Aurora Borealis Charter School

Summary:

Aurora Borealis Charter School is a public charter elementary school in Kenai, Alaska that serves grades K-8 with a student population of 187. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, outperforming both the local Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the state of Alaska in academic achievement.

Aurora Borealis Charter School's students significantly outshine their peers, with 89.92% proficient or better in STAR Mathematics in 2023-2024, compared to just 36.12% for the district and 31.11% for the state. The school also boasts a more diverse student population, with 20.86% non-white students, and an impressively low 1.6% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, far below the 21.21% to 51.65% range of nearby schools. This suggests the school's educational model and teaching practices are highly effective in supporting student learning, even in a region with lower overall academic performance.

The consistent high performance of Aurora Borealis Charter School, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years, is truly remarkable. While the nearby Tustumena Elementary, Sterling Elementary, and other schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District generally perform below the state averages, Aurora Borealis Charter School stands out as an exceptional educational institution, offering valuable lessons for improving academic outcomes in the region.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

705 Frontage Rd Ste A
Kenai, AK 99611

(907) 283-0292

District: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
9^th of 173 Alaska Elementary Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 16.0

Number of students: 193

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.7%

Two or more races:

9.8%

American Indian:

6.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 1.6%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Aurora Borealis Charter School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Aurora Borealis Charter School ranks better than 94.8% of elementary schools in Alaska. It also ranks first among 13 ranked elementary schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 90.74. (See more...)

Compare Details Aurora Borealis Charter School ranks better than 94.5% of middle schools in Alaska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.04. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (76.7%), two or more races (9.8%), American Indian (6.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Aurora Borealis Charter School is 16. 15 elementary schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Aurora Borealis Charter School employs 12 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Aurora Borealis Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Aurora Borealis Charter School 9^th of 173 Alaska public elementary schools. (See Aurora Borealis Charter School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Aurora Borealis Charter School 5^th of 91 Alaska public middle schools. (See Aurora Borealis Charter School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Kenai Peninsula Borough School District 10^th of 24 Alaska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Aurora Borealis Charter School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Aurora Borealis Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile
2005	80.62	24^th	213	88.7%
2008	83.46	15^th	219	93.2%
2015	96.39	2^nd	246	99.2%
2017	96.73	1^st	180	99.4%
2018	96.41	2^nd	186	98.9%
2019	89.12	10^th	185	94.6%
2021	93.55	4^th	173	97.7%
2022	93.48	5^th	171	97.1%
2023	94.38	5^th	176	97.2%
2024	90.74	9^th	173	94.8%

See the entire list of Alaska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Aurora Borealis Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	80.46	18^th	143	87.4%
2024	94.47	2^nd	142	98.6%

See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Aurora Borealis Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile
2021	90.79	3^rd	142	97.9%
2022	88.03	6^th	148	95.9%
2023	85.47	10^th	148	93.2%

See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Aurora Borealis Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	81.52	16^th	147	89.1%
2021	90.37	5^th	127	96.1%
2022	87.83	8^th	137	94.2%
2023	86.98	7^th	138	94.9%
2024	81.96	15^th	133	88.7%

See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Aurora Borealis Charter School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Aurora Borealis Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2006	73.32	38^th	132	71.2%
2015	97.32	1^st	151	99.3%
2017	98.96	1^st	88	98.9%
2018	96.55	1^st	96	99.0%
2019	84.54	10^th	99	89.9%
2022	95.88	3^rd	95	96.8%
2023	97.77	1^st	92	98.9%
2024	91.04	5^th	91	94.5%

See the entire list of Alaska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Aurora Borealis Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	89.97	5^th	73	93.2%

See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Aurora Borealis Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	79.56	9^th	74	87.8%

See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

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Enrollment information for Aurora Borealis Charter School

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Year	White	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1998	68	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	0	75
1999	80	0	0	7	n/a	n/a	0	87
2000	73	0	1	16	n/a	n/a	0	90
2001	94	0	2	4	n/a	n/a	0	100
2002	147	1	2	6	n/a	n/a	0	156
2003	147	1	2	6	n/a	n/a	0	156
2004	155	2	6	4	n/a	n/a	0	167
2005	165	3	5	5	n/a	n/a	0	178
2006	166	4	5	5	n/a	n/a	0	180
2007	162	4	5	7	n/a	n/a	0	178
2008	162	4	5	7	n/a	n/a	2	180
2009	167	2	4	5	2	4	0	184
2010	165	3	3	5	0	6	0	182
2011	163	2	1	7	0	11	0	184
2012	167	2	1	5	0	18	0	193
2013	160	1	1	9	0	19	0	190
2014	165	2	1	7	0	19	0	194
2015	159	1	1	8	0	19	0	188
2016	153	1	1	11	0	15	0	181
2017	157	1	2	15	0	18	0	193
2018	162	2	2	13	0	18	0	197
2019	163	4	1	9	0	17	0	194
2020	150	5	2	9	1	16	0	183
2021	138	5	2	9	0	20	0	174
2022	141	5	8	7	0	23	0	184
2023	148	2	7	10	0	20	0	187
2024	148	2	10	12	2	19	0	193

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Aurora Borealis Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	75	4.5	16.7	0
1999	87	5.0	17.4	n/a
2000	90	5.0	18.0	n/a
2001	100	5.0	20.0	n/a
2002	156	8.0	19.5	n/a
2003	156	8.0	19.5	n/a
2004	167	10.0	16.7	n/a
2005	178	11.0	16.2	n/a
2006	180	11.5	15.7	n/a
2007	178	11.7	15.2	n/a
2008	180	11.8	15.3	0
2009	184	11.7	15.7	0
2010	182	11.5	15.8	0
2011	184	11.6	15.8	0
2012	193	11.6	16.6	0
2013	190	11.7	16.1	0
2014	194	11.7	16.5	0
2015	188	12.0	15.6	0
2016	181	12.0	15.0	0
2017	193	11.7	16.4	1.6
2018	197	11.7	16.7	1.5
2019	194	11.8	16.4	1.5
2020	183	11.7	15.5	1.6
2021	174	12.0	14.4	n/a
2022	184	12.0	15.2	n/a
2023	187	12.0	15.5	1.6
2024	193	12.0	16.0	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Aurora Borealis Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	75	4.5	16.7	0
1999	87	5.0	17.4	n/a
2000	90	5.0	18.0	n/a
2001	100	5.0	20.0	n/a
2002	156	8.0	19.5	n/a
2003	156	8.0	19.5	n/a
2004	167	10.0	16.7	n/a
2005	178	11.0	16.2	n/a
2006	180	11.5	15.7	n/a
2007	178	11.7	15.2	n/a
2008	180	11.8	15.3	0
2009	184	11.7	15.7	0
2010	182	11.5	15.8	0
2011	184	11.6	15.8	0
2012	193	11.6	16.6	0
2013	190	11.7	16.1	0
2014	194	11.7	16.5	0
2015	188	12.0	15.6	0
2016	181	12.0	15.0	0
2017	193	11.7	16.4	1.6
2018	197	11.7	16.7	1.5
2019	194	11.8	16.4	1.5
2020	183	11.7	15.5	1.6
2021	174	12.0	14.4	n/a
2022	184	12.0	15.2	n/a
2023	187	12.0	15.5	1.6
2024	193	12.0	16.0	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Aurora Borealis Charter School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 10^th of 185 Elementary schools	Ranks 5^th of 176 Elementary schools	2.6%
Ranks 10^th of 99 Middle schools	Ranks 1^st of 92 Middle schools	9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	194	187	3.6%
African American	0	0
American Indian	9	10	11.1%
Asian	4	2	50%
Hispanic	1	7	600%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	163	148	9.2%
Two or More Races	17	20	17.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	1.5%	1.6%	0.1%

Schools Near Aurora Borealis Charter School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				STAR English Language Arts (2024)							STAR Mathematics (2024)					ASA Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	STAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	STAR English Language Arts All Grades	STAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 5th Grade	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Total
Aurora Borealis Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	705 Frontage Rd Ste A	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 283-0292	193	12	16.0		148 (76.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.2%)	2 (1.0%)	12 (6.2%)	2 (1.0%)	19 (9.8%)	90.7	9^th of 173 public elementary schools	94.8%		94.4	5^th of 176 public elementary schools	97.2%	4		39.1	75.0	65.0	70.6	81.3	69.8	87.0	87.0		85.0	89.9		50.0	77.8
Kaleidoscope School of Arts & Science	Public, Charter	K-5	549 N Forest Dr	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 283-0804	200	14	14.2	35.0%	120 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.5%)	4 (2.0%)	22 (11.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (19.5%)	10	161^st of 173 public elementary schools	6.9%		13.4	161^st of 176 public elementary schools	8.5%		12.9	17.7					13.3	16.1	14.7			13.3	22.2		22.2
Mt. View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	315 Swires Rd	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 283-8600	411	28	14.6	50.9%	239 (58.2%)	2 (0.5%)	27 (6.6%)	2 (0.5%)	47 (11.4%)	3 (0.7%)	91 (22.1%)	29.8	126^th of 173 public elementary schools	27.2%		35.2	118^th of 176 public elementary schools	33.0%	8	22.7	21.3	35.5				26.5	30.3	29.5	21.0		27.0	51.6		51.6
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1049 E Poppy Lane	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 260-1300	412	28	14.8	36.7%	269 (65.3%)	2 (0.5%)	34 (8.3%)	5 (1.2%)	31 (7.5%)	1 (0.2%)	70 (17.0%)	54.2	85^th of 173 public elementary schools	50.9%		36.5	114^th of 176 public elementary schools	35.2%	29	23.5	23.2	60.0	45.7			39.0	29.4	26.8	50.8	52.2	39.9	69.2		69.2
Redoubt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	486 W Redoubt Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 260-4300	347	23	15.1	40.6%	219 (63.1%)	5 (1.4%)	22 (6.3%)	8 (2.3%)	31 (8.9%)	1 (0.3%)	61 (17.6%)	47.3	97^th of 173 public elementary schools	43.9%		46.8	94^th of 176 public elementary schools	46.6%	3	28.9	40.5	40.0	45.5			39.0	40.0	29.7	36.4	32.7	34.8	56.8		56.8
Nikiski North Star Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	45600 Holt Lamplight Rd	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 776-2600	252	17	14.4	47.6%	184 (73.0%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.4%)	3 (1.2%)	13 (5.2%)	2 (0.8%)	38 (15.1%)	36.5	113^th of 173 public elementary schools	34.7%		39.6	108^th of 176 public elementary schools	38.6%	5	38.9	22.2	16.3				25.2	38.2	50.0	14.0		32.7	46.5		46.5
Soldotna Montessori Charter School	Public, Charter	K-6	158 E Park Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 260-9221	164	10	15.8	19.5%	131 (79.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.3%)	1 (0.6%)	8 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (10.4%)								(n/a)
Soldotna Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	162 E Park Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 260-5100	253	21	12.1	34.4%	165 (65.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (8.7%)	2 (0.8%)	21 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (17.0%)	66	55^th of 173 public elementary schools	68.2%		68.2	47^th of 176 public elementary schools	73.3%	8	28.1	29.7	57.6	74.2			46.6	37.5	32.4	63.6	61.3	48.1	69.7		69.7
Sterling Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	35096 Sterling Hwy	Sterling	99672	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 262-4944	124	11	11.1	46.8%	88 (71.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (16.1%)	43.4	101^st of 173 public elementary schools	41.6%		16	153^rd of 176 public elementary schools	13.1%	52		14.3	37.5	42.9			25.7			37.5	42.9	24.3	62.5		62.5
Tustumena Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	58231 Sterling Hwy	Kasilof	99610	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 260-1345	132	11	12.3	41.7%	97 (73.5%)	2 (1.5%)	5 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (13.6%)	70.6	41^st of 173 public elementary schools	76.3%		72.4	38^th of 176 public elementary schools	78.4%	3	30.0	26.7	57.1	66.7			44.1	45.0	40.0	71.4	50.0	52.9	76.2		76.2

Frequently Asked Questions about Aurora Borealis Charter School

How many students attend Aurora Borealis Charter School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 193 students attended Aurora Borealis Charter School.

Is Aurora Borealis Charter School a good school?

Yes. Aurora Borealis Charter School ranks in the top 5.2% of Alaska elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Aurora Borealis Charter School?

Students at Aurora Borealis Charter School are 77% White, 10% Two or more races, 6% American Indian, 5% Hispanic, 1% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is Aurora Borealis Charter School in?

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.