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Very Good

#137 of 412 schools in AK

Top 33% in state

Birchtree Charter School

Elementary School · Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

1675 N Nadina St, Palmer, AK 99645

Charter

Enrollment

407

Student-Teacher

19.4:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Alaska schools

#137 of 412

In Palmer

#6 of 12

public schools

In district

#19 of 45

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Academic performance

7.8 / 10

Very Good

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Birchtree Charter School

7.0/10

Elementary School in Palmer · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Pioneer Peak Elementary

8.1/10

1.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Finger Lake Elementary

7.2/10

1.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Birchtree Charter School

Birchtree Charter School is a public elementary school in Palmer, AK, part of Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Birchtree Charter School serves approximately 407 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Birchtree Charter School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #137 of 412 schools in AK.

Structured state assessment records for Birchtree Charter School show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.9
  • AK avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Birchtree Charter School is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.9Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-3.99 pts/yr
Data Period2010–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.8Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency37% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)38% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-0.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile68th
Resources & Environment6.0Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,575
Chronic Absenteeism19.7%

Birchtree Charter School — Students at Birchtree Charter School score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AK EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 50.6% (multi-year average, 2010-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 63.2% (multi-year average, 2010-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 24 test records from AK state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2010
Math
77%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
34%
ELA
36%
2016
Math
36%
ELA
54%
2017
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
37%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
57%
2022
Math
29%
ELA
45%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.9/10.

How Birchtree Charter School Compares

See how Birchtree Charter School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
67th percentile in AK
Academic
7.8/10
Very Good
Growth
6.9/10
Average
Environment
6.0/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1675 N Nadina St, Palmer, AK 99645

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Birchtree Charter School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Wasilla), which scores notably higher. Another option is Pioneer Peak Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Larson Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 3.7 miles away, in nearby Wasilla), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Palmer, see our Palmer schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Pioneer Peak Elementary Palmer 1.1 mi 8.1
Finger Lake Elementary Wasilla 1.3 mi 7.2
Mat-Su Middle College School Palmer 1.7 mi 7.7
Colony Middle School Palmer 1.9 mi 5.3
Colony High School Palmer 2.1 mi 6.0
Knik Charter Correspondence School Wasilla 2.3 mi
Knik Charter School Wasilla 2.3 mi
Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School Wasilla 3.8 mi 8.3
Mat-Su Day School Wasilla 2.6 mi 5.9
Fronteras Charter School Wasilla 2.8 mi 5.3
John Shaw Elementary Wasilla 3.4 mi 7.6
Cottonwood Creek Elementary Wasilla 3.0 mi 7.4
Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School Wasilla 3.0 mi 8.2
Teeland Middle School Wasilla 3.1 mi 6.2
Valley Pathways Palmer 3.5 mi 6.7
Larson Elementary Wasilla 3.7 mi 7.9
AMAZING GRACE ACADEMY Palmer 4.6 mi 6.6
Palmer High School Palmer 4.5 mi 5.8
Wasilla High School Wasilla 5.2 mi 4.8
Wasilla Middle School Wasilla 5.3 mi 3.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 99645 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$97,069

Median Home Value

$338,400

Median Rent

$1,309/mo

Population

31,494

College Educated

31.1%

Homeownership

78.6%

Avg Commute

31.6 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

36.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Knik Elementary School Wasilla, AK 7.0
Swanson Elementary Palmer, AK 7.0
Butte Elementary Palmer, AK 7.1
Eagle River Elementary Eagle River, AK 7.1
Ladd Elementary Fairbanks, AK 6.9
Sand Lake Elementary Anchorage, AK 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Birchtree Charter School

What grades does Birchtree Charter School serve?

Birchtree Charter School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Birchtree Charter School?

Birchtree Charter School has an enrollment of approximately 407 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Birchtree Charter School?

The student-teacher ratio at Birchtree Charter School is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Birchtree Charter School rank in AK?

Birchtree Charter School ranks #137 of 412 schools in AK.

What is Birchtree Charter School's MySchoolScout rating?

Birchtree Charter School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Birchtree Charter School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Birchtree Charter School has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022).

Is Birchtree Charter School a charter school?

Yes, Birchtree Charter School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Birchtree Charter School a Title I school?

No, Birchtree Charter School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
28 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
407
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.7%

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