Lower Kuskokwim School District
School District · Bethel, Alaska
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
29
3 elem, 3 high
Enrollment
3,917
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
29
3 elem, 3 high
Enrollment
3,917
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
How this district compares
Alaska rank
#38 of 41
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Alaska avg
Per-pupil spending
$41,997
+$16,309 vs Alaska median
District size
3,917 students
Much larger than Alaska median
The short answer
Lower Kuskokwim School District ranks #38 of 41 Alaska districts by overall school rating. Lower Kuskokwim School District's schools with real test data average 5.5/10 across 25 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ayaprun Elitnaurvik (6.7/10), Z. John Williams Memorial School (6.6/10), and Kwigillingok School (6.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.6/10 despite 101% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 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 Lower Kuskokwim School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lower Kuskokwim School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lower Kuskokwim School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (25 of 29). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayaprun Elitnaurvik | 6.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Z. John Williams Memorial School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Kwigillingok School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Eek School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Ayaprun School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Gladys Jung Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Kuskokwim Learning Academy | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Bethel Regional High School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Chief Paul Memorial School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Joann A. Alexie Memorial School | 6.0 / 10 |
See all 29 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Lower Kuskokwim School District
Lower Kuskokwim School District is a Bethel, Alaska school district serving 29 schools.The district educates 3,917 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.7:1. District-level spending was $41,997 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.5/10, Lower Kuskokwim School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, which has a composite score of 6.7/10.
In standardized testing, Lower Kuskokwim School District students show an average math proficiency of 14.4% and ELA proficiency of 15.5%.
The district includes 3 elementary schools, and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Lower Kuskokwim School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Lower Kuskokwim School District with test data.
Schools in Lower Kuskokwim School District
29 schoolsElementary Schools3
Other Schools23
District Details
- State
- Alaska
- City
- Bethel
- Total Enrollment
- 3,917
- Teachers (FTE)
- 235
- District spending per student
- $41,997NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 31.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lower Kuskokwim School District?
Lower Kuskokwim School District has 29 schools in total — 3 elementary, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Lower Kuskokwim School District?
The average composite rating for Lower Kuskokwim School District is 5.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Lower Kuskokwim School District?
Lower Kuskokwim School District's district-level spending was $41,997 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lower Kuskokwim School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Lower Kuskokwim School District is 16.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Lower Kuskokwim School District?
Ayaprun Elitnaurvik is the highest-rated school in Lower Kuskokwim School District with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What are the test scores in Lower Kuskokwim School District?
Across schools in Lower Kuskokwim School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 14.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 15.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Lower Kuskokwim School District compare to other districts in Alaska?
Lower Kuskokwim School District has an average school rating of 5.5/10 across 29 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Alaska by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 14.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 15.5%
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 rateOther School Districts in AK
Compare Lower Kuskokwim School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Anchorage School District (94)
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (49)
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (42)
- Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (34)
- Bering Strait School District (15)
- Juneau Borough School District (15)
- Kodiak Island Borough School District (13)
- Northwest Arctic Borough School District (13)
- Lake and Peninsula Borough School District (11)
- Lower Yukon School District (11)
- North Slope Borough School District (11)
- Yukon-Koyukuk School District (10)
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District (9)
- Kuspuk School District (9)
- Alaska Gateway School District (8)
- Iditarod Area School District (8)
- Southeast Island School District (8)
- Southwest Region School District (8)
- Sitka School District (6)
- Yukon Flats School District (6)
- Copper River School District (5)
- Delta/greely School District (5)
- Aleutians East Borough School District (4)
- Chatham School District (4)
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.
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