Best Public Schools in Wasilla, AK

The Wasilla, Alaska area is home to 26 schools, including 15 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 4 high schools, and 6 alternative schools, all part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The district is ranked 8th out of 24 in Alaska and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Several schools stand out in the Wasilla area, including John Shaw Elementary and Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary, which rank among the top 15-25 elementary schools in the state with 4-5 star ratings. These high-performing schools have very high proficiency rates in science and English language arts, outpacing the district and state averages. The Mat-Su Career & Technical Educational High School also shines, ranking 12th out of 63 high schools in Alaska with a 4-star rating and strong academic performance across multiple subjects. Additionally, charter schools like Twindly Bridge Charter School and Midnight Sun Family Learning Center are among the top 25-30 elementary schools in the state.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities within the Wasilla school district, with high-poverty schools like Dena'ina Elementary struggling with under 30% proficiency in some subjects, while the top-performing schools exceed 60-70% proficiency. Funding and student-teacher ratios appear to be key factors, with higher-spending, lower-ratio schools generally outperforming their peers. Addressing these disparities and replicating the success of the district's standout schools could yield substantial benefits for students across Wasilla.