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Excellent

#15 of 412 schools in AK

Top 3% in state

Girdwood School

Elementary School · Anchorage School District

PO Box 189, Girdwood, AK 99587

Enrollment

175

Student-Teacher

12.5:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Alaska schools

#15 of 412

In district

#6 of 93

Anchorage School District

Academic performance

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Girdwood School

8.7/10

Elementary School in Girdwood · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Whittier Community School

4.8/10

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

Hope School

Nearby

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

About Girdwood School

Girdwood School is a public elementary school in Girdwood, AK, part of Anchorage School District. Girdwood School serves approximately 175 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Girdwood School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #15 of 412 schools in AK.

Structured state assessment records for Girdwood School show 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.1 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.6
  • AK avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 175 students, Girdwood School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Girdwood School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

43% of students at Girdwood School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-3.28 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency57% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency62% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency60% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)35% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+24.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile96th
Resources & Environment8.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,636
Chronic Absenteeism43.4%

Girdwood School — Students at Girdwood School score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

9.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AK EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 74.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 74.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 26 test records from AK state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2013
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
57%
ELA
62%

* 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: 8.3/10.

How Girdwood School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
97th percentile in AK
Academic
9.8/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
8.1/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
10%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
14 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
43.4%

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

PO Box 189, Girdwood, AK 99587

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Girdwood School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Eagle Academy Charter School (rated 9.2/10, 28.5 miles away, in nearby Eagle River), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Birchwood ABC Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 31.1 miles away, in nearby Eagle River), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Ravenwood Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 26.5 miles away, in nearby Eagle River), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Girdwood, see our Girdwood schools guide .

Nearby Schools

19 within 31.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Whittier Community School Whittier 20.1 mi 4.8
Hope School Hope 17.0 mi
Ravenwood Elementary Eagle River 26.5 mi 8.1
Alpenglow Elementary Eagle River 26.5 mi 7.7
EAGLE RIVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Eagle River 27.5 mi 6.5
Moose Pass School Moose Pass 34.2 mi
Gruening Middle School Eagle River 27.2 mi 6.7
Homestead Elementary Eagle River 27.7 mi 6.4
Mirror Lake Middle School Chugiak 33.2 mi 6.9
Chugiak Elementary Chugiak 31.9 mi 8.0
Eagle River High School Eagle River 27.2 mi 6.8
BIRCHWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Chugiak 32.1 mi 5.4
ST JOHN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Eagle River 30.2 mi 6.9
Fire Lake Elementary Eagle River 29.5 mi 7.0
Eagle River Elementary Eagle River 28.4 mi 7.1
Chugiak High School Chugiak 30.8 mi 5.8
Distance Learning/Corresp. Ctr. Eagle River 29.3 mi 8.2
Eagle Academy Charter School Eagle River 28.5 mi 9.2
Birchwood ABC Elementary Eagle River 31.1 mi 8.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 99587 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$154,414

Median Home Value

$672,100

Population

1,857

College Educated

44.2%

Homeownership

75.8%

Poverty Rate

7.3%

Median Age

52.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Watershed Charter School Fairbanks, AK 8.7
Peterson Elementary Kodiak, AK 8.5
Soldotna Montessori Charter School Soldotna, AK 8.5
Birchwood ABC Elementary Eagle River, AK 8.9
Rae C. Stedman Elementary Petersburg, AK 8.4
Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School Ketchikan, AK 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Girdwood School

What grades does Girdwood School serve?

Girdwood School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Girdwood School?

Girdwood School has an enrollment of approximately 175 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Girdwood School?

The student-teacher ratio at Girdwood School is 12.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Girdwood School rank in AK?

Girdwood School ranks #15 of 412 schools in AK.

What is Girdwood School's MySchoolScout rating?

Girdwood School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Girdwood School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Girdwood School has 75% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Girdwood School a charter school?

No, Girdwood School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Girdwood School a Title I school?

No, Girdwood School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Girdwood School?

9.7% of students at Girdwood School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
25 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
22 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
175
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Free/Reduced Lunch
9.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Anchorage Municipality
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
43.4%

District

Anchorage School District
District Enrollment
43,363
Schools in District
94
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,636
District Rank
#6 of 93

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