schoolsbycounty

Fairbanks North Star Borough Schools & Education

Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

71.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

71.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 79.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,557

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,745

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 56/100

State Score Position

#27

of 29 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Fairbanks North Star Borough

Measured School Summary

Fairbanks North Star Borough has midrange measured school signals (score: 43/100) with a graduation rate of 71.1%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Fairbanks North Star Borough spends $9,557 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 24% below the Alaska average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 7.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 30% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Fairbanks North Star Borough before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

35 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

43/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #27 of 29 Alaska counties with school score data.

Completion

71.1%

7.9 pts below the state average

Funding context

$9,557

$4,188 below the state average

School coverage

35

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Fairbanks North Star Borough has 35 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

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Parent decision brief

What Fairbanks North Star Borough school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District carries most of the listed public-school system, with 33 of 35 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#27

of 29 Alaska counties with school score data. The county score is 13 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Elementary to high school visible

12,703 students

Elementary 20Middle 4High 7Other 2

33 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District is the largest listed district slice, with 33 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Fairbanks North Star Borough?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Education at Scale in the Interior

Fairbanks North Star Borough maintains a robust system of 35 public schools serving over 22,000 students. The landscape features 20 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 7 high schools, primarily managed by a single borough-wide district. This infrastructure supports a diverse student body across urban and suburban settings.

A Hub for School Choice

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District is the primary provider, educating 12,703 students across 33 schools. The borough stands out for its school choice, offering five charter schools that represent over 14% of the local options. Massive correspondence programs like IDEA also serve thousands of students from this regional hub.

A Mix of City and Suburb

Schools here are split evenly between city and suburban locales, providing a more traditional 'lower 48' feel than much of Alaska. While the average school size is 639 students, traditional campuses like West Valley High School host 906 students. This diversity of settings allows families to choose between bustling urban centers and quieter rural outskirts.

School Overview

Total Schools

35

in Fairbanks North Star Borough

Reported Enrollment

22,373

35 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

5

14% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary20
Middle4
High7
Other4

1 School District in Fairbanks North Star Borough

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Guide
33 schools
12,703 students enrolled
Open district guide

35 Public Schools in Fairbanks North Star Borough

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 35 matching schools

Interior Distance Education of Alaska (IDEA)

Galena City School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / Suburb: Small

ProfilePK–12Other6,899 students

Raven School

Yukon-Koyukuk School District

Fairbanks, 99709 / Suburb: Small

ProfilePK–12Other2,771 students

West Valley High School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99709 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12High906 students

Lathrop High School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

Record9–12High886 students

Fairbanks B.E.S.T.

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

RecordPK–12Other801 students

North Pole High School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

North Pole, 99705 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12High617 students

Tanana Middle School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle545 students

Ryan Middle School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle543 students

North Pole Middle School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

North Pole, 99705 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle531 students

Arctic Light Elementary

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fort Wainwright, 99703 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary467 students

Weller Elementary

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary467 students

Crawford Elementary

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Eielson AFB, 99702 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary447 students

Ladd Elementary

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

RecordPK–8Primary437 students

Barnette Magnet School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

RecordPK–8Primary426 students

Ben Eielson Jr/Sr High School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Eielson AFB, 99702 / Town: Fringe

Record6–12High411 students

Pearl Creek Elementary

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99709 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary411 students

Randy Smith Middle School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle407 students

Ticasuk Brown Elementary

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary397 students

Anne Wien Elementary

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99701 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary380 students

Hutchison High School

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Fairbanks, 99709 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12Vocational375 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,557

State avg $13,745

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Fairbanks North Star Borough against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

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Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Alaska counties have the highest graduation rates?
Aleutians West Census Area (95.0%), Chugach Census Area (95.0%), and Petersburg Borough (95.0%) currently lead Alaska among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Alaska?
Across Alaska counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $13,745. The highest current county values are Bristol Bay Borough ($22,316), Aleutians East Borough ($20,268), and Nome Census Area ($20,058). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Fairbanks North Star Borough?
Fairbanks North Star Borough has a school score of 43/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Fairbanks North Star Borough?
The high school graduation rate in Fairbanks North Star Borough is 71.1%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Fairbanks North Star Borough spend per student?
Fairbanks North Star Borough spends $9,557 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska?

Fairbanks North Star Borough maintains a robust system of 35 public schools serving over 22,000 students. The landscape features 20 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 7 high schools, primarily managed by a single borough-wide district. This infrastructure supports a diverse student body across urban and suburban settings.

What are the major school districts in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska?

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District is the primary provider, educating 12,703 students across 33 schools. The borough stands out for its school choice, offering five charter schools that represent over 14% of the local options. Massive correspondence programs like IDEA also serve thousands of students from this regional hub.

What is the school experience like in Fairbanks North Star Borough?

Schools here are split evenly between city and suburban locales, providing a more traditional 'lower 48' feel than much of Alaska. While the average school size is 639 students, traditional campuses like West Valley High School host 906 students. This diversity of settings allows families to choose between bustling urban centers and quieter rural outskirts.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Copper River Census Area

Alaska

+6 pts

48/100

School score

Bethel Census Area

Alaska

+6 pts

48/100

School score

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area

Alaska

+7 pts

49/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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