North Junior High School

1105 North 13th Street

School District

Boise Independent District
Grade

7-9
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Boise Independent District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 15, 2023

Great school. Wonderful community of teachers that really care about the kids and their performance. Very accommodating to kids with disabilities.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2023

Wonderful school! We were worried about the switch from elementary school to junior high but the great teachers at North Junior High made it an easy transition. Great teachers and caring administration and staff. We are lucky to be a part of North Junior High.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2023

I have had two children attend North Junior High and they have both had a great experience.
Submitted by student on November 04, 2016

There are great teachers who help the students learn and feel like they can do great things at this school. This school has many fantastic arts programs, a welcoming feel from each and every student, and a club or sport for every person imaginable. Everyone there tries to foster the idea that you are capable of great things.
Submitted by student on June 02, 2016

7th grade was way better than i thought it would be and the teachers were amazing.
Submitted by student on March 04, 2016

This school is honestly great. The teachers are fantastic (at least, the ones I've had, examples being Joel Westrick and Alina Jensen), and the student body is very accepting of most, if not all people. As well, being a constant and somewhat-great violinist, I can declare that the orchestra program is the best in the district (for a junior high).However, my only complaint involves the cleanliness of the institution. It's somewhat dirty, but that's what you'd expect of a public school with teenagers.Signed, a three year member of NJHS.
Submitted by other on May 31, 2014

I go to North currently, and for the most part I love it. Currently in 8th grade, the etchers are great. Go Blue Wave! The school is okay when it comes to bullying, and the clubs are not so good. For me, bullying has been a big issue. There are only a few people at this school who aren't stuck-up rich kids with a love of hurting people. There is a problem with cliques, and like I said before, in FCA (fellowship of christian athletes) all the populars come and steal the free pizza. I am a strong christian and i don't go anymore because there is no longer a safe spot in that club. I have only a few friends, but the teachers are amazing. I have to say that inappropriate behavior and drugs are a large number in this school, and that it is hard to avoid people involved in them.
Submitted by other on May 19, 2014

I love this school. I went here all 3 years and it was the best junior high in the valley, no doubt. You don't want your kids going to east. That area is either very wealthy or extremely poor. This creates a lot of chaos and separation. North is welcoming and there's a group for everyone. I highly recommend it.
Submitted by other on May 10, 2014

This school is really good when it comes academically you could be below or above and still have really good grades. However some teachers are not like this and tend not to help out at all and then you fail there class or quizzes that everyone else did fail. As well this school is the most dysfunctional school the dress code and cell phone law are outrages. The principle and assistant principle don't do anything about people breaking dress code or cell phone laws . The drug problem got really extremely bad this year and I'm thinking about moving schools probably to east a better functional school.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2014

My youth enjoyed the crowd of kids at North. The only complaint we have is the amount of negative talk between teachers about students. This school is set up in teams. In my experience the teachers got together sharing information about a student . The gossip about students by the teachers are about equal to the gossip by students about students. About half of the teachers are great teachers. Two im particular who are fantastic teachers are Mrs.Williams and Mr. Rowe. Fun people, who clearly enjoy their jobs! The P.E. Teachers are fantastic as well. If you can afford to enroll your child in a private or art school, I highly recommend that you do so. My child's least favorite subjects were due to the "teacher's tone and sarcasm". Specifically Mrs. Goddard. Be careful if you are trusting your youth to get to school on their own. Although it is a school zone, many drivers are in such a hurry to get downtown or to Boise High School, I have seen MANY scarey situations. Little attention for traffic control, including chaos of dropping off kids on three sides of the school. There is no enforcement or organization for drop off.
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2013

North JHS used to be a great school before the era of Dr. Thaemert and Steve Novotny. The school went from a 4 star rating to a 3 star this past year and will probably drop again. The students now run the school not the admin or teachers. Custodians have found alcohol containers in the bathrooms after break, students are trapping teachers with cell phone recordings, Novotny flirts with the reading and French teachers rather than do his job, discipline is at an all time low, there have been multiple teacher scandals. The one positive thing is that if you ask the administration to move your kid if they don't like a teacher they will do it for you no problem. This is key because some of the teachers will give out EOC study guides that resemble the test or are the exact test. This is an advantage when it comes to your child's over all grade point average. After all they are all competing for scholarships. If you can get a permission to attend, go to East! North is falling apart!
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2013

I used to go to NJHS back in the day. I have been away for a couple years and I have moved back to the area. It is a shame that North has gone down hill. It used to be a great school. Thanks for the previous comment, I will look into East for my kids.
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2012

My child transferred to North from a small school and easily adapted. Each grade is divided into two teams with one set of teachers assigned to that team. It's like having six small schools. For kids who wish to accelerate, they can still take full advantage of TVMSc and upper grade classes. I completely agree with the other parents re: children with learning disabilities. They are decades behind the research and the law in dealing with special needs kids. Boise School District in general prefers to deny services rather than comply.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2012

My 7th Grade Student is having a lot of fun at North Jr. High. He has some challenging classes, and some that are giving him social benefits. I really love the school's orchestra! (I also enrolled him at TVMSC, which is much more challenging)
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2011

My daughter attended catholic school 1st through 5th grade followed by one year at a public charter (with plans to become IB) prior to enrolling at North for 7th grade. We are very impressed with the staff, counselors and faculty. The transition from small, private to big public has been far less stressful than anticipated. North really cares. They listen. They're rewriting the book for "public education". Don't waste your money or worse, your childs education on private/charter schools.