Very Good
#135 of 412 schools in AK
Top 33% in state
Based on limited data
Swanson Elementary
Elementary School · Matanuska-susitna Borough School District · Palmer, AK
A Matanuska-susitna Borough School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 2nd.
507 N Gulkana, Palmer, AK 99645
- 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 11 schools in Palmer.Learn more
Academics
Partial Profile · 2/3 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
View breakdown
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
Test scores
Most recent published year. School vs. AK average.
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
46.1%
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 Swanson 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 24Car-Dependent
- Bike 59Bikeable
- 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.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherrod ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | K–5 | 0.1 mi | 369 | Compare → |
| Academy Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 9.3 | K–8 | 0.4 mi | 267 | Compare → |
| Valley PathwaysEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | PK–12 | 2.6 mi | 153 | Compare → |
| Amazing Grace AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | PK–12 | 3.0 mi | 86 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Matanuska-susitna Borough School District
- Schools in district
- 49
- Rank in district
- #17 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
Swanson Elementary is listed in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Swanson Elementary
Swanson Elementary is a public elementary school in Palmer, AK, part of Matanuska-susitna Borough School District, serving approximately 343 students in grades Pre-K-2nd with a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #135 of 412 schools in AK. Based on limited data: 44% component coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Swanson Elementary
What grades does Swanson Elementary serve?
Swanson Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 2nd.
How many students attend Swanson Elementary?
Swanson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 343 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Swanson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Swanson Elementary is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Swanson Elementary rank in AK?
Swanson Elementary ranks #135 of 412 schools in AK.
What is Swanson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Swanson Elementary 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.
Is Swanson Elementary a charter school?
No, Swanson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Swanson Elementary a Title I school?
No, Swanson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Swanson Elementary?
46.1% of students at Swanson 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 – 2nd
- Enrollment
- 343
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 48.4%
- Phone
- (907) 861-5300
- 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.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource 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.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments vintage unavailable; directory SY 2023–24
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