Northwest Arctic Borough School District
School District · Kotzebue, Alaska
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
13
1 elem, 1 high
Enrollment
2,009
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
13
1 elem, 1 high
Enrollment
2,009
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
How this district compares
Alaska rank
#40 of 41
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.1
below Alaska avg
Per-pupil spending
$46,368
+$20,680 vs Alaska median
District size
2,009 students
Much larger than Alaska median
The short answer
Northwest Arctic Borough School District ranks #40 of 41 Alaska districts by overall school rating. Northwest Arctic Borough School District's schools with real test data average 5.3/10 across 12 schools. Its top-rated schools are June Nelson Elementary (6.7/10), Kobuk School (6.7/10), and Deering School (6.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.7/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 Northwest Arctic Borough School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +1.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Northwest Arctic Borough School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (12 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June Nelson Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Kobuk School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Deering School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Napaaqtugmiut School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Ambler School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Shungnak School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Kiana School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Kotzebue Middle/high School | 4.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Davis-Ramoth School | 4.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Buckland School | 4.5 / 10 |
See all 13 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Northwest Arctic Borough School District is a Kotzebue, Alaska school district serving 13 schools.The district educates 2,009 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.1:1. District-level spending was $46,368 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.3/10, Northwest Arctic Borough School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Kobuk School, which has a composite score of 6.7/10.
In standardized testing, Northwest Arctic Borough School District students show an average math proficiency of 16.4% and ELA proficiency of 16.7%.
The district includes 1 elementary school, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District with test data.
Schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District
13 schoolsElementary Schools1
High Schools1
District Details
- State
- Alaska
- City
- Kotzebue
- Total Enrollment
- 2,009
- Teachers (FTE)
- 105
- District spending per student
- $46,368NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 31.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District has 13 schools in total — 1 elementary, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
The average composite rating for Northwest Arctic Borough School District is 5.3/10. 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 Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District's district-level spending was $46,368 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 Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Northwest Arctic Borough School District is 19.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Kobuk School is the highest-rated school in Northwest Arctic Borough School District with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What are the test scores in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Across schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 16.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 16.7%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Northwest Arctic Borough School District compare to other districts in Alaska?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District has an average school rating of 5.3/10 across 13 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
- 5.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 16.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 16.7%
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 Northwest Arctic Borough 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)
- Lower Kuskokwim School District (29)
- Bering Strait School District (15)
- Juneau Borough School District (15)
- Kodiak Island 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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