Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
School District · Palmer, Alaska
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
49
27 elem, 3 mid, 10 high
Enrollment
19,421
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
49
27 elem, 3 mid, 10 high
Enrollment
19,421
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
How this district compares
Alaska rank
#18 of 41
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Alaska avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,575
$10,113 vs Alaska median
District size
19,421 students
Much larger than Alaska median
The short answer
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District ranks #18 of 41 Alaska districts by overall school rating. Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District's schools with real test data average 6.7/10 across 44 schools. Its top-rated schools are Pioneer Peak Elementary (8.9/10), Finger Lake Elementary (8.9/10), and John Shaw Elementary (8.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.9/10 despite 35% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +27.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (44 of 49). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pioneer Peak Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Finger Lake Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | John Shaw Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Dena'ina Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Sutton Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Fronteras Charter School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Butte Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Academy Charter School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Glacier View School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Midnight Sun Family Learning Center | 8.0 / 10 |
See all 49 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is a Palmer, Alaska school district serving 49 schools.The district educates 19,421 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18.9:1. District-level spending was $15,575 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.7/10, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Pioneer Peak Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District students show an average math proficiency of 49.3% and ELA proficiency of 53.0%.
The district includes 27 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 10 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District with test data.
Schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
49 schoolsElementary Schools27
High Schools10
District Details
- State
- Alaska
- City
- Palmer
- Total Enrollment
- 19,421
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,028
- District spending per student
- $15,575NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 7.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District has 49 schools in total — 27 elementary, 3 middle, and 10 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
The average composite rating for Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is 6.7/10. 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District's district-level spending was $15,575 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is 18.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Pioneer Peak Elementary is the highest-rated school in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Across schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 49.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 53.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District compare to other districts in Alaska?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District has an average school rating of 6.7/10 across 49 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
- 6.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 49.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 53.0%
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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Anchorage School District (94)
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (42)
- Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (34)
- Lower Kuskokwim School District (29)
- 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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