6.7 avg / 10

Best Schools in Palmer, Alaska

15 schools · 7 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High · 3 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 13

Private: 2

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 6.7/10

Estimated Scores: 8%

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Palmer?

Use this page to compare every school in Palmer by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Matanuska-susitna Borough School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

High · Matanuska-susitna Borough School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Palmer for 2026 are Academy Charter School (9.3/10), Pioneer Peak Elementary (8.1/10), and Mat-su Middle College School (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Pioneer Peak Elementary

Rates 8.1/10 despite 35% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 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 Palmer schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Palmer

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (12 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Academy Charter School	9.3 / 10	Elementary	—	100th
2	Pioneer Peak Elementary	8.1 / 10	Elementary	+1.7	88th
3	Mat-su Middle College School	7.7 / 10	High	+1.3	83th
4	Butte Elementary	7.1 / 10	Elementary	+0.7	69th
5	Birchtree Charter School	7.0 / 10	Elementary	—	67th
6	Sherrod Elementary	6.7 / 10	Elementary	+0.3	59th
7	Valley Pathways	6.7 / 10	Other	+0.3	59th
8	Amazing Grace Academy	6.6 / 10	Other	—	46th
9	Colony High School	6.0 / 10	High	-0.4	43th
10	Palmer High School	5.8 / 10	High	-0.6	38th

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: 6.7/10
Median household income: $97,069
Median home value: $338,400
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31%
Avg commute: 32 min
Owner-occupied homes: 79%

How Palmer compares

Alaska rank

#8 of 28

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.4

above Alaska avg (6.3)

Median household income

$97k

144% of Alaska median

Schools in this city

13

About Schools in Palmer, Alaska

Palmer, Alaska is home to 15 schools, including 13 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.7 out of 10, schools in Palmer show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Palmer is Academy Charter School with a composite score of 9.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Palmer is served by 1 school district: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. These districts collectively serve 19,421 students.

Palmer's community shows 31% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $97,069. The poverty rate in the area is 8.7%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (15) Elementary (7) Middle (1) High (4)

Filter by Type: All Types (15) Public (13) Private (2)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (15) Academics (12) Growth (10) Resources (12)

Filter by ZIP: 99645 (15)

Elementary Schools

7 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Academy Charter School 267 students · Kindergarten–8th	267	Kindergarten–8th	9.3
2	Pioneer Peak Elementary 471 students · Pre-K–5th	471	Pre-K–5th	8.1
3	Butte Elementary 272 students · Pre-K–5th	272	Pre-K–5th	7.1
4	Swanson Elementary 343 students · Pre-K–2nd	343	Pre-K–2nd	7.0
5	Birchtree Charter School 407 students · Kindergarten–8th	407	Kindergarten–8th	7.0
6	Sherrod Elementary 369 students · Kindergarten–5th	369	Kindergarten–5th	6.7
7	Colony Middle School 757 students · Pre-K–8th	757	Pre-K–8th	5.3

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Palmer Middle School 567 students · 6th–8th	567	6th–8th	4.0

High Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mat-su Middle College School 204 students · 8th–12th	204	8th–12th	7.7
2	Colony High School 1,092 students · 9th–12th	1,092	9th–12th	6.0
3	Palmer High School 649 students · 9th–12th	649	9th–12th	5.8
4	Mat-su Secondary School 14 students · 6th–12th	14	6th–12th	—

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Valley Pathways 153 students · Pre-K–12th	153	Pre-K–12th	6.7
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Amazing Grace Academy Private 86 students · Pre-K–12th	86	Pre-K–12th	6.6
2	Ya Ne Dah Ah School Private 13 students · Pre-K–12th	13	Pre-K–12th	—

Schools in Palmer

Palmer, Alaska · 15 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$97,069

Median Home Value

$338,400

Median Rent

$1,309/mo

Population

31,494

College Educated

31%

Homeownership

79%

Avg Commute

32 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Community Profile

Palmer has a median household income of $97,069. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $338,400, with a median rent of $1,309/month. The local poverty rate of 8.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Alaska
Elementary: 7
Middle: 1
High: 4
Other: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Palmer schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Palmer 📊 Niche Palmer Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

49 schools · 19,421 students

Nearby Cities

Eagle River (12 schools)

23 mi

Other Major Cities in Alaska

Top metros statewide by school count.

Anchorage 89 schools Fairbanks 34 schools

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Palmer, Alaska

How many schools are in Palmer, Alaska?

Palmer has 15 schools, including 13 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Palmer, Alaska?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Palmer is 6.7 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 Palmer, Alaska?

The top-ranked school in Palmer on MySchoolScout is Academy Charter School with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in Palmer, Alaska?

The top-ranked elementary school in Palmer on MySchoolScout is Academy Charter School with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best middle school in Palmer, Alaska?

The top-ranked middle school in Palmer on MySchoolScout is Palmer Middle School with a composite score of 4.0/10.

What is the best high school in Palmer, Alaska?

The top-ranked high school in Palmer on MySchoolScout is Mat-su Middle College School with a composite score of 7.7/10.

How many school districts serve Palmer, Alaska?

Palmer is served by 1 school district: Matanuska-susitna Borough School District.

What is the education level in Palmer, Alaska?

According to Census data, 31% of adults in Palmer have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Palmer, Alaska?

The median household income in Palmer is approximately $97,069 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Palmer, Alaska?

Yes, Palmer has 2 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Amazing Grace Academy with a score of 6.6/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Palmer, Alaska?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Palmer is 20.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Palmer, 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.