Comprehensive guide to K-12 schools, higher education, homeschooling, rural education, and Alaska Native programs
53
School Districts
#1
Charter Schools
Nationally (Harvard Study)
30,000
UA System Students
5% Growth
60%
Rural Students
Schools ≤40 Students
Alaska's Unique Education Landscape: Alaska combines urban excellence (charter schools ranked #1 nationally) with rural challenges (60% of students in schools of 40 or fewer), serving communities accessible only by plane, boat, or snow machine across America's largest state.
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) provides leadership and support for education throughout Alaska. The department's mission is "An Excellent Education for Every Student Every Day."
Statewide Overview
In 2022, Alaska had 131,587 students enrolled in 502 schools across 53 school districts. The state faces unique challenges serving students across 663,268 square miles—the largest state in the nation.
Contact Information
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
Alaska has 53 school districts ranging from Anchorage School District (48,000+ students) to small rural districts serving remote villages accessible only by air or water.
Major School Districts
District
Enrollment
Notable Features
Anchorage School District
~48,000
Largest district in Alaska; 107th largest in USA; 100+ schools
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
~19,000
Second largest; serving Mat-Su Valley; rapid growth area
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
~13,750
Third largest; interior Alaska; home to UAF
Juneau Borough School District
~4,800
State capital; fourth largest district
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
~8,500
Serves Kenai Peninsula communities
Geographic Challenge: About 64% of Alaska's districts, 53% of schools, and 40% of population are in the Bush—remote areas accessible only by plane, boat, or snow machine, requiring unique educational solutions.
Charter Schools in Alaska
🏆 #1 Charter Schools in the Nation
A recent Harvard study found Alaska has the top-performing charter schools in the country, with charter students significantly outperforming traditional public school students in both math and reading.
Charter School Statistics (2024-25)
Number of Charter Schools: 30 charter public schools
Total Enrollment: 7,621 students (5.5% of state total)
Southcentral Alaska: Most charter schools (concentrated near Anchorage)
Off the Road System: 7 charter schools serve remote communities
Western Alaska: Just 3 charter schools
How Charter Schools Operate in Alaska
Public Schools: All charter schools are public schools, tuition-free
Non-Religious: State statute prohibits charter schools from being religious
Special Education: Must accept special education students
Independent Management: Charter schools manage operations autonomously
Rural Education in Alaska
Alaska's rural education system is unique in the nation, serving students in some of the most remote communities in America. Almost 60% of rural students attend high schools of 40 students or less, with nearly a quarter in schools of 20 or fewer.
Rural School Demographics
Small Schools: 60% of rural students in high schools of ≤40 students
Very Small Schools: 25% in schools of ≤20 students
Bush Districts: 64% of districts, 53% of schools, 40% of population
Access: Many schools reachable only by plane, boat, or snow machine
Historical Context: Village High Schools
In 1976, rather than sending students (mostly Eskimo and Indian) to boarding programs far from their homes, Alaska agreed to provide a high school in every village that wanted one. By 1984, Alaska had spent nearly $143 million constructing high schools in small rural villages.
Unique Challenges
Limited Resources
Limited variety of courses, teachers, and activities
Lack of specialized vocational courses
Inadequate preparation for college transitions
Insufficient opportunities to experience world beyond villages
Internet Connectivity Crisis
Cost Disparity: Remote districts pay an average of $163 per month per student/staff member for Internet, compared to $6 per month in wealthier urban schools—a 27x difference.
Teacher Recruitment
Rural schools rely heavily on out-of-state teachers who struggle to adapt to harsh weather, isolation, high costs, and cultural differences of remote Alaska living.
Alaska Native Education and Tribal Schools
Alaska is developing innovative approaches to Alaska Native education, including state-tribal education compacting that would allow tribes to operate public schools combining Western and traditional educational models.
State-Tribal Education Compacting
Alaska is creating a compacting process where the State and Alaska Native Tribal entities reach agreements that formally recognize tribal authority to operate and oversee K-12 schools. These would be public schools open to all students, offering a unique combination of Western and tribal educational models.
2024-2025 Legislative Progress
House Bill 59: Proposes five tribes receive approximately $17.5 million in first year to run pilot programs for tribally-compacted schools
Federal Support: In FY2025, Alaska Native Education program awarded 17 new grants totaling $27,473,012
State Grant: $1 million grant to Alaska Federation of Natives to scope tribal compacting (July 2021 - June 2024)
Office of Tribal Affairs
In 2022, DEED established the Office of Tribal Affairs with two priority areas:
State-Tribal Education Compacting: Developing framework for tribal operation of public schools
Alaska Native Language and Culture Instruction: Integrating Indigenous knowledge and languages into curriculum
Alaska legalized homeschooling in 1997 and has one of the highest homeschool participation rates in the country. The state offers four distinct homeschool options with minimal regulation for the most common pathway.
Homeschool-Friendly State: Alaska offers minimal regulation for homeschoolers. During the pandemic, 27.5% of families homeschooled (Fall 2020), one of the highest rates nationally.
Four Homeschool Options
Option 1: Homeschool Statute (Most Common)
Requirements: None. No notification to state, no approval, no testing, no forms, no teacher qualifications, no specific subjects, no record-keeping required.
Option 2: Correspondence Program
At least 50% of education focused on core classes
Standardized tests administered from grades 3-10
Annual "Independent Learning Plan" required
Option 3: Private Tutor
Tutor must be certified in Alaska to instruct student at home.
Option 4: Private/Religious School
File notice of enrollment
Maintain attendance and permanent records
File corporal discipline policy
Comply with testing requirements
Cannot accept state or federal funding
Homeschooling Statistics
Period
Percentage
Notes
Spring 2020
9.6%
Pre-pandemic (U.S. Census estimate)
Fall 2020
27.5%
Pandemic height (highest in nation)
Current
~10-15%
Post-pandemic stabilization (estimated)
Note: Since Alaska does not require notice of intent under the homeschool statute, the state does not collect precise homeschool participation data.
Compulsory Attendance
Alaska requires school attendance for ages 7-16.
Higher Education in Alaska
The University of Alaska System is Alaska's public university system, serving approximately 30,000 full- and part-time students across three main universities and 19 campuses statewide.
University of Alaska System
System Overview
Total Enrollment: ~30,000 students (Fall 2024)
Recent Growth: 5% enrollment increase (2 consecutive years of growth)
Alaska faces a severe teacher shortage crisis, with approximately 500 vacant positions statewide and 25% annual turnover. While nominal salaries appear competitive, high cost of living erodes purchasing power.
🚨 Teacher Shortage Crisis
Alaska had roughly 500 teacher vacancies on the first day of school 2024, up 20% from the previous year. The state loses about 25% of its teaching staff annually.
Teacher Salaries (2024)
Nominal Salaries
Kindergarten Teachers: ~$65,300 annually
High School Teachers: ~$77,900 annually
Cost of Living Reality
UAA Research Finding: When adjusted for Alaska's high cost of living, teacher salaries are not competitive compared to the Lower 48. Alaska teachers once enjoyed a significant premium, but the gap has narrowed in recent years.
Turnover Crisis
Statewide: 25% of teaching staff turns over annually
Anchorage School District: One-third of teaching staff turned over in past three years
Contributing Factors
2021 DEED Survey Finding: Fair compensation was the #1 factor Alaska teachers considered when deciding whether to leave or accept a job.
Additional Challenges:
Increased class sizes
School budget cuts
Student behavior problems
High cost of living
Geographic isolation (especially rural areas)
Education Funding in Alaska
Alaska uses a Base Student Allocation (BSA) formula to fund K-12 education. The BSA has remained relatively flat in recent years, leading to budget challenges for districts as costs rise.
Current Funding (FY2025)
Base Student Allocation (BSA): $5,960
The BSA was $5,930 in FY2023, increasing to $5,960 in FY2024 and FY2025.
How the Funding Formula Works
The Adjusted Average Daily Membership (AADM) is multiplied by the Base Student Allocation (BSA) to determine a district's "basic need" or foundation funding.
Average Daily Membership (ADM)
ADM for each school is taken during the 20-day school count period ending the last Friday in October each year.
Adjustment Factors
ADM is adjusted by several factors to arrive at AADM:
School Size Factor: Reduces per-student multiplier for larger schools (economies of scale)
District Cost Factor: Adjusts for differing costs of delivering education across Alaska
Special Needs Factor: Additional funding for students with special needs
Intensive Special Education: Students multiplied by 13
Career and Technical Education Factor: Additional funding for CTE programs
2025 Legislative Proposals
House Bill 69 (Introduced January 2025):
Next School Year: $1,000 BSA increase
Following Two Years: Two increases of $404 each
Total Impact: Would bring BSA from $5,960 to $7,768 over three years
Flat Funding Challenges: Alaska schools face budget pressures from flat BSA funding while costs for heating, transportation, and salaries continue rising. Districts report cutting positions and struggling to pay heating bills amid stagnant funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alaska has 53 school districts serving 131,587 students in 502 schools (2022 data). The largest is Anchorage School District with 48,000+ students, followed by Matanuska-Susitna Borough (19,000), Fairbanks North Star Borough (13,750), and Juneau Borough (4,800). About 64% of districts are in the Bush—remote areas accessible only by plane, boat, or snow machine.
A recent Harvard study found Alaska has the top-performing charter schools in the country. Alaska's 30 charter schools serving 7,621 students (5.5% of total) significantly outperform traditional public schools: charter students average 38% math proficiency (vs. 24% statewide) and 46% reading proficiency (vs. 30% statewide). Top-ranked schools include Eagle Charter School, Aurora Borealis Charter School, and Watershed Charter School. Most charter schools are concentrated in Southcentral Alaska, with 7 serving off-road-system communities.
Alaska legalized homeschooling in 1997 and offers four options. The most common (Homeschool Statute) has NO requirements—no notification, approval, testing, forms, teacher qualifications, or record-keeping needed. Other options include correspondence programs (require 50% core classes, testing grades 3-10), private tutor (must be Alaska-certified), or private/religious school (various requirements, cannot accept state/federal funding). Alaska has one of the highest homeschool rates nationally—27.5% of families during Fall 2020 pandemic peak, 9.6% spring 2020. Compulsory attendance ages: 7-16.
Alaska's rural education is unique nationally. Almost 60% of rural students attend high schools of 40 students or less, with nearly 25% in schools of 20 or fewer. In 1976, Alaska agreed to provide high schools in every village wanting one, spending $143 million by 1984 constructing village schools. Challenges include limited courses/teachers, Internet costs ($163/month per student in remote areas vs. $6 in urban), and reliance on out-of-state teachers struggling with harsh weather, isolation, and cultural differences. Many schools are accessible only by plane, boat, or snow machine. Special education services reach remote communities via SERRC teams traveling by air, boat, and even dog sled.
State-Tribal Education Compacting is Alaska's innovative approach allowing Alaska Native Tribal entities to operate and oversee K-12 public schools open to all students, offering unique combinations of Western and tribal educational models. House Bill 59 proposes five tribes receive ~$17.5 million first year for pilot programs. In FY2025, Alaska Native Education program awarded 17 new grants totaling $27.5 million. DEED established Office of Tribal Affairs in 2022 with two priorities: State-Tribal Education Compacting and Alaska Native Language and Culture Instruction. A $1 million state grant (2021-2024) funded Alaska Federation of Natives to scope tribal compacting.
Alaska faces a severe crisis with ~500 teacher vacancies on first day of school 2024 (up 20% from previous year) and 25% annual statewide turnover. Anchorage School District alone had one-third of staff turnover in past three years. While nominal salaries appear competitive (kindergarten ~$65,300, high school ~$77,900), UAA research shows salaries are NOT competitive when adjusted for Alaska's high cost of living. A 2021 DEED survey found fair compensation was the #1 factor teachers considered when deciding to leave/accept jobs. Additional challenges: increased class sizes, budget cuts, student behavior problems, and geographic isolation in rural areas.
The Base Student Allocation (BSA) is Alaska's per-student funding amount, currently $5,960 for FY2025 (increased from $5,930 in FY2023). BSA is multiplied by Adjusted Average Daily Membership (AADM) to determine district foundation funding. Adjustment factors include school size (economies of scale), district cost factor (geographic differences), special needs, intensive special education (×13 multiplier), and CTE programs. House Bill 69 (January 2025) proposes $1,000 increase next year plus two $404 increases following years, bringing BSA from $5,960 to $7,768 over three years. Flat BSA funding creates challenges as heating, transportation, and salary costs rise.
The University of Alaska System includes three separately accredited universities on 19 campuses serving ~30,000 students with 400+ degree programs. Universities: UAA-Anchorage (9,965 students, largest, 6% increase), UAF-Fairbanks (7,486 students, flagship founded 1917, strongest growth, Arctic research leader), UAS-Southeast in Juneau (~2,500 students, smallest, campuses in Juneau/Sitka/Ketchikan). System experienced first enrollment increase since 2011 in Spring 2023, followed by 5% increase Spring 2024, continuing growth Fall 2024 (1.9% headcount, 3.4% student credit hours). Mat-Su College shows strongest campus growth reflecting valley population growth.
Alaska ranked 51st of 53 U.S. jurisdictions in reading and math among fourth graders, in reading among eighth graders, and 47th in eighth-grade math. Specific results: 4th grade reading—47% at/above basic, 22% proficient (average 202 vs. national 214); 8th grade reading—57% basic (down from 63% two years ago); 8th grade math—54% basic, 22% proficient (down from 59% basic in 2022). Alaska students showed no significant progress from two years ago, continuing a general downward trend over 20 years. Traditional public high schools typically have 90%+ graduation rates, while some charter schools have lower rates.
Alaska offers the Alaska Pre-Elementary program (launched 2009-2010 as Alaska PreKindergarten pilot) for children ages 3-5 in school district and Head Start programs. All programs align with Alaska's Early Learning Guidelines. The Alaska Reads Act (May 2022) provides $3 million in grants (over 3 years starting July 2023) for districts to develop or expand preschool programs. Head Start received $6.85 million state support in 2022-2023 program year. Funding goes directly to school districts, which may subcontract with Head Start or private early childhood programs. Parents as Teachers (PAT) program has designated grant recipients for 2023-2026 school years.