# West Ada School District

The West Ada School District #2, long known as the Meridian School District, is a school district based in Meridian, Idaho. In addition to Meridian, the district operates public schools in Eagle, Star and western Boise. It is the largest school district in Idaho.
In June 2014, the district board of trustees voted to change the common name of the district, previously known as the Meridian School District, to West Ada School District. The official name, Joint School District No. 2, remains unchanged.

## District information

The West Ada School District educates more than 35,000 students in 49 schools over an area of 382 square miles (990 km$^2$). The district has grown by more than 5,000 students in the last five years. West Ada School District schools range in enrollment from 100 to over 2,000 students. School buildings vary in age with the oldest being more than 50 years old.
In Ada County the district includes:
* All of: Avimor
* Most of: Meridian, Eagle, Star
* Portions of: Boise, Garden City, Kuna
The district extends into Canyon County, where it includes portions of Nampa and Star.

## Governance

The district is administered by a five-member Board of Trustees elected by voters residing within the district's boundaries. Each of the five trustees represent specific geographic zones in the district. They receive no salaries or benefits and are elected to a four-year term.
| Zone | Trustee (as of 2023) |
| 1 | Lori Frasure (Chair) |
| 2 | Lucas Baclayon |
| 3 | Angie Redford |
| 4 | David Binetti |
| 5 | Rene Ozuna (Vice-Chair) |

## History

Timeline
* 1945 - School districts reorganized to reduce 1,082 school districts in Idaho to 301 districts.
* 1950 - District named "Class A School District No. 2."
* 1963 - The District’s name was officially changed to its current name, "Joint School District No. 2."
* 2005 - Total enrollment for the district reached over 30,000.
* 2007 - The district moved into its new offices, consolidating seven different office locations.
* 2014 - Colloquial name changed from "Meridian School District" to "West Ada School District."
| Superintendents | Years |
| L.A. Thomas | 1950–1953 |
| Roy G. Denton | 1953–1963 |
| J. Lowell Scott | 1964–1973 |
| August M. Hein | 1973–1985 |
| Nick Hallett | 1985–1992 |
| Bob L. Haley | 1992–1998 |
| Christine H. Donnell | 1998–2004 |
| Linda Clark | 2004–2015 |
| Mary Ann Ranells | 2016–2021 |
| Derek Bub | 2021–Present |

## High schools

There are currently 7 high schools and 6 alternative schools in the district, five of which are classified 5A by the Idaho High School Activities Association.

### Boise

* Centennial High School - (1987)

### Meridian

* Central Academy (Alternative)
* Idaho Fine Arts Academy
* Meridian Academy (Alternative)
* Meridian High School - (1904, Rebuilt 1975, Modernized 2007)
* Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School - (2003) (Alternative)
* Meridian Technical Charter High School - (1999) (Alternative)
* Mountain View High School - (2003)
* Owyhee High School - (2021)
* Renaissance High School- (2009) (Alternative)
* Rocky Mountain High School - (2008)

### Eagle

* Eagle Academy (Alternative)
* Eagle High School - (1995)
* North Star Public Charter School (Alternative)

## Middle schools

There are currently 7 middle schools & 2 alternatives in the district.

### Star

* Star Middle School

### Meridian

* Heritage Middle School (2007)
* Lewis & Clark Middle School
* Meridian Middle School (1904, 1975)
* Sawtooth Middle School (2004)
* Victory Middle School (2016)

### Boise

* Lake Hazel Middle School (1977)
* Lowell Scott Middle School (1972)

### Eagle

* Eagle Middle School

### Alternatives (Meridian)

* Crossroads Middle School
* Pathways Middle School

## Elementary schools

There are currently 32 elementary schools in the district.

### Meridian

| Chaparral Elementary Chief Joseph School of the Arts Discovery Elementary Hillsdale Elementary Hunter Elementary Linder Elementary Mary McPherson Elementary Meridian Elementary | Paramount Elementary Peregrine Elementary Pleasant View Elementary Ponderosa Elementary Prospect Elementary River Valley Elementary Siena Elementary |

### Boise

| Cecil D. Andrus Elementary Christine Donnell School of the Arts Desert Sage Elementary Eliza Hart Spalding (Spalding) Elementary Frontier Elementary Gateway School of Language and Culture Joplin Elementary | Lake Hazel Elementary Pepper Ridge Elementary Pioneer School of the Arts Silver Sage Elementary Summerwind School of Math & Science Ustick Elementary |

### Eagle

* Eagle Elementary School of the Arts
* Eagle Hills Elementary
* Galileo STEM Academy*
* Seven Oaks Elementary

### Star

* Star Elementary
*Galileo STEM Academy is both a middle school and an elementary school

## Controversies

In March 2025, West Ada School District forcefully removed a poster from a classroom at Lewis and Clark Middle School for violating district policies. The poster read "Everyone is welcome here" and many found that it was in line with the district policies, as district policy encourages diversity and inclusion. The district administrators stated they had no interest in commenting on their reasoning for the removal of this sign.