Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

501 N Gulkana St
Palmer, AK 99645
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

Top Rankings

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Alaska for:

Category
Attribute
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 24 public preschools serving 7,733 students in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public pre schools in Alaska.
Public Preschools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the Alaska public pre school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 29% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the Alaska public preschool average of 57% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (AK)
# Schools
49 Schools
313 Schools
# Students
19,421 Students
74,752 Students
# Teachers
1,031 Teachers
4,173 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 52 school districts in Alaska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has decreased from 83% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AK)
#12 out of 53 school districts
(Top 30%)
41%
32%
32%
29%
44%
38%
80%
78%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.52
0.72
% American Indian
7%
27%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
8%
7%
% Black
1%
2%
% White
67%
43%
% Hawaiian
1%
3%
% Two or more races
15%
13%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,600 in this school district is less than the state median of $20,163. The school district revenue/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,543 is less than the state median of $21,240. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AK)
Total Revenue
$322 MM
$2,630 MM
Spending
$321 MM
$2,771 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,600
$20,163
Spending / Student
$16,543
$21,240

Best Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Public Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Trapper Creek Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6742 E Petersville Rd
Trapper Creek, AK 99683
(907) 733-9451
Grades: PK-5
| 24 students
Rank: #22.
Fred And Sara Machetanz Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4961 E Nelson Rd
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 864-2300
Grades: PK-5
| 476 students
Rank: #33.
Pioneer Peak Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1959 N Stringfield Rd
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 861-5700
Grades: PK-5
| 471 students
Rank: #44.
Larson Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2722 E Seldon Rd
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-2300
Grades: PK-5
| 354 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Cottonwood Creek Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
800 N Seward Meridian
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 864-2100
Grades: PK-5
| 428 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
John Shaw Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3750 E Paradise Ln
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-0500
Grades: PK-5
| 483 students
Rank: #77.
Talkeetna Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
13930 E Timberwolf Lp
Talkeetna, AK 99676
(907) 733-9400
Grades: PK-5
| 108 students
Rank: #88.
Willow Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
31706 W Parks Hwy
Willow, AK 99688
(907) 495-9300
Grades: PK-5
| 119 students
Rank: #99.
Butte Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4006 S Butte Rd
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 861-5200
Grades: PK-5
| 272 students
Rank: #1010.
Sutton Elementary School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
11672 N Wright Way
Sutton, AK 99674
(907) 861-5600
Grades: PK-5
| 45 students
Rank: #1111.
Teeland Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2788 N Seward Meridian Pkwy
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-7500
Grades: PK-8
| 657 students
Rank: #1212.
Colony Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
9250 E Bogard Rd
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 761-1500
Grades: PK-8
| 757 students
Rank: #1313.
Snowshoe Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2001 W Fairview Loop
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-9500
Grades: PK-5
| 356 students
Rank: #1414.
Finger Lake Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5981 Eek St
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 864-2200
Grades: PK-5
| 402 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Dena'ina Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
7068 S Knik Knack Mud Shack Ro
Wasilla, AK 99687
(907) 864-5600
Grades: PK-5
| 384 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Tanaina Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2550 Lucille St
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-9400
Grades: PK-5
| 377 students
Rank: #1717.
Iditarod Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
455 E Carpenter Cir
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-9100
Grades: PK-5
| 416 students
Rank: #1818.
Valley Pathways
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1150 North France Rd
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 761-4650
Grades: PK-12
| 153 students
Rank: #1919.
Big Lake Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Mile 4.5 South Big Lake Rd
Big Lake, AK 99652
(907) 892-9700
Grades: PK-5
| 320 students
Rank: #2020.
Meadow Lakes Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1741 Pittman Rd
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-6100
Grades: PK-5
| 286 students
Rank: n/an/a
6400 Hollywood Blvd
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 352-6400
Grades: PK-2
| 317 students
Rank: n/an/a
Knik Charter Correspondence School
Charter School
758 N Shoreline Dr.
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 864-6090
Grades: PK-12
| 29 students
Rank: n/an/a
Knik Charter School
Charter School
758 N Shoreline Dr.
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 864-6090
Grades: PK-12
| 156 students
Rank: n/an/a
507 N Gulkana
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 861-5300
Grades: PK-2
| 343 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 49 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 19,421 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 33%
  • : 80% (Top 20% in AK)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 41% (Top 20%)
  • : 32% (Top 50%)
  • : 44% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AK Dept. of Education

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