Kimberly High School has claimed the district 4A “Schools of Excellence” title from the Idaho High School Activities Association for the fourth year in a row, continuing a streak that has made the small Magic Valley school a model of well-rounded athletic achievement across Idaho.
The Idaho High School Activities Association recognized the 2025-26 winners of its voluntary, year-long program, which evaluates schools based on three equally weighted pillars: academic performance, athletic performance, and sportsmanship and citizenship. Kimberly topped the 4A district field, earning the program’s highest recognition for the fourth consecutive season.
A Culture Built From the Ground Up
Kimberly Athletic Director Zach Dong credited the achievement to a school-wide commitment that extends from staff to student-athletes and their families. He said the values measured by the program are woven into every aspect of Kimberly’s athletic culture, from pre-season parent meetings to coaches’ gatherings throughout the year.
“It’s something that we incorporate in everything that we do here at Kimberly, from the parent meetings, to the coaches meetings,” Dong said. “It’s a pillar of every single program at our school.”
That consistency across multiple programs and multiple years reflects an institutional commitment rather than a single season’s success — a point that makes four straight district titles particularly meaningful in a competitive 4A field.
Magic Valley Schools Also Honored
Kimberly wasn’t alone in drawing recognition from the IHSAA this cycle. Three additional Magic Valley schools earned “Award of Excellence” certificates as part of the broader program: Twin Falls High School, Burley High School, and Buhl High School. Altogether, four schools from the region were honored, demonstrating that the Magic Valley’s emphasis on combining academic rigor with athletic integrity extends well beyond any single campus.
The Schools of Excellence program is designed to encourage schools to view athletics not as separate from the academic mission but as an extension of it. By weighting academics, competition results, and citizenship equally, the IHSAA signals that a school’s true measure goes beyond wins and losses on the field or court.
For a community like Kimberly — a smaller district where student-athletes often compete across multiple sports — sustaining that standard year after year requires broad buy-in from coaches, parents, and school administration alike. Four consecutive district titles suggest that buy-in is well established.
Families with student-athletes enrolled in Twin Falls area schools should also be aware that Twin Falls Police are continuing to enforce school zone speed laws through the summer, reminding drivers that reduced speed limits near schools remain in effect even when classes are not in session.
What Comes Next
With the 2025-26 school year now wrapped up, Kimberly’s focus will shift to sustaining the program-wide culture that has made four consecutive district honors possible. The IHSAA’s Schools of Excellence program will reset for the 2026-27 school year, giving Kimberly the opportunity to pursue a fifth straight district title. Other Magic Valley schools, including Twin Falls, Buhl, and Burley, will look to build on their Award of Excellence recognition as well. Continued emphasis on balancing academics, athletics, and sportsmanship will remain the standard for schools hoping to compete at the top of the district standings in the coming year.