Despite it’s far flung geographical location, America’s largest and least densely populated state is not without its excellent school districts serving towns and boroughs in a number of regions.

Alaska’s top school district is Wrangell Public School District, serving Wrangell City and Borough in the southwest part of the state. Comprising one elementary school, middle school, and high school, Wrangell Public School’s forward looking vision statement promises to “foster and encourage all students to achieve their potential within an increasingly global society.”

Unalaska City School District is the number two ranked school system in the state. A small district of just one elementary school and one high school, UCSD serves Unalaska, the largest city in the Aleutian Islands and home to Dutch Harbor, one of the largest fishery ports in the United States.

We head north to Denali Borough for #3 on the list, Denali Borough School District. DBSD is notable for its Career and Technical Education programs that apply unique learning approaches with the aim of setting students on a career path that interests them.

#4 Petersburg City School District serves Petersburg, a borough located near the home of the state’s top ranked school district, Wrangell, Alaska.

Closing out the top five is Haines Borough School District, which encompasses schools in both the city and borough of Haines. Its sole elementary school, Haines Elementary School, was named a National Blue Ribbon School for the school year of 2014-2015.

Top School Districts in Alaska, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Wrangell Public School DistrictAlaska
2Unalaska City School DistrictAlaska
3Denali Borough School DistrictAlaska
4Petersburg Borough School DistrictAlaska
5Haines Borough School DistrictAlaska
6Sitka School DistrictAlaska
7Valdez City School DistrictAlaska
8Aleutians East Borough School DistrictAlaska
9Delta-Greely School DistrictAlaska
10Matanuska-Susitna Borough School DistrictAlaska
11Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictAlaska
12Craig City School DistrictAlaska
13Kodiak Island Borough School DistrictAlaska
14Fairbanks North Star Borough School DistrictAlaska
15Juneau Borough School DistrictAlaska
16Anchorage School DistrictAlaska
17Ketchikan Gateway Borough School DistrictAlaska
18Copper River School DistrictAlaska
19Cordova City School DistrictAlaska
20Annette Island School DistrictAlaska
21North Slope Borough School DistrictAlaska
22Alaska Gateway School DistrictAlaska
23Chugach School DistrictAlaska
24Lake And Peninsula Borough School DistrictAlaska
25Nome Public SchoolsAlaska
26Yukon-Koyukuk School DistrictAlaska
27Dillingham City School DistrictAlaska
28Lower Kuskokwim School DistrictAlaska
29Bering Strait School DistrictAlaska
30Northwest Arctic Borough School DistrictAlaska
31Southwest Region School DistrictAlaska
32Kuspuk School DistrictAlaska
33Yupiit School DistrictAlaska
34Yukon Flats School DistrictAlaska
35Lower Yukon School DistrictAlaska
36Kashunamiut School DistrictAlaska

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

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