Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Palmer, Alaska — 49 schools

19,705
Total Enrollment
49
Schools
$18,753
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District operates 49 public schools serving 19,705 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Alaska. The school portfolio breaks down into 31 other, 7 high, 6 elementary, 5 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 19,495 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Matanuska-Susitna Borough County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,753 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 22.6% local, 62.7% state, and 14.7% 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 $77,050 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 25/100, ranked #33 of 40 in Alaska against a state average of 49 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 10 of 49 schools offering Advanced Placement (79 AP courses district-wide), a 383.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 58.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 65.3% White, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% Asian across the district's schools.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District school enrollment varies 278× across entities

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District school enrollment ranges from 10 students (lowest) to 2,780 students (highest), a spread of 2,770 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

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District student-counselor ratio is 383:1 — 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

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District chronic absenteeism rate is 58.6% — 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?

14.7%
Federal
62.7%
State
22.6%
Local

Funding Equity

25
Equity Score
33 / 40
State Rank
49
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Matanuska-Susitna Borough county, where this district is located.

$1,015
Studio/mo
$1,049
1 BR/mo
$1,376
2 BR/mo
$1,914
3 BR/mo
$2,308
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$77,050
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 49 schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

White 65.3%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 16.3%
Other 9.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

10 / 49
Schools with AP
79 AP courses total
383.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
58.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

School Enrollment
Mat-Su Central School
2,780
Colony High School
1,046
Wasilla High School
816
Colony Middle School
771
Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School
705
Teeland Middle School
643
Palmer High School
616
Twindly Bridge Charter School
Charter
601
Wasilla Middle School
584
Palmer Middle School
563
John Shaw Elementary
507
Joe Redington Senior Jr/Sr High School
497
Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School
468
Pioneer Peak Elementary
449
Finger Lake Elementary
445
Iditarod Elementary
424
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
422
Birchtree Charter School
Charter
416
Dena'Ina Elementary School
396
Sherrod Elementary
383
Big Lake Elementary
362
Swanson Elementary
348
Snowshoe Elementary
346
Houston High School
337
Fronteras Charter School
Charter
336
Tanaina Elementary
324
Larson Elementary
319
Houston Middle School
318
Meadow Lakes Elementary
308
Goose Bay Elementary
305
Academy Charter School
Charter
268
Butte Elementary
263
Knik Elementary School
263
Susitna Valley High
233
Mat-Su Middle College School
222
Burchell High School
200
American Charter Academy
Charter
193
Midnight Sun Family Learning Center
Charter
189
Knik Charter School
Charter
189
Valley Pathways
143
Willow Elementary
127
Talkeetna Elementary
121
Mat-Su Day School
70
Sutton Elementary
54
Beryozova School
39
Knik Charter Correspondence School
Charter
34
Glacier View School
24
Trapper Creek Elementary
18
Mat-Su Youth Facility
10

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District has 49 schools, including 31 other, 7 high, 5 middle, 6 elementary. Total enrollment is 19,705 students.

How much does Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District spend per student?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District spends $18,753 per student. The district has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #33 in Alaska.

What is the average teacher salary in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?

The average teacher salary in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is $77,050 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?

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

What is the demographic composition of Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District students are 65.3% White, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% Asian, 0.5% African American, averaged across 49 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #33 out of 40 districts in Alaska. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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