Columbia High School is the newest of Nampa’s three high schools, opening in the Fall of 2006. Located on Happy Valley Road just north of Amity Road, we enjoy a unique rural setting surrounded by farms, newly established residential sub-divisions, and modern retail developments. We have access to modern technology in academic classrooms, a state-of-the-art auditorium and black box theater promoting of the performing arts, a spacious gymnasium, auxiliary gym, indoor walking track, and modern weight room facility all supporting physical education and our extra-curricular athletic programs.

The organization of our school system centers around the creation of Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) within our growing comprehensive four-year high school. These SLC structures are designed around three key principles. First, they create an environment that fosters positive relationships between students and teachers, creating a safe and personalized learning environment. Second, they provide a solid academic foundation required of all students wishing to open doors of opportunity that access a future of hope and opportunity. Thirdly, they provide a meaningful and challenging context that initiates the process of successfully transitioning student’s post-secondary dreams into reality.

Instructional programs focus on the needs of students. Freshmen and sophomores are scheduled onto grade level teams. For two years they participate in academic programs that have a dual focus. Immersion into core content curriculum is designed to prepare each student to successfully master the material necessary to complete the Idaho Standard Achievement Test (ISAT). These core classes include Language Arts, Mathematics, US History, Science, and Communication/Technology. Accompanying these required courses are a full array of introductory-level electives. These programs include the performing and visual arts, the humanities, physical education, professional technical education, and mass communications. Upper classmen design individualized academic plans that focus on areas of study they have chosen to prepare them for their “Grade 13” (or life beyond high school). Those choices can include career-themed Academies, rigorous college-level courses (Advanced Placement, concurrent credit, dual credit), professional technical programs, and/or college-prep general studies programs. To learn more about our high school academies click here.

Although academics are our primary focus, we are able to enhance a students experience thru a broad range of extra-curricular athletic and activity programs. Athletic opportunities for students include football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, wrestling, baseball/softball, track and field, tennis and golf. The performing arts programs include five different areas: band, choir, dance, orchestra, speech/debate and theater. Although it was only our first year, we were extremely proud when our choir earned a “Superior” ranking at the District III Music Festival and our boy’s baseball team won the 4A State Championship! We believe that is only the beginning of things to come.