With small classes and low student-to-teacher ratios, our elementary learners develop strong, meaningful relationships with their teachers and classmates. Knowing each student well allows our experienced teachers to personalize their learning to help them grow and thrive. All students learn Music, Visual & Performing Arts, Spanish, and Global Studies as part of a well-rounded and creative educational foundation. We stretch and challenge our students while instilling a sense of belonging, well-being, and joy.

Our play-based preschool program is largely influenced by the tenets of schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. We take a progressive approach to education and see our Early Learner students as strong, capable learners, whose great questions and ideas inspire and guide exploration and learning in the classroom. By focusing on students' social and emotional growth, we find that our students are more willing to open up to be themselves and to stretch themselves intellectually.

Early Learner

In addition to maintaining an inclusive, kind community, our middle school students are comfortable facing academic challenges through thoughtful, engaging work. Student work becomes increasingly complex as our older students stretch their thinking to consider diverse perspectives on issues, especially related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our students find joy in learning and feel at home at Foothills, embracing their role as leaders.

Elementary Program

Junior High

Foothills School is a private, independent PreK-9th grade school in downtown Boise, Idaho.

Curious, Creative & Confident Learners

Foothills students are valued as unique learners and people, innovative thinkers, and caring community members, who have the skills and passion to make the world better.

“It’s a gift to us as parents for a whole community to rise up and meet our child every day. Because of her time at Foothills, she will graduate with a deep sense that she is part of a large loving community, her ideas are valuable, and what she does matters to the world.”

-Jr. High Parent

3 & 4-Year-olds

Kindergarten - Grade 6

Grades 7-9

Foothills School believes that a diverse school community is essential to education and that such a community includes a spectrum of differences in race, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, and learning style. To this end, Foothills' admissions and hiring practices strive to recruit, enroll/hire, and retain as diverse a population as is feasible in the community.

Curious, Creative & Confident Learners

Join us for The Art & Science of Play! Saturday, May 18 (10:00-11:30am)

Whether you're looking for a school option for next year or just want a fun outing, this event is free and open to the public and anyone with a 2 to 14-year-old is welcome to attend.  We'll meet outside in our play space and provide art and science play projects, raffle prizes, and refreshments, as well as a chance to connect with other parents, students, and teachers. We look forward to seeing you!

Registration Required - RSVP by January 20 (prospective parents and guardians may attend for all or part of the event, and COVID protocols will be required)

Small Group Tours Offered Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00-11:00am

Foothills Playdate! 

Saturday, December 7 - 10:00-11:30am

Families with Preschool-2nd graders and friends of Foothills School are invited to attend this free, public event. We'll have hands-on art and science activities, play-based projects for younger students, and some fun raffle prizes. There will also be refreshments and an opportunity to chat with students, families, and teachers. We're excited to have people visit to play with us and learn more about how Foothills helps students become creative and confident learners!