AKAlaska rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Alaska

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Alaska average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 34 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Alaska · Best schools

Butte ranks #12 of 34

+11.1 pts vs. the AK average in math + reading · Visit Butte →

1 Petersburg +23.2 pts Math 55% · Reading 63.3% 2 Eielson AFB +22.1 pts Math 54% · Reading 62% 3 South Lakes +19.7 pts Math 54.1% · Reading 57.2%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

1 PetersburgPetersburg Borough School District +23.2 pts 55% 63.3%

2 Eielson AFBFairbanks North Star Borough School District +22.1 pts 54% 62%

3 South LakesMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +19.7 pts 54.1% 57.2%

4 North LakesMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +17.9 pts 51.4% 56.3%

HomerKenai Peninsula Borough School District +17.9 pts 44.7% 63.1%

6 UnalaskaUnalaska City School District +14.8 pts 49.4% 52%

7 Steele CreekFairbanks North Star Borough School District +13.6 pts 47% 52%

8 TanainaMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +13.3 pts 43.6% 54.9%

9 Meadow LakesMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +13.2 pts 50% 48.3%

10 SoldotnaKenai Peninsula Borough School District +11.2 pts 39.7% 54.6%

11 ValdezValdez City School District +11.2 pts 37.5% 56.9%

12 ButteMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +11.1 pts 42% 52%

Knik-FairviewMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +8.9 pts 41.1% 48.6%

PalmerMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +8.1 pts 38.8% 49.2%

15 KenaiKenai Peninsula Borough School District +7.6 pts 37.8% 49.3%

16 KalifornskyKenai Peninsula Borough School District +7.5 pts 34.3% 52.6%

17 Sitka city andSitka School District +5.4 pts 39.1% 43.6%

18 WasillaMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +5.2 pts 32.5% 49.7%

19 KetchikanKetchikan Gateway Borough School District +4.5 pts 37.3% 43.6%

20 AnchorageAnchorage School District +3.7 pts 36.6% 42.7%

21 Mill BayKodiak Island Borough School District +3.6 pts 42% 37%

22 GatewayMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District +3.3 pts 35% 43.4%

23 FairbanksFairbanks North Star Borough School District +3.0 pts 33.1% 44.9%

24 KodiakKodiak Island Borough School District +2.8 pts 35.3% 42.2%

25 Juneau city andJuneau Borough School District +2.2 pts 34.5% 41.8%

SewardKenai Peninsula Borough School District −0.4 pts 32.4% 38.8%

27 Big LakeMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District −1.5 pts 37% 32%

28 CollegeYukon-Koyukuk School District −4.4 pts 28.9% 34.3%

29 NikiskiKenai Peninsula Borough School District −5.4 pts 24.2% 37%

30 BadgerFairbanks North Star Borough School District −5.6 pts 26.6% 34.2%

31 NomeNome Public Schools −17.9 pts 19.4% 16.7%

32 BethelLower Kuskokwim School District −20.6 pts 14.2% 16.5%

33 KotzebueNorthwest Arctic Borough School District −22.2 pts 13.8% 13.8%

34 UtqiaġvikNorth Slope Borough School District −25.0 pts 6.8% 15%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Alaska average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Alaska only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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