Is Palmer High School a good school?

Palmer High School ranks 44 th of 63 Alaska high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Palmer High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 760 students attended Palmer High School.

What is the racial makeup of Palmer High School?

Students at Palmer High School are 68% White, 13% Two or more races, 9% American Indian, 8% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Palmer High School?

Palmer High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Butte Elementary Elementary : Sherrod Elementary Elementary : Sutton Elementary Elementary : Swanson Elementary Middle : Palmer Middle School

Palmer High School

Summary:

Palmer High School is a public high school located in Palmer, Alaska, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 760 students. It is part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which is ranked 8th out of 24 districts in Alaska and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Palmer High School has a relatively diverse student population, with 68.16% White, 8.03% Hispanic, 9.47% Native American, and 12.63% two or more races. However, the school's academic performance is mixed compared to the district and state averages. While the school's science proficiency rates are higher than the district and state, its English language arts and mathematics proficiency rates are lower. The school's performance also varies across different student subgroups, with Native American and multi-racial students performing better than female and White students.

Compared to some nearby schools, such as Burchell High School and Joe Redington Senior Junior/Senior High School, Palmer High School performs better academically. However, the school's statewide ranking has declined over the years, and its relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds may be a contributing factor to its academic performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1170 W Bogard Rd
Palmer, AK 99645

(907) 746-8400

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
44^th of 63 Alaska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,102

Feeder schools for Palmer High School:

Elementary:	Butte Elementary
	Sherrod Elementary
	Sutton Elementary
	Swanson Elementary
Middle:	Palmer Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.0

Number of students: 760

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.2%

Two or more races:

12.6%

American Indian:

9.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 33.3%

See top rated Alaska high schools

Compare Palmer High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Palmer High School ranks worse than 69.8% of high schools in Alaska. It also ranks 4^th among 8 ranked high schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.02. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (68.2%), two or more races (12.6%), American Indian (9.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 33.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Palmer High School is 18. 6 high schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Palmer High School employs 42 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Palmer High School is $16,102, which is the 5^th highest among 8 high schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Palmer High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Palmer High School 44^th of 63 Alaska public high schools. (See Palmer High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Migrant students:

Female students:

Military Connected students:

Male students:

White students:

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District 8^th of 24 Alaska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Palmer High School?

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Rank History for Palmer High School

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Rank History for all students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2005	62.60	54^th	116	53.4%
2006	79.40	22^nd	135	83.7%
2007	82.45	17^th	139	87.8%
2008	85.30	10^th	151	93.4%
2009	77.16	29^th	151	80.8%
2010	74.85	26^th	140	81.4%
2011	80.36	21^st	142	85.2%
2012	86.30	8^th	136	94.1%
2013	70.98	41^st	148	72.3%
2014	84.98	11^th	139	92.1%
2015	71.21	33^rd	135	75.6%
2017	51.03	40^th	83	51.8%
2018	54.38	35^th	74	52.7%
2019	45.76	43^rd	77	44.2%
2021	36.46	36^th	61	41.0%
2022	48.68	28^th	62	54.8%
2023	45.86	32^nd	62	48.4%
2024	33.02	44^th	63	30.2%

See the entire list of Alaska High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2022	36.65	12^th	21	42.9%
2023	51.19	12^th	23	47.8%
2024	43.22	12^th	24	50.0%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	41.96	31^st	55	43.6%
2021	34.51	24^th	37	35.1%
2022	34.39	19^th	34	44.1%
2023	48.69	20^th	42	52.4%
2024	44.42	19^th	41	53.7%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2022	47.51	4^th	10	60.0%
2023	85.62	1^st	16	93.8%
2024	42.04	6^th	11	45.5%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Female students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	45.22	32^nd	54	40.7%
2021	29.78	28^th	37	24.3%
2022	48.47	20^th	43	53.5%
2023	39.19	33^rd	54	38.9%
2024	30.18	34^th	45	24.4%

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

Rank History for Military Connected students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	45.08	10^th	16	37.5%
2022	73.30	3^rd	14	78.6%
2023	36.86	8^th	12	33.3%
2024	36.84	11^th	14	21.4%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	44.49	36^th	58	37.9%
2021	37.42	27^th	42	35.7%
2022	45.27	23^rd	46	50.0%
2023	42.13	27^th	47	42.6%
2024	33.44	33^rd	48	31.3%

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

Rank History for Native American students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	39.33	21^st	31	32.3%
2023	57.96	7^th	20	65.0%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	42.41	38^th	56	32.1%
2021	30.05	32^nd	43	25.6%
2022	43.48	26^th	47	44.7%
2023	33.68	34^th	47	27.7%
2024	17.90	40^th	46	13.0%

See the entire list of Best Alaska High 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 Palmer High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	746	11	10	8	53	n/a	n/a	0	828
1990	751	10	10	7	53	n/a	n/a	0	831
1991	816	6	11	7	57	n/a	n/a	0	897
1992	707	15	8	7	42	n/a	n/a	0	779
1993	707	16	6	11	51	n/a	n/a	0	791
1994	663	16	6	10	33	n/a	n/a	0	728
1995	761	7	6	8	50	n/a	n/a	0	832
1996	761	7	6	8	50	n/a	n/a	0	832
1997	781	7	7	13	53	n/a	n/a	0	861
1998	848	5	11	8	61	n/a	n/a	0	933
1999	894	5	10	14	66	n/a	n/a	0	989
2000	891	7	11	13	55	n/a	n/a	0	977
2001	826	8	7	12	60	n/a	n/a	0	913
2002	828	12	14	15	86	n/a	n/a	0	955
2003	828	12	14	15	86	n/a	n/a	0	955
2004	753	16	11	15	89	n/a	n/a	0	884
2005	779	20	18	15	82	n/a	n/a	0	914
2006	766	20	20	14	97	n/a	n/a	0	917
2007	810	22	17	26	106	n/a	n/a	0	981
2008	725	24	21	19	93	n/a	n/a	21	903
2009	741	16	19	14	94	2	16	0	902
2010	653	11	12	16	88	5	13	0	798
2011	598	19	27	6	112	11	1	0	774
2012	630	15	23	23	105	9	0	0	805
2013	574	15	25	27	111	11	0	0	763
2014	596	21	22	19	126	10	0	0	794
2015	579	18	28	16	117	7	0	0	765
2016	582	12	20	15	127	10	27	0	793
2017	580	15	17	24	135	9	29	0	809
2018	538	14	15	26	133	14	25	0	765
2019	530	11	11	26	128	12	32	0	750
2020	493	6	9	58	99	12	82	0	759
2021	456	6	6	59	80	10	82	0	699
2022	527	6	12	65	88	5	82	0	785
2023	518	3	5	61	72	5	96	0	760

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 Palmer High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	828	40.5	20.4	7
1990	831	44.5	18.6	6.7
1991	897	48.0	18.6	6.5
1992	779	48.0	16.2	15.9
1993	791	48.0	16.5	15.7
1994	728	48.0	15.2	17
1995	832	49.5	16.8	16.6
1996	832	49.5	16.8	16.6
1997	861	49.5	17.4	12.7
1998	933	48.5	19.2	16.4
1999	989	44.8	22.1	16.6
2000	977	45.8	21.3	14
2001	913	46.0	19.8	14.6
2002	955	46.5	20.5	15.3
2003	955	46.5	20.5	15.3
2004	884	45.0	19.6	17.6
2005	914	40.9	22.3	17.8
2006	917	45.3	20.2	20.4
2007	981	48.9	20.1	23.3
2008	903	45.2	20.0	23
2009	902	48.5	18.6	20.5
2010	798	46.0	17.3	22.8
2011	774	45.0	17.2	24.8
2012	805	42.9	18.7	26.6
2013	763	32.5	23.4	30.4
2014	794	37.9	20.9	30.2
2015	765	36.0	21.2	27.1
2016	793	40.0	19.8	28.1
2017	809	42.1	19.2	33.5
2018	765	42.0	18.2	31.1
2019	750	41.0	18.2	39.5
2020	759	41.7	18.1	33.9
2021	699	43.4	16.0	n/a
2022	785	42.9	18.2	n/a
2023	760	42.0	18.0	33.3

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 Palmer High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	828	40.5	20.4	7
1990	831	44.5	18.6	6.7
1991	897	48.0	18.6	6.5
1992	779	48.0	16.2	15.9
1993	791	48.0	16.5	15.7
1994	728	48.0	15.2	17
1995	832	49.5	16.8	16.6
1996	832	49.5	16.8	16.6
1997	861	49.5	17.4	12.7
1998	933	48.5	19.2	16.4
1999	989	44.8	22.1	16.6
2000	977	45.8	21.3	14
2001	913	46.0	19.8	14.6
2002	955	46.5	20.5	15.3
2003	955	46.5	20.5	15.3
2004	884	45.0	19.6	17.6
2005	914	40.9	22.3	17.8
2006	917	45.3	20.2	20.4
2007	981	48.9	20.1	23.3
2008	903	45.2	20.0	23
2009	902	48.5	18.6	20.5
2010	798	46.0	17.3	22.8
2011	774	45.0	17.2	24.8
2012	805	42.9	18.7	26.6
2013	763	32.5	23.4	30.4
2014	794	37.9	20.9	30.2
2015	765	36.0	21.2	27.1
2016	793	40.0	19.8	28.1
2017	809	42.1	19.2	33.5
2018	765	42.0	18.2	31.1
2019	750	41.0	18.2	39.5
2020	759	41.7	18.1	33.9
2021	699	43.4	16.0	n/a
2022	785	42.9	18.2	n/a
2023	760	42.0	18.0	33.3

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.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Palmer High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$824 (5.1%)	$15,278 (94.9%)	$16,102

Data source: Alaska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Palmer High 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 43^rd of 77 High schools	Ranks 32^nd of 62 High schools	4.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade Science (Palmer High School)	67.5	36.1	31.5%
10th Grade Science (Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District)	59.5	39.7	19.8%
10th Grade Science (Alaska)	53.6	33	20.6%
All Grades Science (Palmer High School)	67.5	36.1	31.5%
All Grades Science (Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District)	51	46.5	4.5%
All Grades Science (Alaska)	44.7	36.9	7.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	750	760	1.3%
African American	11	3	72.7%
American Indian	128	72	43.8%
Asian	11	5	54.5%
Hispanic	26	61	134.6%
Pacific Islander	12	5	58.3%
White	530	518	2.3%
Two or More Races	32	96	200%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	39.5%	33.3%	6.2%

Schools Near Palmer High 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 6th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 9th Grade	STAR English Language Arts All Grades	STAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAR Mathematics 9th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science 10th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Palmer High School	Public	9-12	1170 W Bogard Rd	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 746-8400	760	42	18.0	33.3%	518 (68.2%)	3 (0.4%)	61 (8.0%)	5 (0.7%)	72 (9.5%)	5 (0.7%)	96 (12.6%)	33	44^th of 63 public high schools	30.2%		45.9	32^nd of 62 public high schools	48.4%	12				23.4	23.4				20.8	20.8		36.9	36.9	$16,102	$824	$15,278
Mat-Su Secondary School	Public	6-12	581 S Outer Springer Lp	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 761-7238	13	1	13.0	23.1%	6 (46.2%)	1 (7.7%)	1 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (15.4%)	1 (7.7%)	2 (15.4%)								(n/a)														$35,056	$3,389	$31,667
Colony High School	Public	9-12	9550 E Bogard Rd	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 861-5500	1,117	56	20.1	29.1%	760 (68.0%)	10 (0.9%)	92 (8.2%)	20 (1.8%)	83 (7.4%)	3 (0.3%)	149 (13.3%)	64.7	18^th of 63 public high schools	71.4%		66.7	17^th of 62 public high schools	72.6%	1				43.9	43.9				28.0	28.0		43.0	43.0	$12,195	$658	$11,537
Mat-Su Middle College School	Public	8-12	8295 East College Drive	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 746-8485	182	2	91.0	1.6%	122 (67.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (11.0%)	5 (2.7%)	12 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (12.6%)								(n/a)														$12,676	$94	$12,582
Mat-Su Career & Technical Educational High School	Public	9-12	2472 N Seward Meridian Pkwy	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 352-0400	743	42	17.5	23.8%	557 (75.0%)	4 (0.5%)	53 (7.1%)	8 (1.1%)	42 (5.7%)	5 (0.7%)	74 (10.0%)	74.8	12^th of 63 public high schools	81.0%		61.4	20^th of 62 public high schools	67.7%	8				43.2	43.2				42.2	42.2		42.9	42.9	$12,208	$273	$11,935
Wasilla High School	Public	9-12	701 E Bogard Rd	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-8200	848	47	18.1	35.4%	554 (65.3%)	8 (0.9%)	59 (7.0%)	12 (1.4%)	83 (9.8%)	8 (0.9%)	124 (14.6%)	44.3	38^th of 63 public high schools	39.7%		47.5	30^th of 62 public high schools	51.6%	8				39.6	39.6				22.6	22.6		30.7	30.7	$14,988	$1,108	$13,880
Burchell High School	Public	9-12	1775 W Parks Hwy	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 864-2600	208	13	16.0	60.1%	123 (59.1%)	3 (1.4%)	8 (3.8%)	1 (0.5%)	37 (17.8%)	1 (0.5%)	35 (16.8%)	11.2	58^th of 63 public high schools	7.9%		8.9	59^th of 62 public high schools	4.8%	1				21.1	21.1				16.7	16.7		13.2	13.2	$23,979	$5,024	$18,955
Joe Redington Senior Junior/Senior High School	Public	6-12	10015 W Redington School Rd	Wasilla	99623	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 864-5400	556	31	17.7	67.3%	309 (55.6%)	6 (1.1%)	49 (8.8%)	9 (1.6%)	69 (12.4%)	7 (1.3%)	107 (19.2%)	14.6	55^th of 63 public high schools	12.7%		20.5	49^th of 62 public high schools	21.0%	6	29.4	28.8	23.5	26.8	27.3	34.1	23.3	24.3	8.3	23.7	29.0	21.4	25.2	$15,358	$1,294	$14,063

Palmer High School

Palmer High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Palmer High School

Rank History for all students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Migrant students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Female students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Military Connected students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Male students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Native American students at Palmer High School

Rank History for White students at Palmer High School

Enrollment information for Palmer High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Palmer High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Palmer High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Palmer High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Palmer High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Palmer High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Palmer High School

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