2024 Best Elementary Schools in Alaska

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in Alaska

The state of Alaska has over four hundred elementary schools (413) spread across numerous cities and metropolitan areas, some of the largest being Anchorage, Fairbanks and Wasilla. That’s more than 1.3 times the typical state, and on a per capita basis, Alaska actually ranks #1 in the nation, averaging about 131% more elementary schools than most states.

On the whole, the average elementary school in the state earns a B grade, which is equal to the national average. Furthermore, of the 413 elementary schools, just under a third (32%) are rated above average. Still that leaves about 250 options for the parent to evaluate, so it’s still a daunting task to find the best suited school for your child. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25% of the nation, that total slims to 80.

Are public elementary schools in Alaska a good option?

Alaska has 355 total public elementary schools, and of that total, traditional public schools comprise 91% or about 322 of them. That’s a large number, but for those with above average sights, just 7 out of 10 (28%) score above the national average, so nearly three quarters wouldn’t qualify.

What is the best public elementary school in Alaska?

Based in Anchorage, the best public elementary school in Alaska is Bayshore Elementary School. With 358 students and a student to teacher ratio of 15:1, the school has a 7% higher ratio than the typical US elementary school, which can equate to greater focus per student and often lead to better student learning outcomes. Bayshore Elementary wins out amongst nearly 3,200 other traditional public schools in the state (322). About 28% of all such schools are rated above the national average.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in Alaska

Some ask, are charter schools in Alaska a good option? This really depends on your preference, but with 24 different options (24 to be exact) there are numerous potential fits for your youngster. The typical charter elementary school in Alaska scores a B+, which is slightly above the national average overall of a B grade. This is likely due in part to the fact that the state has 246% more charter schools per capita than the average state. In other words, there’s still a plethora of high quality charter options in the state.

What is the best charter elementary school in Alaska?

The top ranked charter elementary school in Alaska is Eagle Academy Charter School. It’s located in Eagle River, which is basically on the north outskirts of the greater Anchorage area. The school has 164 students and as you’d expect, is graded the highest A+ available. The school is known for exceptional quality, but should be noted that the average student to teacher ratio is 18:1, which is actually about 29% above the national average. This can mean that class sizes may be a bit larger at times than the average, but the school has various teaching aides and methods to keep students highly engaged despite at times having larger class sizes.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in Alaska

Despite being such a large state, there are just 9 magnet elementary schools in Alaska, placing the state 5th in the nation for magnet schools per capita. The school quality is quite high, with the median score being a B+ which is slightly above the national average overall of a B grade. About 89% of the magnet elementary schools in the state are considered above the national average, which means there’s a handful of schools that might be an option for the high achiever.

What is the best magnet elementary school in Alaska?

Coming from Anchorage comes Rogers Park Elementary School, ranked as the best magnet elementary school in Alaska. The school is sometimes referred to as RPES and is home to 392 students. It’s also worth noting that there are 13 students per every teacher at the school (13:1 ratio) which is right in line with the national average.