Ursa Minor Elementary School vs. Orion Elementary School
Should you attend Ursa Minor Elementary School or Orion Elementary School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
n/a
Orion Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alaska for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Overview
Ursa Minor Elementary School in Jber, AK serves 344 students from prekindergarten through 6th grade with a student–teacher ratio of 22:1, which is higher than the district's typical ratio of 18 to 20:1.
Math proficiency at Ursa Minor is 45–49%, which is higher than the state average of 32% and district average of 37%, while reading proficiency is 40–44%, also higher than the state average of 29% and roughly equal to the district average of 34%.
Science proficiency ranges from 30–39%, which is below the state average of 38% and district average of 40%, indicating weaker science performance relative to state and district levels.
The school's overall ranking declined from #55 in 2019 to #121 in 2023, showing a downward trend in relative performance among Alaska elementary schools.
Minority enrollment accounts for 46% of the student body, with 47% of students eligible for free or reduced–price lunch; the student–teacher ratio has increased from 17:1 in 2023 to 22:1 currently, reflecting larger class sizes over recent years.
Serving 423 students in grades Prekindergarten-6, Orion Elementary School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Alaska for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 45% (which is higher than the Alaska state average of 32%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 50-54% (which is higher than the Alaska state average of 29%).
The student-teacher ratio of 19:1 is higher than the Alaska state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Alaska state average of 53% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).
Blue Ribbon Schools
-
Yes
Grades Offered
PK-6
PK-6
Total Students
294 students
423 students
Total Classroom Teachers
16 teachers
22 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
19:1
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#121 out of 441 schools in AK
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
#86 out of 441 schools in AK
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
45-49%
45%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
50-54%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
30-39%
50-59%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Pre-K Students
33
64
Kindergarten Students
42
67
Grade 1 Students
42
57
Grade 2 Students
53
58
Grade 3 Students
44
61
Grade 4 Students
45
58
Grade 5 Students
35
58
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
4%
3%
% Hispanic
18%
21%
% Black
6%
9%
% White
56%
56%
% Hawaiian
3%
2%
% Two or more races
13%
8%
Diversity Score
0.64
0.63
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
18%
16%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
20%
17%