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Matanuska-Susitna Borough Schools & Education

Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

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

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

86.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 79.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,680

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,745

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 56/100

State Score Position

#11

of 29 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Measured School Summary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.0%.

Funding Context

Matanuska-Susitna Borough spends $9,680 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 0% above the Alaska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 30% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Matanuska-Susitna 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

47 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

56/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #11 of 29 Alaska counties with school score data.

Completion

86.0%

7.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,680

$4,065 below the state average

School coverage

47

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

Matanuska-Susitna Borough has 47 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 Matanuska-Susitna 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

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District carries most of the listed public-school system, with 47 of 47 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#11

of 29 Alaska counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Elementary to high school visible

19,570 students

Elementary 25Middle 5High 11Other 6

47 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is the largest listed district slice, with 47 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 Matanuska-Susitna 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 Matanuska-Susitna 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.

Alaska's Expansive Valley Education System

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District manages a robust network of 47 public schools serving 19,570 students. The landscape includes 25 elementary, 5 middle, and 11 high schools, making it one of the state's most comprehensive systems. This single-district model provides streamlined administration for a rapidly growing student population.

Innovation Through Charter School Choice

Six charter schools operate within the borough, representing 12.8% of all schools and providing diverse options for local families. The district also manages three alternative schools to support varied learning needs. Mat-Su Central School is the largest institution, serving 2,254 students through its unique PK-12 model.

A Blend of Town and Rural Campuses

Education here happens in diverse settings, with 25 schools located in town locales and 22 in rural areas. While the average school size is 416 students, facilities range from the large Colony High (1,117 students) to much smaller rural outposts. This mix allows families to choose between traditional large-school environments and smaller community settings.

School Overview

Total Schools

47

in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Reported Enrollment

19,570

47 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

6

13% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary25
Middle5
High11
Other6

1 School District in Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Guide
47 schools
19,570 students enrolled
Open district guide

47 Public Schools in Matanuska-Susitna 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 47 matching schools

Mat-Su Central School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

ProfileKG–12Other2,254 students

Colony High School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, 99645 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High1,117 students

Wasilla High School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High848 students

Palmer High School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, 99645 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High760 students

Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Vocational743 students

Colony Middle School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, 99645 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle735 students

Teeland Middle School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle719 students

Wasilla Middle School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle610 students

Palmer Middle School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, 99645 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle594 students

Twindly Bridge Charter School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–12Charter584 students

Joe Redington Senior Jr/Sr High School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99623 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12High556 students

John Shaw Elementary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary533 students

Pioneer Peak Elementary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, 99645 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary513 students

Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary471 students

Cottonwood Creek Elementary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99645 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary468 students

Iditarod Elementary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary437 students

Dena'ina Elementary School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99687 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary435 students

Finger Lake Elementary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Wasilla, 99654 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary425 students

Birchtree Charter School

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, 99645 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–8Charter407 students

Swanson Elementary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, 99645 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary406 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,680

State avg $13,745

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Matanuska-Susitna 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has a school score of 56/100, 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
The high school graduation rate in Matanuska-Susitna Borough is 86.0%, 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough spend per student?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough spends $9,680 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska?

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District manages a robust network of 47 public schools serving 19,570 students. The landscape includes 25 elementary, 5 middle, and 11 high schools, making it one of the state's most comprehensive systems. This single-district model provides streamlined administration for a rapidly growing student population.

What are the major school districts in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska?

Six charter schools operate within the borough, representing 12.8% of all schools and providing diverse options for local families. The district also manages three alternative schools to support varied learning needs. Mat-Su Central School is the largest institution, serving 2,254 students through its unique PK-12 model.

What is the school experience like in Matanuska-Susitna Borough?

Education here happens in diverse settings, with 25 schools located in town locales and 22 in rural areas. While the average school size is 416 students, facilities range from the large Colony High (1,117 students) to much smaller rural outposts. This mix allows families to choose between traditional large-school environments and smaller community settings.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Ketchikan Gateway Borough

Alaska

+0 pts

56/100

School score

Kodiak Island Borough

Alaska

-2 pts

54/100

School score

Nome Census Area

Alaska

-2 pts

54/100

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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