Weller Elementary

Summary:

Weller Elementary is a public elementary school in Fairbanks, Alaska, serving 467 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. While the school has a more diverse student population compared to the surrounding area, it has shown mixed academic performance in recent years, with strengths in science but lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Weller Elementary stands out for its racial diversity, with a higher percentage of students identifying as two or more races (19.06%) and Native American (8.14%) compared to district and state averages. However, the school's academic performance has been inconsistent, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics generally lower than the district and state, but stronger in Science, where 60% of students were proficient or better in the 2022-2023 school year. The school's rankings for specific student groups also vary, with better performance for female and multi-racial students compared to male and white students.

Weller Elementary's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from 46 out of 185 Alaska elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 114 out of 173 in 2023-2024, suggesting the school may be struggling to keep pace with other schools in the state. When compared to nearby schools, such as Pearl Creek Elementary and Barnette Magnet School, Weller Elementary generally performs below the top-performing schools, but outperforms some of the lower-performing schools, like Hunter Elementary and Denali Elementary, in certain areas. The school's higher percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds may be a contributing factor to its academic performance.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 635 Elementary Dr
       Fairbanks, AK  99701-4756


(907) 457-1629

District: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
114th of 173 Alaska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,637 Help


Students who attend Weller Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Tanana Middle School
High:    Lathrop High School

Student/teacher ratio:  20.3 Help
Number of students:  467

Racial breakdown:

White:
64.9%
Two or more races:
19.1%
American Indian:
8.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  32.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Weller Elementary ranks worse than 65.9% of elementary schools in Alaska. It also ranks 13th among 19 ranked elementary schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.17. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Weller Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. Racial makeup is: White (64.9%), two or more races (19.1%), American Indian (8.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 32.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Weller Elementary is 20.3. 16 elementary schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Weller Elementary employs 23 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Weller Elementary is $16,637. 9 elementary schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Weller Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Weller Elementary 114th of 173 Alaska public elementary schools. (See Weller Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Fairbanks North Star Borough School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Fairbanks North Star Borough School District 13th of 24 Alaska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Weller Elementary.

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Rank History for Weller Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Weller Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AK State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 73.64 50th 213 76.5%
2006 75.89 43rd 218 80.3%
2007 69.76 66th 212 68.9%
2008 70.32 75th 219 65.8%
2009 74.45 57th 226 74.8%
2010 73.32 65th 229 71.6%
2011 63.00 97th 223 56.5%
2012 60.03 102nd 227 55.1%
2013 69.04 70th 223 68.6%
2014 68.14 74th 218 66.1%
2015 70.81 54th 246 78.0%
2017 58.66 69th 180 61.7%
2018 51.59 92nd 186 50.5%
2019 70.91 46th 185 75.1%
2021 58.95 75th 173 56.6%
2022 60.82 58th 171 66.1%
2023 49.93 89th 176 49.4%
2024 36.17 114th 173 34.1%
See the entire list of Alaska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Weller Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AK State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 61.89 18th 73 75.3%
2022 53.86 28th 58 51.7%
2023 43.98 41st 74 44.6%
2024 16.99 66th 68 2.9%
See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Weller Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AK State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 50.96 11th 26 57.7%
See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Weller Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AK State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 59.81 55th 147 62.6%
2021 68.56 29th 110 73.6%
2022 51.92 46th 104 55.8%
2023 40.89 73rd 119 38.7%
2024 29.86 92nd 122 24.6%
See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Weller Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AK State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 70.80 42nd 159 73.6%
2021 66.29 33rd 141 76.6%
2022 60.01 46th 143 67.8%
2023 54.83 61st 152 59.9%
2024 35.77 96th 142 32.4%
See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Weller Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AK State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 69.38 38th 159 76.1%
2021 51.42 72nd 142 49.3%
2022 54.55 61st 148 58.8%
2023 36.25 98th 148 33.8%
2024 25.96 113th 150 24.7%
See the entire list of Best Alaska Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Weller Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AK State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 64.47 43rd 147 70.7%
2021 49.28 68th 127 46.5%
2022 54.54 61st 137 55.5%
2023 40.24 89th 138 35.5%
2024 25.63 109th 133 18.0%
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.

Weller Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Open Quote We love this school. My second grader loves her teacher and her experience so far this year...she is challenged and couldn't say the same of Idaho/Kansas schools that she has attended. Principal is awesome. Not a single negative experience this entire school year! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Weller Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 623 12 7 8 54 n/a n/a -2 702
1990 566 9 7 9 58 n/a n/a 0 649
1991 587 9 8 7 52 n/a n/a 0 663
1992 568 18 5 9 56 n/a n/a 0 656
1993 606 9 3 9 58 n/a n/a 0 685
1994 592 9 5 4 56 n/a n/a 0 666
1995 551 8 5 12 62 n/a n/a 0 638
1996 551 8 5 12 62 n/a n/a 0 638
1997 531 6 7 12 63 n/a n/a 0 619
1998 496 5 5 11 67 n/a n/a 0 584
1999 481 5 7 11 60 n/a n/a 0 564
2000 469 7 7 8 60 n/a n/a 0 551
2001 490 6 7 8 58 n/a n/a 0 569
2002 425 8 7 7 69 n/a n/a 0 516
2003 425 8 7 7 69 n/a n/a 0 516
2004 410 9 5 5 78 n/a n/a 0 507
2005 387 11 8 9 73 n/a n/a 0 488
2006 421 14 9 9 66 n/a n/a 0 519
2007 387 7 13 12 75 n/a n/a 0 494
2008 385 12 12 13 74 n/a n/a 0 496
2009 370 4 4 26 52 2 50 0 508
2010 385 11 12 35 81 4 0 0 528
2011 391 5 5 31 51 2 61 0 546
2012 402 7 4 28 52 2 47 0 542
2013 367 6 8 20 45 0 39 0 485
2014 355 6 11 27 42 1 37 0 479
2015 356 3 11 20 31 1 47 0 469
2016 351 6 9 15 25 1 60 0 467
2017 329 3 6 31 22 1 61 0 453
2018 334 2 6 39 24 0 63 0 468
2019 316 3 8 38 28 0 68 0 461
2020 329 4 7 49 26 0 74 0 489
2021 191 2 2 23 13 0 53 0 284
2022 254 2 2 24 18 0 72 0 372
2023 303 4 4 28 38 1 89 0 467

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 Weller Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 702 35.5 19.7 8.8
1990 649 34.5 18.8 4.9
1991 663 36.1 18.3 6.2
1992 656 36.1 18.1 7.5
1993 685 36.1 19.0 7.2
1994 666 36.1 18.4 7.4
1995 638 34.0 18.8 11
1996 638 34.0 18.8 11
1997 619 34.0 18.2 10.3
1998 584 32.0 18.3 12.3
1999 564 30.0 18.8 12.2
2000 551 30.0 18.4 12
2001 569 28.0 20.3 10.2
2002 516 26.5 19.5 13.2
2003 516 26.5 19.5 13.2
2004 507 27.7 18.3 16
2005 488 25.0 19.5 21.5
2006 519 26.7 19.4 22.2
2007 494 26.9 18.4 21.5
2008 496 26.9 18.4 23.2
2009 508 27.5 18.5 22.8
2010 528 28.5 18.5 19.3
2011 546 30.9 17.6 21.4
2012 542 31.1 17.3 21.4
2013 485 26.1 18.5 24.3
2014 479 26.0 18.3 22.1
2015 469 26.0 18.0 24.3
2016 467 25.0 18.6 29.1
2017 453 26.6 16.9 26.3
2018 468 26.0 17.9 28.2
2019 461 26.3 17.5 23.9
2020 489 24.8 19.6 7.8
2021 284 23.7 11.9 n/a
2022 372 19.4 19.1 n/a
2023 467 23.0 20.3 32.5

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 Weller Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 702 35.5 19.7 8.8
1990 649 34.5 18.8 4.9
1991 663 36.1 18.3 6.2
1992 656 36.1 18.1 7.5
1993 685 36.1 19.0 7.2
1994 666 36.1 18.4 7.4
1995 638 34.0 18.8 11
1996 638 34.0 18.8 11
1997 619 34.0 18.2 10.3
1998 584 32.0 18.3 12.3
1999 564 30.0 18.8 12.2
2000 551 30.0 18.4 12
2001 569 28.0 20.3 10.2
2002 516 26.5 19.5 13.2
2003 516 26.5 19.5 13.2
2004 507 27.7 18.3 16
2005 488 25.0 19.5 21.5
2006 519 26.7 19.4 22.2
2007 494 26.9 18.4 21.5
2008 496 26.9 18.4 23.2
2009 508 27.5 18.5 22.8
2010 528 28.5 18.5 19.3
2011 546 30.9 17.6 21.4
2012 542 31.1 17.3 21.4
2013 485 26.1 18.5 24.3
2014 479 26.0 18.3 22.1
2015 469 26.0 18.0 24.3
2016 467 25.0 18.6 29.1
2017 453 26.6 16.9 26.3
2018 468 26.0 17.9 28.2
2019 461 26.3 17.5 23.9
2020 489 24.8 19.6 7.8
2021 284 23.7 11.9 n/a
2022 372 19.4 19.1 n/a
2023 467 23.0 20.3 32.5

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 Weller Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,110 (6.7%) $15,526 (93.3%) $16,637

Data source: Alaska Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Weller Elementary

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 46th of 185 Elementary schoolsRanks 89th of 176 Elementary schools
 25.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
All Grades Science (Weller Elementary)45.560
 14.6%
   All Grades Science (Fairbanks North Star Borough School District)51.242.8
 8.4%
   All Grades Science (Alaska)44.736.9
 7.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students461467
 1.3%
African American34
 33.3%
American Indian2838
 35.7%
Asian84
 50%
Hispanic3828
 26.3%
Pacific Islander01
White316303
 4.1%
Two or More Races6889
 30.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients23.9%32.5%
 8.7%


Schools Near Weller Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Weller Elementary

Students who attend Weller Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Tanana Middle School
High : Lathrop High School

Students at Weller Elementary are 65% White, 19% Two or more races, 8% American Indian, 6% Hispanic.

In the 2022-23 school year, 467 students attended Weller Elementary.

Weller Elementary ranks 114th of 173 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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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.





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