Needs Improvement
#412 of 412 schools in AK
Houston Middle School
Middle School · Matanuska-susitna Borough School District · Big Lake, AK
A Matanuska-susitna Borough School District middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 520920, Big Lake, AK 99652
- Math 6% proficient (2022)
- Reading 17% proficient (2022)
- 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Houston Middle School score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AK average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 15 points since 2017, to 12% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 11 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
Based on 22 test records from AK state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
67.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 Houston Middle 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
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Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$71,310
Median home value
$280,200
Median rent
$1,066/mo
College educated
18.7%
Homeownership
75.2%
Poverty rate
13.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 99652; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.1 | K–12 | 4.6 mi | 197 | Compare → |
| Glacier View SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | K–12 | Not available | 31 | Compare → |
| Mat-su Central SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | K–12 | Not available | 2,558 | Compare → |
| Mat-su Day SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | K–12 | Not available | 81 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Matanuska-susitna Borough School District
- Schools in district
- 49
- Rank in district
- #45 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
Houston Middle School is listed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Houston Middle School
Houston Middle School is a public middle school in Big Lake, AK, part of Matanuska-susitna Borough School District, serving approximately 344 students in grades 6th-8th with a 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #412 of 412 schools in AK. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Houston Middle School
What grades does Houston Middle School serve?
Houston Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Houston Middle School?
Houston Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 344 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Houston Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Houston Middle School is 18.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Houston Middle School rank in AK?
Houston Middle School ranks #412 of 412 schools in AK.
What is Houston Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Houston Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Houston Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Houston Middle School has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Houston Middle School a charter school?
No, Houston Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Houston Middle School a Title I school?
No, Houston Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Houston Middle School?
67.2% of students at Houston Middle 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 344
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 64.5%
- Phone
- (907) 892-9500
- Area population (ZIP 99652)
- 4,066
- Area average commute
- 37.5 min
- Area median age
- 40.5
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 99652; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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