Northwest Arctic Borough Schools & Education
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
51/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
72.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
72.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 79.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,247
National avg $13,239
State avg $13,745
School Score
51/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 56/100
State Score Position
#20
of 29 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Northwest Arctic Borough
Measured School Summary
Northwest Arctic Borough has midrange measured school signals (score: 51/100) with a graduation rate of 72.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
With $15,247 per pupil, Northwest Arctic Borough has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 10% below the Alaska average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 7.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Northwest Arctic 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
13 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
51/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #20 of 29 Alaska counties with school score data.
Completion
72.0%
7.0 pts below the state average
Funding context
$15,247
$1,502 above the state average
School coverage
13
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
Northwest Arctic Borough has 13 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.
What Northwest Arctic 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
Northwest Arctic Borough School District carries most of the listed public-school system, with 13 of 13 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#20
of 29 Alaska counties with school score data. The county score is 5 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.
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Elementary and high visible
1,911 students
13 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Northwest Arctic Borough School District is the largest listed district slice, with 13 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 Northwest Arctic Borough?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Northwest Arctic 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 Across the Arctic Circle
The Northwest Arctic Borough School District oversees 13 schools that educate 1,911 students. The system primarily uses a PK-12 model with 11 'other' schools, supplemented by one dedicated elementary and one high school. This structure provides a consistent educational path for students from early childhood through graduation.
A Unified Borough District Model
The Northwest Arctic Borough School District serves all 1,911 students in the region without the use of charter schools. Kotzebue Middle/High School is the largest campus with 328 students, followed by June Nelson Elementary with 265. All 13 schools are traditional public institutions focused on local community needs.
Rural Roots with Hub-Based Learning
Most students attend one of the 10 rural schools, though 3 schools are located in the regional hub of Kotzebue. The average school size is small at 147 students, ensuring that educators know every student by name. From Buckland to Noorvik, these schools serve as the heart of each community's social and cultural life.
School Overview
Total Schools
13
in Northwest Arctic Borough
Reported Enrollment
1,911
13 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Northwest Arctic Borough
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
13 Public Schools in Northwest Arctic Borough
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 13 of 13 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotzebue Middle/High School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Kotzebue, 99752Town: Remote | 6–12 | High | 328 |
| June Nelson Elementary | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Kotzebue, 99752Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 265 |
| Davis-Ramoth School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Selawik, 99770Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Virtual | 245 |
| Aqqaluk High/Noorvik Elementary | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Noorvik, 99763Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Virtual | 203 |
| Buckland School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Buckland, 99727Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Virtual | 200 |
| Napaaqtugmiut School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Noatak, 99761Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 157 |
| Kisimgiugtuq School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Kivalina, 99750Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 156 |
| Kiana School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Kiana, 99749Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 99 |
| Shungnak School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Shungnak, 99773Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 84 |
| Ambler School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Ambler, 99786Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Virtual | 57 |
| Deering School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Deering, 99736Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 54 |
| Kobuk School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Kobuk, 99751Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 35 |
| NWABSD Home School | Record | Northwest Arctic Borough School District | Kotzebue, 99752Town: Remote | KG–12 | Other | 28 |
Kotzebue Middle/High School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Kotzebue, 99752 / Town: Remote
June Nelson Elementary
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Kotzebue, 99752 / Town: Remote
Davis-Ramoth School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Selawik, 99770 / Rural: Remote
Aqqaluk High/Noorvik Elementary
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Noorvik, 99763 / Rural: Remote
Buckland School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Buckland, 99727 / Rural: Remote
Napaaqtugmiut School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Noatak, 99761 / Rural: Remote
Kisimgiugtuq School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Kivalina, 99750 / Rural: Remote
Kiana School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Kiana, 99749 / Rural: Remote
Shungnak School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Shungnak, 99773 / Rural: Remote
Ambler School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Ambler, 99786 / Rural: Remote
Deering School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Deering, 99736 / Rural: Remote
Kobuk School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Kobuk, 99751 / Rural: Remote
NWABSD Home School
Northwest Arctic Borough School District
Kotzebue, 99752 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$15,247
State avg $13,745
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Northwest Arctic Borough against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Alaska counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Alaska?
How should I read the school score in Northwest Arctic Borough?
What is the graduation rate in Northwest Arctic Borough?
How much does Northwest Arctic Borough spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
The Northwest Arctic Borough School District oversees 13 schools that educate 1,911 students. The system primarily uses a PK-12 model with 11 'other' schools, supplemented by one dedicated elementary and one high school. This structure provides a consistent educational path for students from early childhood through graduation.
What are the major school districts in Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?
The Northwest Arctic Borough School District serves all 1,911 students in the region without the use of charter schools. Kotzebue Middle/High School is the largest campus with 328 students, followed by June Nelson Elementary with 265. All 13 schools are traditional public institutions focused on local community needs.
What is the school experience like in Northwest Arctic Borough?
Most students attend one of the 10 rural schools, though 3 schools are located in the regional hub of Kotzebue. The average school size is small at 147 students, ensuring that educators know every student by name. From Buckland to Noorvik, these schools serve as the heart of each community's social and cultural life.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.