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
Evaluating Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Northwest Arctic Borough School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Kiana School
Kiana · Other. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Kisimgiugtuq School
Kivalina · Other. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Kobuk School
Kobuk · Other. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Alaska rank
#38 of 41
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.0
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 #38 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 Kiana School (6.5/10), Kisimgiugtuq School (6.1/10), and Kobuk School (5.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.5/10 despite 101% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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.
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 | Kiana School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Kisimgiugtuq School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Kobuk School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Davis-ramoth School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Aqqaluk High/noorvik Elementary | 5.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Napaaqtugmiut School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Buckland School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Kotzebue Middle/high School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Shungnak School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Deering School | 4.4 / 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 Kiana School, which has a composite score of 6.5/10.
In standardized testing, Northwest Arctic Borough School District students show an average math proficiency of 21.1% and ELA proficiency of 22.2%.
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?
Kiana School is the highest-rated school in Northwest Arctic Borough School District with a composite score of 6.5/10.
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 21.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 22.2%. 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
- 21.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 22.2%
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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