Best Schools in Anchorage, Alaska
88 schools · 54 Elementary · 10 Middle · 13 High · 11 Other
Choosing a school in Anchorage?
Use this page to compare every school in Anchorage by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Kincaid Elementary
Elementary · Anchorage School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Huffman Elementary
Elementary · Anchorage School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Chugach Optional Elementary
Elementary · Anchorage School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Anchorage for 2026 are Kincaid Elementary (8.6/10), Huffman Elementary (8.5/10), and Chugach Optional Elementary (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 75 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
88
79 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$373,350
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
88
79 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$373,350
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 24% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Anchorage schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +21.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Anchorage schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Anchorage
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 75 rated schools; 88 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kincaid Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Huffman Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Chugach Optional Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Northern Lights Abc K-8 School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Inlet View Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Ocean View Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Campbell Stem Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Susitna Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Government Hill Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Goldenview Middle School | 7.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $99,158
- Median home value
- $373,350
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 37%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Anchorage compares
Alaska rank
#23 of 28
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below Alaska avg (6.4)
Median household income
$99k
147% of Alaska median
Schools in this city
86
Education Snapshot
Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage's 89 schools serve roughly 38,922 students across 2 districts, with a grade-level mix that leans early: 56 elementary schools funnel into just 9 middle and 13 high schools, plus 11 combined or alternative programs. Seven charter schools broaden the options within this two-district system. MySchoolScout's composite rating for Anchorage sits at 6.1/10 across 88 scored schools — 0.2 points below the Alaska state average of 6.3/10. That deficit is counterintuitive given the household income profile: Anchorage's median of $101,230 exceeds the Alaska state median of $86,095 by 18%, placing it well above typical Alaskan earnings. Adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher account for 37% of the resident population. The city's economic advantage relative to the state hasn't closed the composite ratings gap, making school selection here worth careful attention.
Anchorage School District runs Anchorage's public schools
79 public schools. Anchorage School District is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Anchorage is a Anchorage School District school (78 of 79).
Among 75 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.7 to 8.6 — the spread is inside Anchorage, not a citywide average.
- Anchorage School District78 public · 99%
- Chugach School District1 public · 1%
About Schools in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city and home to 78 ranked public schools, spanning elementary, middle, high, and alternative programs. The city's schools carry an average score of 6.0 out of 10, which reflects a wide performance range — from struggling neighborhood schools to genuinely strong options that compete with top programs anywhere in the state.
The upper tier is real but selective. Only 15 schools, or 19% of ranked public schools, score 7 or higher out of 10. AKChoice K-12 Learning leads the city with a 9.0, the highest score among all ranked Anchorage public schools. It operates as an alternative learning program, giving families a flexible structure outside the traditional school calendar. Turnagain Elementary follows closely at 8.9, making it the top-rated conventional school in the city and a strong option for families with younger children on the west side. Anchorage STrEaM Academy earns an 8.2 at the middle school level, standing out as one of the few high-performing options for that age group. Rogers Park Elementary and Family Partnership Correspondence School both score 8.0, rounding out a small group of schools that consistently outperform city averages.
The Anchorage School District serves the entire municipality, which covers a vast geographic area. That geography matters: school quality can shift considerably from one neighborhood to the next, and proximity to top-rated schools depends heavily on where a family lives. Alternative and correspondence programs like AKChoice and Family Partnership give parents options beyond their assigned attendance zone, which is worth exploring if a neighborhood school scores below average.
Parents comparing options should note that the 6.0 city average means roughly half of Anchorage schools fall below that mark. Prioritizing schools that score 7 or above narrows the field considerably — just 15 schools clear that threshold. Families moving to Anchorage or reconsidering their current school should treat that 19% figure as a practical filter, then look closely at program type, grade range, and commute before finalizing a choice.
Elementary Schools
54 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 435 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 325 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 265 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 572 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.4 |
| 5 | 233 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.0 |
| 6 | 367 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.0 |
| 7 | 394 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.9 |
| 8 | 385 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.8 |
| 9 | 478 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.8 |
| 10 | 278 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.5 |
Show all 54 elementary schools in Anchorage
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 668 students · 7th–8th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 705 students · 7th–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 583 students · 7th–8th | 6.6 | ||
| 4 | 384 students · 7th–8th | 6.1 | ||
| 5 | 179 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 6 | 376 students · 7th–8th | 5.9 | ||
| 7 | 874 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 | ||
| 8 | 683 students · 7th–8th | 5.7 | ||
| 9 | 772 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Anchorage Montessori SchoolPrivate 36 students · 1st–6th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 106 students · 10th–12th | 7.0 |
| 2 | 75 students · 6th–12th | 6.4 |
| 3 | 250 students · 7th–12th | 6.2 |
| 4 | 178 students · 6th–12th | 5.7 |
| 5 | 1,286 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 |
| 6 | 276 students · 11th–12th | 5.5 |
| 7 | 1,681 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 1,768 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 181 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
| 10 | 1,536 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
Show all 13 high schools in Anchorage
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 984 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 497 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 3 | 273 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 4 | 557 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 5 | 316 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 1,416 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.8 | ||
| 7 | 628 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.4 | ||
| 8 | 24 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Holy Rosary AcademyPrivate 125 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 546 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 other schools in Anchorage
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska · 88 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 10 ZIP codes
Median Income
$99,158
Median Home Value
$373,350
Median Rent
$1,448/mo
Population
239,752
College Educated
37%
Homeownership
62%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
10.0%
Community Profile
Anchorage has a median household income of $99,158. It is an area where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $373,350, with a median rent of $1,448/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.0%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Alaska
- Elementary
- 54
- Middle
- 10
- High
- 13
- Other
- 11
Resources
Other Major Cities in Alaska
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Anchorage, Alaska
How many schools are in Anchorage, Alaska?
Anchorage has 88 schools, including 79 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Anchorage, Alaska?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Anchorage is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Anchorage, Alaska?
The top-ranked school in Anchorage on MySchoolScout is Kincaid Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Anchorage, Alaska?
The top-ranked elementary school in Anchorage on MySchoolScout is Kincaid Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Anchorage, Alaska?
The top-ranked middle school in Anchorage on MySchoolScout is Goldenview Middle School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Anchorage, Alaska?
The top-ranked high school in Anchorage on MySchoolScout is Mclaughlin Secondary School with a composite score of 6.4/10.
How many school districts serve Anchorage, Alaska?
Anchorage is served by 2 school districts: Anchorage School District, Chugach School District.
What is the education level in Anchorage, Alaska?
According to Census data, 37% of adults in Anchorage have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Anchorage, Alaska?
The median household income in Anchorage is approximately $99,158 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Anchorage, Alaska?
Yes, Anchorage has 9 private schools alongside 79 public schools. The top-rated private school is Anchorage Waldorf School with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Anchorage, Alaska?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Anchorage is 19.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Anchorage, Alaska?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Alaska Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.