Best Schools in Wasilla, Alaska
26 schools · 15 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Wasilla?
Use this page to compare every school in Wasilla 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.
Finger Lake Elementary
Elementary · Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
John Shaw Elementary
Elementary · Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Dena'ina Elementary School
Elementary · Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Wasilla for 2026 are Finger Lake Elementary (8.9/10), John Shaw Elementary (8.7/10), and Dena'ina Elementary School (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 24 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
26
in this city
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$325,133
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
26
in this city
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$325,133
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 42% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 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 Wasilla schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +21.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Wasilla schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Wasilla
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 24 rated schools; 26 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finger Lake Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | John Shaw Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Dena'ina Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Fronteras Charter School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Midnight Sun Family Learning Center | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | American Charter Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Tanaina Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Knik Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Knik Charter School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | 6.9 / 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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $92,805
- Median home value
- $325,133
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 35 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 77%
40% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Wasilla compares
Alaska rank
#14 of 28
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Alaska avg (6.4)
Median household income
$93k
138% of Alaska median
Schools in this city
25
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District runs Wasilla's public schools
26 public schools. Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Wasilla is a Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District school (26 of 26).
Among 24 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.5 to 8.9 — the spread is inside Wasilla, not a citywide average.
6 of the 26 public schools are charters (23%), so the district split is not the whole market.
About Schools in Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla's public school landscape covers 24 ranked schools, giving families a broad set of options across a mid-size Alaska city. The citywide average sits at 5.9 out of 10 — a score that masks meaningful variation. Six schools, or 25% of the ranked pool, clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold, which means strong options exist but parents need to evaluate individual schools rather than assume district-wide consistency.
Fronteras Charter School leads the city at 8.1 out of 10, the highest score among all 24 ranked schools. Mat-Su Central School follows at 8.0, offering another high-performing option in a different format. At the elementary level, Snowshoe Elementary (7.4) and Larson Elementary (7.2) both outpace the city average by a significant margin, giving families with younger children concrete targets to research. Joe Redington Senior Jr/Sr High School (7.1) rounds out the top tier on the secondary side, scoring above the citywide average and standing as the clear standout among ranked high schools in the city.
The gap between the top performers and the city average tells the real story. Nearly 2.2 points separate Fronteras from the 5.9 mean, which signals that school choice carries real weight in Wasilla. Parents willing to research individual schools and consider charter enrollment can access outcomes well above the typical experience in this market.
For families relocating to Wasilla, the practical move is to start with attendance zone maps and check whether charter seats are open. Fronteras and Mat-Su Central both outperform most neighborhood schools and anchor the top of the local rankings. Elementary-aged children have the most options in the high-performing tier, with two strong neighborhood schools alongside the charter. Secondary options are narrower — Joe Redington is the proven choice among ranked high schools, and families should check enrollment timelines early. Getting into one of the six schools scoring 7 or above is achievable, but it takes planning before the move.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 402 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 483 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 3 | 384 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 4 | 347 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.5 |
| 5 | 179 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
| 6 | 377 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 7 | 268 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 8 | 317 students · Pre-K–2nd | 7.3 |
| 9 | 356 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 10 | 286 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
Show all 15 elementary schools in Wasilla
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 568 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 723 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 516 students · 6th–12th | 5.6 |
| 3 | 859 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
| 4 | 217 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 197 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 156 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 81 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 592 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.8 |
| 5 | 2,558 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.5 |
| 6 | 29 students · Pre-K–12th | — |
Schools in Wasilla
Wasilla, Alaska · 26 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$92,805
Median Home Value
$325,133
Median Rent
$1,367/mo
Population
98,700
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
77%
Avg Commute
35 min
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Community Profile
Wasilla has a median household income of $92,805. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $325,133, with a median rent of $1,367/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.2%. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Alaska
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
- Other
- 6
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 Wasilla, Alaska
How many schools are in Wasilla, Alaska?
Wasilla has 26 schools, including 26 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Wasilla, Alaska?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Wasilla 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 Wasilla, Alaska?
The top-ranked school in Wasilla on MySchoolScout is Finger Lake Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Wasilla, Alaska?
The top-ranked elementary school in Wasilla on MySchoolScout is Finger Lake Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Wasilla, Alaska?
The top-ranked middle school in Wasilla on MySchoolScout is Wasilla Middle School with a composite score of 6.0/10.
What is the best high school in Wasilla, Alaska?
The top-ranked high school in Wasilla on MySchoolScout is Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
How many school districts serve Wasilla, Alaska?
Wasilla is served by 1 school district: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.
What is the education level in Wasilla, Alaska?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Wasilla have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Wasilla, Alaska?
The median household income in Wasilla is approximately $92,805 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wasilla, Alaska?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Wasilla is 23.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Wasilla, 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.