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North Idaho Education Resources & Links

Visit our Resources page or the Categories in the right-hand column of this page.

From the category archives: 1st through 8th Grade

See all of the elementary, middle, and junior high schools on one page, or choose a more specific topic below.

Alternative Schools

  • Wired2Learn Academy - A private school for students with learning differences in grades 3-12. We are dedicated to helping students who struggled to read, write, spell, memorize, process information, understand math, retrieve material and facts, process auditory information, improve cognitive systems that cause learning issues and build a strong foundation for independent learning and social success.
  • Quest Academy North Idaho - Quest Academy an innovative new private elementary school in Kootenai County, Idaho. We're reinventing education, and your family can be a part of it.

North Idaho Charter & Magnet Schools

North Idaho Charter Schools

Idaho Charter School Information

North Idaho Magnet Schools

Magnet School Information

 

Advanced Learning Opportunities

The term "Advanced Opportunities" can be confusing because it means different things in different contexts and within different points in a student's education. For example, in Elementary School, there are Advanced Learning Teachers who may teach a variety of topics (Teachers are often referred to as "ALP" teachers). In Middle School, there may be Advanced Math, Language Arts, and other classes. In High School, however, the term encompasses even more variation.

A very important distinction in High School is that "Advanced Opportunities" more often refers to receiving credits (and often funding) towards college courses. In order to received college credit for an AP (Advanced Placement) course, a student must receive a score of 3 or higher (out of 5) on the AP exam for that course. And many colleges require a score of at least 4. Each college or university has a guide to how AP exam scores transfer into credits at their institution that may be found on their websites.

"Honors" Classes, on the other hand, are technically "advanced" courses (i.e. more rigorous) but don't qualify for college credit, although their grades may be "weighted" so that if a student receives a 3.0 in an Honors class, it actually is reported as a 3.5 on their transcript.

Dual credit courses (sometimes known as concurrent credit or dual enrollment) are classes for which the student receives high school and college credit simultaneously. These courses may be available at the high school, online through a course provider (such as the Idaho Digital Learning Academy - IDLA), online from the college, or on the college campus. Check with your school counselor to see what opportunities your student may have. Also, check with the counselor to see how dual credits are transcribed at your high school. Many schools transcribe the credits at half their college credit value (3 college credits = 1.5 high school credits). This may vary by school.

AP Curricula is determined by CollegeBoard. This means that AP teachers across the country teach the same thing.

Honors Curricula is determined by the State, and individual schools, districts, and teachers.

Dual credit curricula is determined by the credit-granting college and the schools, districts, and teachers.

Idaho Advanced Opportunities Overview (State Board of Education)

The State Board of Education defines the "Advanced Opportunities" that are available in Idaho. The State Department of Education determines the funding available for these courses/credits.

Idaho State Advanced Opportunities FUNDING (State Department of Education) -- i.e. "How students can get their advanced learning credits/courses paid for"

Based on HB458 in the 2016 Legislature, all the programs have merged into one; it will still be called "Fast Forward".

 

Overview

Started:

July 1, 2016

Benefit:

$4,125/student
(No pro-rating for prior program use)

Eligible grades:

7-12 beginning the summer after 6th grade

Enrollment:

Participation Form must be signed by the student / parent, kept on file at school district

Eligible uses:

  • Overload classes
  • Dual Credit classes
  • Credit bearing exams (AP, IB, CLEP)
  • Professional – technical exams (CNA, A+, etc.)
  • Post-Secondary scholarship for early graduates

Funding mechanism: State Department Advanced Opportunities Portal 

Payments: Directly to state entities / to SD for private entities

Payments: Made at the end of each semester

NOTE: As of July 2016, "8-in-6" Program, Mastery Advancement Program (MAP) and Dual Credit Early Completers Program have merged into "Fast Forward" Program

MORE INFO:

Transfer Credits

  • https://coursetransfer.idaho.gov/
    IDTransfer is a website developed by Idaho public and community colleges and state universities to help students learn what credits will transfer. Links at the bottom of the page link to Transfer information for various North Idaho schools. 

 

Coeur d'Alene School District

Post Falls School District

Lakeland School District

North Idaho School Districts

Testing - SAT, ACT, AP, etc.

SATS & PSATs

  • What is College Board?
    College Board (www.collegeboard.com) is an organization that prepares and administers standardized tests that are used in college admission and placement, such as the PSAT, SAT, and also Advanced Placement (AP) testing. Students create accounts with College Board. (Parents can also create a Parent account, which is necessary for applying for the CSS/Financial Aid Profile when applying for Financial Aid to many schools. Go to our Pay for College page for more info.)

ACT

Free Practice Tools

  • https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep
    Both CURRENT and NEW SAT practice tests, including four official practice exams from College Board.
  • EdReady
    A collaborative project between Idaho Distrance Learning Academy and local schools to prepare students to succeed on high stakes math tests.

    Other Standardized Testing

    Learning & Reading Programs

    Youth Programs

    College Savings Accounts - Plan Ahead!

    It's never too early to start thinking about your child's education, and to get them involved in the process. Consider a savings program, such as a 529 Plan (A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future college costs. 529 plans, legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. For more info visit SEC.gov).

    Idaho's College Saving Program is called IDeal.