School Community

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of West Ada School District is to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges.

2025-26 School Year Theme: 75 Years of Learning, Growing and Leading.

Dear West Ada Families,

West Ada is setting the standard in educational excellence across the state and that’s worth celebrating!

In accordance with federal guidelines, the Idaho Department of Education has updated school composite scores and West Ada leads the state. Out of 676 schools, West Ada is home to the #1 ranked school in Idaho, Renaissance High School, and nine of the top 15 schools statewide. Just as encouraging, we are seeing significant growth in other schools, including Pathways Middle School that jumped an incredible 318 spots. This kind of progress reflects the strength of our educators and a focused, systematic approach to teaching and learning that is clearly making a difference for students.

These scores are calculated based on student growth, test scores, graduation rates, and attendance—clear indicators of how well schools help students succeed. You can read a news article published about the scores here: 🔗West Ada, Lakeland and charters stand out in new statewide school rankings. No matter which West Ada school your child attends, they are receiving an education designed to prepare them for success after graduation. That’s not just our goal—it’s our promise.

Our community showed up in a big way for Hoops 4 Hunger. Thanks to the incredible support of our schools, families, and partners, we raised over $23,000—and more than $60,500 total when combined with sponsorships, events, and grants—to help reduce student lunch balances across the district. This is what it looks like when a community comes together to care for its students. Congratulations to our middle and high school champions, Victory and Owyhee, and be sure to check out the video in this newsletter to see the excitement during our student/staff basketball games.

Speaking of Owyhee High School, I had the opportunity to meet with their Student Council this week and was incredibly impressed. Their Outreach Committee is focused on building a culture of appreciation across campus, recently recognizing school counselors, their School Resource Officer, athletic trainers, and bus drivers. In addition, Owyhee students have implemented a new student leadership election process that balances administrator input, student voice, and Student Council feedback—demonstrating a strong commitment to fairness, transparency, and leadership.

These moments—academic success, community support, and student leadership—are all connected. They reflect a district where students are supported, challenged, and inspired every day. Thank you for your continued partnership in making West Ada a place where students thrive and that success is shared across our entire community.

With gratitude,
Dr. Derek Bub
Superintendent
West Ada School District

Is your student planning to attend college after high school? Do you have questions about the college research process or financial aid planning? Then Planning for College Information Night is for you!

On Wednesday, April 8 (6:00-8:00 PM), the West Ada School District College & Career Counselors will be hosting a Planning for College Information Night. This informative session will provide families and students with guidance on researching colleges and answer questions about the financial aid planning process. This event is being held for 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th grade students and families!

What: WASD Planning for College Information Night
When: Wednesday, April 8 (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
Where: Hosted at Rocky Mountain High School Auditorium

Planning for College Information Night Agenda:

• 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Presentation on Planning for College for 11th graders
• 7:15 PM - 8:00 PM - Presentation on Planning for College for 8th, 9th, and 10th graders
• 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Idaho College Fair and College Career Counselor Information Tables
• Idaho College and University Representatives will be available in the hallway outside the auditorium for families and students to ask questions.
• WASD College and Career Counselors will be available to answer questions.

Families and students can attend the event any time from 6:00-8:00 PM. For example, a 9th grade family and student can come to the event at 6:00 to visit Idaho Colleges and Universities at the fair and then attend the presentation at 7:15 PM. A 11th grade family and student can come to the presentation at 6:00 PM and then attend the fair from 7:00-8:00 PM.

The ICOM Community Health Fair is an event dedicated to promoting the health and wellbeing of the Treasure Valley community. It is a free event where attendees can receive health screenings, connect with local health care providers, learn practical ways to support their health, meet medical students and discover services available in the Treasure Valley - all in one place.

Thanks to the incredible support of our schools, we raised over $23,000—and when combined with sponsorships, event fundraising, and a generous grant, the campaign brought in more than $60,500 to help reduce lunch balances across the West Ada School District‼️

We are so grateful for the generosity and community spirit that made this possible. Thank you for your support! 💙💛

A special shoutout to our event sponsor, CBH Homes ❤️🤍

West Ada Schools offers multiple enrollment pathways to meet the diverse needs and interests of our students. Whether you're looking for traditional classroom learning, specialized programs, or flexible options, we have a choice for you!

Our Enrollment Options:

• 📍 Schools of Choice
• Choose from our diverse elementary, middle, and high schools within the West Ada district. Select the school that best matches your student's academic interests and learning style.
• 🌐 Open Enrollment
• Students from outside the West Ada district may apply for admission through our Open Enrollment program, subject to availability and district policies.
• 💻 Virtual School House
• Learn at your own pace with our flexible, online learning environment for high school students. Perfect for students seeking personalized instruction and schedule flexibility.
• 🔄 Alternative Education Schools
• Designed for students who benefit from non-traditional learning environments, our Alternative Education Schools provide specialized support and individualized pathways to success.

Ready to Enroll?
Visit the West Ada Schools website for detailed information about each option, application deadlines, and enrollment procedures: 🔗Enrollment | West Ada School District

Have Questions?
Contact the West Ada Schools District Office or visit your school's main office for more information about which enrollment option is right for your student.

West Ada Elementary Schools are excited to announce Kindergarten Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year during the week of March 30th.

What You Need to Know:
✓ Find your school's specific date and time
✓ Access the Pre-Enrollment online form
✓ Get all enrollment details and requirements

Visit the 🔗Kindergarten Enrollment Webpage here.

Questions?
Contact your school's main office or the District office for assistance with the enrollment process.
We look forward to welcoming your student to West Ada Elementary Schools!

In the coming weeks, all 8th graders will receive new devices to use at home over the summer and throughout high school. Inspections during the collection of older devices may uncover damage or missing parts, with any fines noted in the Payment Portal and emails sent after receiving the new device.

Families can still enroll in the Device Protection Program. After a required device inspection at your school’s library or support location, the cost will be prorated to $15, coverage extends through mid-August.

Important Dates for the upcoming School Year:

• June 1 – July 31: Families can purchase Device Protection at a discounted rate of $20.
• August 1 – September 30: Device Protection can be purchased for $25 during this period.
• Starting October 1st: Device Protection can be purchased for $25 after device has been inspected for damages.

How to Purchase Optional Device Protection (Between June 1 - September 30):

1. Login to PowerSchool (https://ps.westada.org/public/)
2. Click on the Payment Portal in the left sidebar
3. Click on the name of the child you would like to purchase protection for
4. Add Early Enrollment Device Protection to your cart.
5. Click the cart icon in the upper, right-hand corner.
6. Enter payment information and click Submit to complete your purchase.

If you have questions about Device Protection or outstanding balances in our online payment system, Rycor, please email onlinepayments@westada.org or call our IT Service Desk at 208-350-5300, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

The Middle School Science Textbook Adoption Committee continues our work in selecting instructional support materials for our students and teachers. Our Middle School Science Textbook Adoption Committee began this process by reviewing six high quality- science programs. The committee, made up of 12 teachers and 13 parents, evaluated each resource for program design, student experience, student support, teacher usability, and key practical considerations. Throughout the review, the committee placed special emphasis on identifying materials that help teachers get students thinking and “doing” science while minimizing student screen time.

After a thorough evaluation, the committee has selected two finalists for continued review: Amplify Science and TCI: Bring Science Alive.

More information regarding the public comment process/locations can be viewed 🔗here.

As Summer is just around the corner, kindly be reminded that West Ada prohibits Microsoft 365 account access beyond the borders of the USA and USA Territories.

ACTION: If any student plans to travel outside of these specified regions and needs access to their accounts, it is essential to contact the IT Service Desk or submit a helpdesk ticket beforehand. Please include a detailed list of the countries you intend to visit and the corresponding travel dates. Requests for potential exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Students who need access to IDLA courses outside of North America will need to make additional arrangements with IDLA (see Travel INFORMATION link below).

LINKS: STUDENT Out-Of-Country Travel INFORMATION

STUDENT Out-Of-Country Travel REQUEST

📢 Access a parent report through the GoGuardian Parent App!

Parents, did you know you can view your student's browsing history during school hours and manage the use of their district-issued device after school hours through the GoGuardian Parent app? This tool provides valuable insights into your child's online activity, helping you promote safe and responsible browsing habits both during and outside school hours.

Below are a few examples of parent reports, including a summary of a student's browsing history and a report showing the student's top five most visited websites in the last 30 days. 🔗CLICK HERE for more information and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up!

In the latest episode of the West Ada Podcast, we explore the powerful impact our special education teams and Unified Champion Schools programs are having across the district.

We’re joined by two outstanding leaders in West Ada special education. Jennifer Crowl has been instrumental in building the Unified Champion Schools program at Mountain View High School since its inception. The Mavericks have led the way in Unified programming for years and have been recognized by Special Olympics as one of the top Unified Champion Schools programs in the nation since 2018.

We also hear from Scott Deck, a special education teacher at Eagle High School. Eagle was recently honored by Special Olympics in Washington, D.C. as one of the nation’s recognized Unified Champion Schools—an incredible achievement for the program and our district.

This episode also features two Mountain View students involved in the Unified program. Calvin, a Special Olympics athlete, and Mitchel, his classmate and Unified partner, share their experiences and perspective on how the program brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together. What’s happening in these schools is building friendships, strengthening community, and creating a culture of belonging that is truly inspiring.

The Student Pulse segment begins at 23:44.

Learn more about Mountain View’s Unified Champion Schools program 🔗here.

Watch the story of Eagle High School’s recent trip to Washington, D.C. 🔗here.

If you’re a middle school teacher interested in starting a Unified Champion Schools program, we’d love to connect with you. Please reach out to us at communicate@westada.org.

Want to stay current on everything going on in West Ada and our fantastic communities? Visit our Community Bulletin board for information about clubs, camps, clinics, and more!

🗓️WASD Community Bulletin Board 🖱️

If you run into technology issues, the West Ada Service Desk is here to help! Parents and students have two easy ways to get support:

• Online Support Request: CLICK HERE

  to visit the Parent/Student portal and report your issue.

• Call the Service Desk: Reach our team by phone at 208-350-5300, Monday–Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Requesting support online is the fastest way to connect with the right technician, but either option will get you the help you need.

This West Ada School District news update is brought to you by the District's communication team. For access to previous updates, please visit: https://www.westada.org/page/west-ada-weekly-newsletter