Northwest Arctic Borough School District

Public school district · Northwest Arctic Borough · Alaska · NCES district ID 0200625

Northwest Arctic Borough School District spent $46,368 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 87% of the other Alaska districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $21,949). Its 13 schools enrolled 1,945 students in 2024-25; 54.0% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $44,063 per student, down 5.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 75-79% (Alaska: 77.9%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Alaska districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Northwest Arctic Borough in enrollment (912 to 2,228 students) and Northwest Arctic Borough itself.

Current spending per student, Alaska districts closest in size to Northwest Arctic Borough, FY23Lower Yukon $48,035; Bering Strait $47,252; Northwest Arctic Borough $46,368; North Slope Borough $41,153; Kodiak Island Borough $25,688; Sitka $23,911; Ketchikan Gateway Borough $23,131; Delta/Greely $15,157; Denali Borough $11,280; Nenana City $8,241; State median, 1,000+ students $21,949.020k40k60kLower Yukon$48,035Bering Strait$47,252Northwest Arctic Borough$46,368North Slope Borough$41,153Kodiak Island Borough$25,688Sitka$23,911Ketchikan Gateway Borough$23,131Delta/Greely$15,157Denali Borough$11,280Nenana City$8,241State median, 1,000+ students $21,949
Current spending per student, Alaska districts closest in size to Northwest Arctic Borough, FY23Lower Yukon $48,035; Bering Strait $47,252; Northwest Arctic Borough $46,368; North Slope Borough $41,153; Kodiak Island Borough $25,688; Sitka $23,911; Ketchikan Gateway Borough $23,131; Delta/Greely $15,157; Denali Borough $11,280; Nenana City $8,241; State median, 1,000+ students $21,949.020k40k60kLower Yukon$48,035Bering Strait$47,252Northwest Arctic Borough$46,368North Slope Borough$41,153Kodiak Island Borough$25,688Sitka$23,911Ketchikan Gateway Borough$23,131Delta/Greely$15,157Denali Borough$11,280Nenana City$8,241State median, 1,000+ students $21,949
Current spending per student, Alaska districts closest in size to Northwest Arctic Borough, FY23Lower Yukon $48,035; Bering Strait $47,252; Northwest Arctic Borough $46,368; North Slope Borough $41,153; Kodiak Island Borough $25,688; Sitka $23,911; Ketchikan Gateway Borough $23,131; Delta/Greely $15,157; Denali Borough $11,280; Nenana City $8,241; State median, 1,000+ students $21,949.020k40k60kLower Yukon$48,035Bering Strait$47,252Northwest Arctic Borough$46,368North Slope Borough$41,153Kodiak Island Borough$25,688Sitka$23,911Ketchikan Gateway Borough$23,131Delta/Greely$15,157Denali Borough$11,280Nenana City$8,241State median, 1,000+ students $21,949
Current spending per student, Alaska districts closest in size to Northwest Arctic Borough, FY23Lower Yukon $48,035; Bering Strait $47,252; Northwest Arctic Borough $46,368; North Slope Borough $41,153; Kodiak Island Borough $25,688; Sitka $23,911; Ketchikan Gateway Borough $23,131; Delta/Greely $15,157; Denali Borough $11,280; Nenana City $8,241; State median, 1,000+ students $21,949.020k40k60kLower Yukon$48,035Bering Strait$47,252Northwest Arctic Borough$46,368North Slope Borough$41,153Kodiak Island Borough$25,688Sitka$23,911Ketchikan Gateway Borough$23,131Delta/Greely$15,157Denali Borough$11,280Nenana City$8,241State median, 1,000+ students $21,949

Where the money came from

$97,737,000 in revenue: 54.0% state, 13.6% local and 32.4% federal. Total spending including $13,457,000 of capital outlay was $103,388,000, or $54,102 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Northwest Arctic Borough School District revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $52,751,000; Local $13,330,000; Federal $31,656,000; total $97,737,000.
  • State$52,751,000 54%
  • Local$13,330,000 14%
  • Federal$31,656,000 32%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 16 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25

1,911 students in 2022-23, 2,009 students in 2023-24, 1,945 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Northwest Arctic Borough School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,911, 2023-24: 2,009, 2024-25: 1,94501k2k3k2022-231,9112023-242,0092024-251,945
Northwest Arctic Borough School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,911, 2023-24: 2,009, 2024-25: 1,94501k2k3k2022-231,9112023-242,0092024-251,945
Northwest Arctic Borough School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,911, 2023-24: 2,009, 2024-25: 1,94501k2k3k2022-231,9112023-242,0092024-251,945
Northwest Arctic Borough School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 1,911, 2023-24: 2,009, 2024-25: 1,94501k2k3k2022-231,9112023-242,0092024-251,945

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-231,911102.318.7
2023-242,009105.519.0
2024-251,945122.515.9

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Northwest Arctic Borough School District scored proficient or above: 5% in reading and 3% in math, against 29.4% in reading and 22.8% in math across Alaska. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Alaska, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtAlaskaStudents tested
Reading and language arts5%29.4%970
Math3%22.8%953

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

75-79% of the 136 students in Northwest Arctic Borough School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 77.9% across Alaska. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtAlaska
Four-year graduation rate75‑79%77.9%
Students in the class1369,629

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

1 elementary school, 302 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
June Nelson Elementary30215.983.1%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 high school, 299 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Kotzebue Middle/High School29916.684.3%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

11 other schools, 1,344 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Davis-Ramoth School25218.798.8%Schoolwide program
Buckland School22417.2100.0%Schoolwide program
Aqqaluk High/Noorvik Elementary21215.199.5%Schoolwide program
Napaaqtugmiut School16117.998.8%Schoolwide program
Kisimgiugtuq School15016.786.7%Schoolwide program
Kiana School9113.0100.0%Schoolwide program
Shungnak School7014.0100.0%Schoolwide program
Ambler School6012.098.3%Schoolwide program
Deering School5711.4100.0%Schoolwide program
Kobuk School4210.5100.0%Schoolwide program
NWABSD Home School2525.0not reportedSchoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Northwest Arctic Borough School District

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Northwest Arctic Borough School District

  1. Alaska districts by spending per studentNorthwest Arctic Borough School District ranks 3 of 16 Alaska districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($46,368).#3 of 16
  2. Every school district in AlaskaNorthwest Arctic Borough School District is the number 13 by size of 54 Alaska districts, with 1,911 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#13 of 54
  3. Lower Yukon School DistrictThe next larger Alaska district: 2,035 students in fall 2022, $48,035 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$48,035
  4. Nenana City School DistrictThe next smaller Alaska district: 1,858 students in fall 2022, $8,241 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$8,241
  5. Compare Northwest Arctic Borough School District with Lower Yukon School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Kotzebue Middle/High School, its largest high school299 students in 2024-25, 16.6 per teacher.299
  7. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Northwest Arctic Borough School District

  1. How many schools and students are in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
    13 schools were open in 2024-25 (1 elementary, 1 high, 11 other), enrolling 1,945 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Northwest Arctic Borough School District spend per student?
    $46,368 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Alaska median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $21,949 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $44,063 per student, down 5.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Northwest Arctic Borough School District's money come from?
    $97,737,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 54.0% state, 13.6% local and 32.4% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Northwest Arctic Borough School District live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 640 of the 2,014 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 31.8%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How do students in Northwest Arctic Borough School District do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Northwest Arctic Borough School District scored proficient or above: 5% in reading and 3% in math, against 29.4% in reading and 22.8% in math across Alaska. Alaska's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  6. What is the graduation rate in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
    75-79% of the 136 students in Northwest Arctic Borough School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 77.9% across Alaska. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  7. What is Northwest Arctic Borough School District's NCES district ID?
    0200625. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .