 students enrolled.

It also has an 11:1 student and teacher ratio. In a Regional Colleges West ranking, the school was ranked no. 4. This ranking comes from the school's array of educational programs. It has a history of producing some of the finest graduates. On top of that, the school has a winning athletic tradition.

Here are some of the most notable alumni to graduate from the College of Idaho:

• Butch Otter
• Elmo Smith
• Dorthy Custer
• Elgin Baylor

Boise State University

Boise State University is one of Idaho's more expensive higher education institutions. If you're an in-state student, the cost is roughly $8,000. If you're an out-of-state student, the price will dramatically jump up to $24,000.

However, even given the high tuition, the school still attracts a number or students each year. It has around 20,000 students enrolled every year. Founded in 1890, Boise State University has over 200 different areas of study. Although it is never ranked as the best university, it's still considered one of the top 400 universities in the country every year.

Here are some of the most notable alumni from Boise State University.

• William Agee
• Doug Martin
• Lori Otter
• Bart Hull
• Dave Wilcox

Choosing the Best Education

Finding the best school often comes at a price. When it comes to these schools, it literally comes down to price. However, they also offer some of the best education in the state and the country. You'll see how these schools compete against other states' best educational institutions.

The schools on this list provide an educational, socially, and emotionally nurturing environment for students from kindergarten through college. They offer a challenging curriculum and world-class teachers to guide students that will help them thrive in education and life.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Jef Wodniack/Shutterstock.com.