Very Good
#80 of 412 schools in AK
Top 19% in state
John Shaw Elementary
Elementary School · Matanuska-susitna Borough School District · Wasilla, AK
A Matanuska-susitna Borough School District elementary school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3750 E Paradise Ln, Wasilla, AK 99654
- Math 45% proficient (2022)
- Reading 32% proficient (2022)
- 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at John Shaw Elementary score 38% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AK average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 19 points since 2019, to 39% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from AK state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
41.6%
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 John Shaw Elementary 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 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,881/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wasilla), 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
$93,739
Median home value
$342,200
Median rent
$1,233/mo
College educated
23.8%
Homeownership
71.7%
Poverty rate
9.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 99654; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teeland Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 657 | Compare → |
| Fronteras Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.3 | K–8 | 1.5 mi | 347 | Compare → |
| Larson ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | PK–5 | 1.5 mi | 354 | Compare → |
| Mat-su Day SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | K–12 | 1.5 mi | 81 | 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
- #9 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
John Shaw Elementary is listed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About John Shaw Elementary
John Shaw Elementary is a public elementary school in Wasilla, AK, part of Matanuska-susitna Borough School District, serving approximately 483 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #80 of 412 schools in AK. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about John Shaw Elementary
What grades does John Shaw Elementary serve?
John Shaw Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend John Shaw Elementary?
John Shaw Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 483 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Shaw Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at John Shaw Elementary is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does John Shaw Elementary rank in AK?
John Shaw Elementary ranks #80 of 412 schools in AK.
What is John Shaw Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
John Shaw Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 John Shaw Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, John Shaw Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is John Shaw Elementary a charter school?
No, John Shaw Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is John Shaw Elementary a Title I school?
No, John Shaw Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John Shaw Elementary?
41.6% of students at John Shaw Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 483
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.3%
- Phone
- (907) 352-0500
- Area population (ZIP 99654)
- 44,420
- Area average commute
- 32.5 min
- Area median age
- 35.2
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 99654; 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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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