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
507 N Gulkana, Palmer, AK 99645
Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 11 schools in Palmer. Learn more
Enrollment
343
Student-Teacher
14.9:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 2nd
Enrollment
343
Student-Teacher
14.9:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 2nd
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Alaska schools
#135 of 412
In Palmer
#5 of 12
public schools
In district
#17 of 45
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Academic performance
8.0 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around Swanson Elementary?
Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.
Shortlist starter
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Swanson Elementary
Elementary School in Palmer · grades Pre-K – 2nd. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Sherrod Elementary
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Academy Charter School
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Swanson Elementary
Swanson Elementary is a public elementary school in Palmer, AK, part of Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Swanson Elementary serves approximately 343 students, and covers grades Pre-K-2nd, and has a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Swanson Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #135 of 412 schools in AK.
Based on limited data: 44% component coverage.
- This school 7.0 · Very Good
- District avg 6.9
- AK avg 6.5
What Parents Should Know
48% of students at Swanson Elementary 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
Partial Profile · 2/3 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
View breakdown
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
46.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
How Swanson Elementary Compares
See how Swanson Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
507 N Gulkana, Palmer, AK 99645
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Swanson Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Academy Charter School (rated 9.3/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 8.5 miles away, in nearby Wasilla), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Pioneer Peak Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 4.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Palmer, see our Palmer schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 8.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sherrod Elementary Palmer | 0.1 mi | 6.7 |
| Academy Charter School Palmer | 0.4 mi | 9.3 |
| Palmer Middle School Palmer | 1.3 mi | 4.0 |
| Mat-Su Secondary School Palmer | 1.8 mi | — |
| Palmer High School Palmer | 1.2 mi | 5.8 |
| AMAZING GRACE ACADEMY Palmer | 3.0 mi | 6.6 |
| Valley Pathways Palmer | 2.6 mi | 6.7 |
| YA NE DAH AH SCHOOL Palmer | 5.3 mi | — |
| Colony High School Palmer | 3.6 mi | 6.0 |
| Colony Middle School Palmer | 3.9 mi | 5.3 |
| Butte Elementary Palmer | 6.1 mi | 7.1 |
| Pioneer Peak Elementary Palmer | 4.6 mi | 8.1 |
| Mat-Su Middle College School Palmer | 5.1 mi | 7.7 |
| Birchtree Charter School Palmer | 5.7 mi | 7.0 |
| Finger Lake Elementary Wasilla | 6.7 mi | 7.2 |
| Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School Wasilla | 8.5 mi | 8.3 |
| Knik Charter Correspondence School Wasilla | 8.0 mi | — |
| Knik Charter School Wasilla | 8.0 mi | — |
| Sutton Elementary Sutton | 10.3 mi | 5.4 |
| Mat-Su Day School Wasilla | 8.2 mi | 5.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 99645 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$97,069
Median Home Value
$338,400
Median Rent
$1,309/mo
Population
31,494
College Educated
31.1%
Homeownership
78.6%
Avg Commute
31.6 min
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Median Age
36.5
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Birchtree Charter School Palmer, AK | 7.0 |
| Fire Lake Elementary Eagle River, AK | 7.0 |
| Knik Elementary School Wasilla, AK | 7.0 |
| Butte Elementary Palmer, AK | 7.1 |
| Eagle River Elementary Eagle River, AK | 7.1 |
| Ladd Elementary Fairbanks, AK | 6.9 |
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.
Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 2nd
- Enrollment
- 343
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 46.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 48.4%
- Phone
- (907) 861-5300
Resources & Links
District
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District- District Enrollment
- 19,421
- Schools in District
- 49
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,575
- District Rank
- #17 of 45
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