Boreal Sun Charter School

Q: Is Boreal Sun Charter School a good school?

Boreal Sun Charter School ranks 111 th of 173 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Boreal Sun Charter School is a public charter elementary school serving grades K-8 in Fairbanks, Alaska, which is part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. While the school has seen a decline in its statewide ranking in recent years, it continues to outperform the district and state averages in several key areas, particularly in science.

Boreal Sun Charter School stands out for its higher percentage of white students (66.5%) compared to nearby schools, which have more diverse student populations. The school also boasts strong academic performance, with 57.89% of students proficient or better in science in 2023-2024, compared to 42.63% for the district and 36.94% for the state. However, the school has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (26.9%), indicating it serves a more economically advantaged student population than nearby schools like Hunter Elementary (70.25%) and Denali Elementary (60.27%).

Despite its academic strengths, Boreal Sun Charter School's statewide ranking has declined from 4 stars in 2018-2019 to 2 stars in the current 2023-2024 school year. This suggests the school may be facing challenges in maintaining its overall academic excellence compared to other schools in the state. Additionally, the school's performance on certain subgroups, such as female students and white students, is lower than the overall school performance, indicating a need to focus on addressing the needs of these specific student populations to ensure equitable outcomes.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

2404 S Barnette St
Fairbanks, AK 99701

(907) 456-5444

District: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
111^th of 173 Alaska Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,937

Student/teacher ratio: 17.6

Number of students: 197

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.5%

Two or more races:

14.2%

Hispanic:

12.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 26.9%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Boreal Sun Charter School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Boreal Sun Charter School ranks worse than 64.2% of elementary schools in Alaska. It also ranks 12^th among 19 ranked elementary schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.55. (See more...)

Compare Details Boreal Sun Charter School ranks better than 64.8% of middle schools in Alaska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 63.28. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Boreal Sun Charter School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (66.5%), two or more races (14.2%), Hispanic (12.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 26.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Boreal Sun Charter School is 17.6. 10 elementary schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Boreal Sun Charter School employs 11.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Boreal Sun Charter School is $15,937. 15 elementary schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Boreal Sun Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Boreal Sun Charter School 111^th of 173 Alaska public elementary schools. (See Boreal Sun Charter School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Boreal Sun Charter School 32^nd of 91 Alaska public middle schools. (See Boreal Sun Charter School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District:

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

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Rank History for Boreal Sun Charter School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	71.77	44^th	185	76.2%
2021	38.35	108^th	173	37.6%
2022	32.83	122^nd	171	28.7%
2023	32.22	125^th	176	29.0%
2024	37.55	111^th	173	35.8%

See the entire list of Alaska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	65.43	57^th	159	64.2%
2021	52.20	62^nd	141	56.0%
2022	37.84	91^st	143	36.4%
2023	24.15	120^th	152	21.1%
2024	40.99	87^th	142	38.7%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	70.05	35^th	159	78.0%
2021	40.70	86^th	142	39.4%
2022	53.82	64^th	148	56.8%
2023	48.53	79^th	148	46.6%
2024	49.23	78^th	150	48.0%

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

Rank History for elementary school White students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	61.38	51^st	147	65.3%
2021	30.39	104^th	127	18.1%
2022	13.78	130^th	137	5.1%
2023	18.94	125^th	138	9.4%
2024	24.58	110^th	133	17.3%

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 Boreal Sun Charter School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2019	67.55	30^th	99	69.7%
2021	62.41	27^th	84	67.9%
2022	51.31	44^th	95	53.7%
2023	33.79	60^th	92	34.8%
2024	63.28	32^nd	91	64.8%

See the entire list of Alaska Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2021	53.48	29^th	57	49.1%
2022	63.76	23^rd	66	65.2%
2023	37.33	44^th	66	33.3%
2024	45.36	39^th	69	43.5%

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

Rank History for middle school Male students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	53.90	32^nd	72	55.6%
2024	55.69	30^th	72	58.3%

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

Rank History for middle school White students at Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	AK State Percentile
2021	47.95	32^nd	58	44.8%
2022	36.97	49^th	69	29.0%
2023	24.77	57^th	75	24.0%
2024	32.23	54^th	74	27.0%

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.

Data source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

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Enrollment information for Boreal Sun Charter School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2018	142	4	3	8	5	17	179
2019	151	3	3	12	7	17	193
2020	162	0	3	18	5	18	206
2021	143	0	3	16	6	23	191
2022	144	0	2	22	9	26	203
2023	131	0	3	25	10	28	197

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 Boreal Sun Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	179	10.3	17.2	1.7
2019	193	10.0	19.3	1.6
2020	206	12.0	17.1	1.5
2021	191	12.7	15.0	n/a
2022	203	11.4	17.8	n/a
2023	197	11.1	17.6	26.9

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 Boreal Sun Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	179	10.3	17.2	1.7
2019	193	10.0	19.3	1.6
2020	206	12.0	17.1	1.5
2021	191	12.7	15.0	n/a
2022	203	11.4	17.8	n/a
2023	197	11.1	17.6	26.9

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 Boreal Sun Charter School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$693 (4.3%)	$15,244 (95.7%)	$15,937

Data source: Alaska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Boreal Sun 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 44^th of 185 Elementary schools	Ranks 125^th of 176 Elementary schools	47.2%
Ranks 30^th of 99 Middle schools	Ranks 60^th of 92 Middle schools	34.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
All Grades Science (Boreal Sun Charter School)	77.4	45	32.4%
All Grades Science (Fairbanks North Star Borough School District)	51.2	42.8	8.4%
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	193	197	2.1%
African American	3	0	100%
American Indian	7	10	42.9%
Asian	3	3
Hispanic	12	25	108.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	151	131	13.2%
Two or More Races	17	28	64.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	1.6%	26.9%	25.3%

Schools Near Boreal Sun 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 7th Grade	STAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 5th Grade	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Boreal Sun Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	2404 S Barnette St	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 456-5444	197	11	17.6	26.9%	131 (66.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (12.7%)	3 (1.5%)	10 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (14.2%)	37.6	111^th of 173 public elementary schools	35.8%		32.2	125^th of 176 public elementary schools	29.0%	14		16.0	47.4	42.9	60.0		34.3	15.0	28.0		38.1	50.0		27.6	57.9		57.9	$15,937	$693	$15,244
Hunter Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1630 Gillam Way	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 456-5775	363	21	17.2	70.2%	90 (24.8%)	21 (5.8%)	60 (16.5%)	12 (3.3%)	83 (22.9%)	9 (2.5%)	88 (24.2%)	9.4	163^rd of 173 public elementary schools	5.8%		9.2	166^th of 176 public elementary schools	5.7%	3	11.1	7.7	25.5				14.4	7.4	9.6	12.8				9.8	39.1		39.1	$18,781	$2,560	$16,220
Chinook Montessori Charter School	Public, Magnet, Charter	K-8	3002 International St	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	Yes	Yes	No	No	(907) 452-5020	155	9	17.2	1.9%	115 (74.2%)	1 (0.6%)	14 (9.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (11.6%)	62.2	65^th of 173 public elementary schools	62.4%		59.3	67^th of 176 public elementary schools	61.9%	2	50.0	58.8	25.0	50.0	59.1	44.4	48.6	50.0	35.3	37.5	50.0	57.1	61.1	49.0	56.3	50.0	52.9	$15,967	$693	$15,273
Barnette Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	1000 Barnette St	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	Yes	No	No	(907) 456-6072	426	25	17.1	24.9%	260 (61.0%)	10 (2.3%)	43 (10.1%)	4 (0.9%)	20 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	89 (20.9%)	60.8	70^th of 173 public elementary schools	59.5%		64.5	52^nd of 176 public elementary schools	70.5%	18	34.7	51.1	34.6	51.1	48.9	67.7	46.7	46.9	57.5	44.2	35.6	48.9	70.6	49.6	53.9	61.8	57.0	$15,672	$926	$14,745
Denali Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1042 Lathrop St	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 452-2456	292	18	16.0	60.3%	89 (30.5%)	19 (6.5%)	43 (14.7%)	11 (3.8%)	44 (15.1%)	8 (2.7%)	78 (26.7%)	25.1	132^nd of 173 public elementary schools	23.7%		16.6	150^th of 176 public elementary schools	14.8%	18	32.0	24.1	26.9				27.6	28.0	22.2	28.9				26.3	30.8		30.8	$19,887	$2,013	$17,873
Arctic Light Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4167 Neely Rd	Fort Wainwright	99703	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 356-2038	467	22	21.2	50.3%	208 (44.5%)	60 (12.8%)	128 (27.4%)	7 (1.5%)	6 (1.3%)	21 (4.5%)	37 (7.9%)	29.3	129^th of 173 public elementary schools	25.4%		34.5	119^th of 176 public elementary schools	32.4%	10	17.1	32.1	40.4				28.9	14.3	20.8	43.9				25.6	42.1		42.1	$17,964	$1,966	$15,997
Anne Wien Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 Hampstead Ave	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 451-7500	380	23	16.3	44.7%	154 (40.5%)	23 (6.1%)	48 (12.6%)	10 (2.6%)	50 (13.2%)	4 (1.1%)	91 (23.9%)	30.8	123^rd of 173 public elementary schools	28.9%		17.2	147^th of 176 public elementary schools	16.5%	24	23.0	28.1	36.8				29.1	19.7	29.8	36.8				28.6	43.9		43.9	$19,719	$2,327	$17,392
Ladd Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	601 F St	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 451-1700	437	24	18.3	36.6%	215 (49.2%)	40 (9.2%)	82 (18.8%)	12 (2.7%)	18 (4.1%)	12 (2.7%)	58 (13.3%)	41.5	106^th of 173 public elementary schools	38.7%		40.2	107^th of 176 public elementary schools	39.2%	1	32.8	25.9	34.0	50.0	30.8		32.2	43.8	25.9	29.8	50.0	46.2		36.2	45.8		45.1	$15,293	$921	$14,372
University Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	554 Loftus Rd	Fairbanks	99709	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 479-6963	356	21	17.1	38.2%	174 (48.9%)	6 (1.7%)	38 (10.7%)	5 (1.4%)	52 (14.6%)	2 (0.6%)	79 (22.2%)	22.3	138^th of 173 public elementary schools	20.2%		36.7	113^th of 176 public elementary schools	35.8%	25	25.4	19.6	32.7				25.7	18.3	14.3	23.1				18.4	48.1		48.1	$17,927	$1,390	$16,537
Watershed Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	4975 Decathlon Ave	Fairbanks	99709	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 374-9350	198	10	20.2	7.6%	133 (67.2%)	1 (0.5%)	15 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (20.7%)	90.8	7^th of 173 public elementary schools	96.0%		88.3	10^th of 176 public elementary schools	94.3%	3	42.9	59.1	65.2	59.1	54.6	78.3	60.2	66.7	59.1	87.0	63.6	63.6	87.0	71.4	82.6	87.0	84.8	$16,174	$693	$15,480

Frequently Asked Questions about Boreal Sun Charter School

What is the racial makeup of Boreal Sun Charter School?

Students at Boreal Sun Charter School are 66% White, 14% Two or more races, 13% Hispanic, 5% American Indian, 2% Asian.

What district is Boreal Sun Charter School in?

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Is Boreal Sun Charter School a good school?

Boreal Sun Charter School ranks 111^th of 173 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Boreal Sun Charter School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 197 students attended Boreal Sun Charter School.

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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.