Very Good
#137 of 412 schools in AK
Top 33% in state
Birchtree Charter School
Elementary School · Matanuska-susitna Borough School District · Palmer, AK
A Matanuska-susitna Borough School District charter elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 8th.
1675 N Nadina St, Palmer, AK 99645
- Math 29% proficient (2022)
- Reading 45% proficient (2022)
- 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Birchtree Charter School score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AK average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 37% in 2022, across a 13-year record (2010–2022).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2010-2022) · reading/ELA 63% (multi-year average, 2010-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 24 test records from AK state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Birchtree Charter School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 28Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,102/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Palmer), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$97,069
Median home value
$338,400
Median rent
$1,309/mo
College educated
31.1%
Homeownership
78.6%
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 99645; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Peak ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 471 | Compare → |
| Finger Lake ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 402 | Compare → |
| Colony Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–8 | 1.9 mi | 757 | Compare → |
| Knik Charter Correspondence SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | Not rated | PK–12 | 2.3 mi | 29 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Matanuska-susitna Borough School District
- Schools in district
- 49
- Rank in district
- #19 of 45
- District spending per student
- $15,575NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Birchtree Charter School is listed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Birchtree Charter School
Birchtree Charter School is a public elementary school in Palmer, AK, part of Matanuska-susitna Borough School District, serving approximately 407 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #137 of 412 schools in AK. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2022).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- 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%
- Phone
- (907) 745-1831
- Area population (ZIP 99645)
- 31,494
- Area average commute
- 31.6 min
- Area median age
- 36.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 99645; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2010-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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