West Ada School District

Last updated

West Ada School District #2
Address
1303 E Central Dr

Meridian, ID

83642
United States
District information
Type Public
Motto"Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's Challenges"
GradesK-12
Established1945
SuperintendentDr. Derek Bub
Budget $343,881,647 (2023-24) [1]
Students and staff
Students38,906 (2023-24) [2]
Athletic conferenceSouthern Idaho - 5A
(IHSAA)
Other information
Website westada.org

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. [3] In 2025, the district received widespread attention for banning "Everyone is welcome here" posters that depicted children's hands in all skin colors.

Contents

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. [4]

District information

The West Ada School District educates more than 35,000 students in 49 schools over an area of 382 square miles (990 km2). 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.[ citation needed ][ when? ]

In Ada County the district includes: [5]

The district extends into Canyon County, where it includes portions of Nampa and Star. [6] West Ada School District announced its plans to move forward with building a second elementary school in Star. [7]

Governance

The district is administered by a five-member Board of Trustees elected by voters residing within the district's boundaries. [8] Each of the five trustees represent specific geographic zones in the district. [9] They receive no salaries or benefits and are elected to a four-year term. [8]

ZoneTrustee (as of 2023) [10]
1Lori Frasure (Chair)
2Lucas Baclayon
3Angie Redford
4David Binetti
5Rene Ozuna (Vice-Chair)

History

Timeline

"Everyone is welcome here" controversy

In March 2025, West Ada School District forcefully removed a poster from a classroom at Lewis and Clark Middle School for violating district policies "because in today's political environment they're considered a personal opinion." [11] The poster had hung for several years and read "Everyone is welcome here" and had depictions of children's hands of all skin colors. District administrators cited internal policy and Idaho's Dignity and Nondiscrimination in Public Education Act as justification for the removal, [11] and later stated that if the poster had just contained the text, it would likely have been acceptable. [12]

In May 2025, The teacher involved in the sign incident resigned from West Ada School District. [13]

Superintendents

SuperintendentsYears
L.A. Thomas1950–1953
Roy G. Denton1953–1963
J. Lowell Scott1964–1973
August M. Hein1973–1985
Nick Hallett1985–1992
Bob L. Haley1992–1998
Christine H. Donnell1998–2004
Linda Clark2004–2015
Mary Ann Ranells2016–2021
Derek Bub2021–Present

High schools

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

Boise

Meridian

Eagle

Middle schools

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

Star

Meridian

Boise

Eagle

Alternatives (Meridian)

Elementary schools

There are currently 32 elementary schools in the district.

Meridian

  • Barbara Morgan STEM Academy
  • Chaparral Elementary
  • Chief Joseph School of the Arts
  • Discovery Elementary
  • Hillsdale Elementary
  • Hunter 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

Star

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

References

  1. "Budget and Finance | West Ada School District". www.westada.org. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  2. "District Data | West Ada School District". www.westada.org. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  3. "Meridian to hold school levy election March 13", Idaho Statesman , February 2, 2012. (accessed 4 February 2012)
  4. "West Ada School District News Blog", July 9, 2014. (accessed 4 August 2014)
  5. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ada County, ID" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list
  6. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Canyon County, ID" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list
  7. "West Ada School District moving forward with new elementary school in Star". Idaho News 6 Boise Twin Falls (KIVI). March 11, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Board of Trustees / About The Board". West Ada School District. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  9. "ArcGIS Web Application". westadaschools.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  10. "West Ada Trustees". West Ada School District. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  11. 1 2 "KTVB - YouTube". www.ktvb.com. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  12. Idaho News 6 (March 21, 2025). West Ada School official defends district's stance on "Everyone is Welcome" poster . Retrieved March 21, 2025 via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. "West Ada teacher to resign over 'Everyone is Welcome Here' controversy". ktvb.com. May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.