Lower Kuskokwim School District

Bethel, Alaska — 29 schools

3,970
Total Enrollment
29
Schools
$50,669
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lower Kuskokwim School District operates 29 public schools serving 3,970 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Alaska. The school portfolio breaks down into 27 other, 1 elementary, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 3,872 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Bethel Census Area County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $50,669 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 1.9% local, 63.3% state, and 34.8% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $118,053 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 78/100, ranked #7 of 40 in Alaska against a state average of 49 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 898.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 49.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 1.8% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Lower Kuskokwim School District school enrollment varies 68× across entities

Lower Kuskokwim School District school enrollment ranges from 6 students (lowest) to 410 students (highest), a spread of 404 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Lower Kuskokwim School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 96.3% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Lower Kuskokwim School District student-counselor ratio is 899:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Lower Kuskokwim School District chronic absenteeism rate is 49.1% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

34.8%
Federal
63.3%
State
1.9%
Local

Funding Equity

78
Equity Score
7 / 40
State Rank
49
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Bethel Census Area county, where this district is located.

$1,688
Studio/mo
$1,719
1 BR/mo
$1,938
2 BR/mo
$2,324
3 BR/mo
$2,566
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$118,053
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 29 schools in Lower Kuskokwim School District.

White 1.8%
Other 97.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

898.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
49.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Lower Kuskokwim School District

School Enrollment
Bethel Regional High School
410
Gladys Jung Elementary
309
Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat
261
Ket'Acik/Aapalluk Memorial School
255
Chief Paul Memorial School
222
Ayaprun Elitnaurvik
Charter
203
Ayagina'Ar Elitnaurvik
184
Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat
175
Nelson Island Area School
171
Anna Tobeluk Memorial School
167
Chaputnguak School
133
Z. John Williams Memorial School
132
Lewis Angapak Memorial School
131
Joann a. Alexie Memorial School
121
Akula Elitnaurvik School
118
Kwigillingok School
112
Paul T. Albert Memorial School
102
Eek School
98
Negtemiut Elitnaurviat School
83
Mertarvik School
82
William Miller Memorial School
78
Akiuk Memorial School
73
Rocky Mountain School
72
Kuskokwim Learning Academy
49
Nuniwarmiut School
43
Ayaprun School
43
Qugcuun Memorial School
20
Bethel Youth Facility
19
Arviq School
6

Nearby Districts in Alaska

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Lower Kuskokwim School District?

Lower Kuskokwim School District has 29 schools, including 27 other, 1 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 3,970 students.

How much does Lower Kuskokwim School District spend per student?

Lower Kuskokwim School District spends $50,669 per student. The district has an equity score of 78/100, ranking #7 in Alaska.

What is the average teacher salary in Lower Kuskokwim School District?

The average teacher salary in Lower Kuskokwim School District is $118,053 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Lower Kuskokwim School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Bethel Census Area County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Lower Kuskokwim School District?

Lower Kuskokwim School District students are 1.8% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% African American, averaged across 29 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lower Kuskokwim School District?

Lower Kuskokwim School District has an equity score of 78/100, ranking #7 out of 40 districts in Alaska. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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