- Enrollment
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Anchorage, AK
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.
Federal NCES profile for Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H., including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 020018000110
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 86
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Alaska schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alaska schools.
- #6 of 59
- schools in Anchorage · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.6:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 97.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. has class sizes larger than 87% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. ranks #6 of 59 schools in Anchorage, AK.
School address
District: Anchorage School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020018000110 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+24 students YoY
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. grew from 295 students in 2022-23 to 319 in 2023-24 (+8.1%).
Teacher FTE added 14.5 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+24 students YoY 020018000110 · Anchorage, AK Other · SMALL · TRAD
275 enr · 19.6:1 · 97.3% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: West High School (1,702 students)
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. grew from 295 students in 2022-23 to 319 in 2023-24 (+8.1%). Teacher FTE added 14.5 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High Scho
West High School
1,702 students
- Bettye Davis E
Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School
1,636 students
- Service High S
Service High School
1,518 students
- Bartlett High
Bartlett High School
1,431 students
- Dimond High Sc
Dimond High School
1,373 students
- This school 275
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.
275 students
What this shows Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. reports 275 students on the CCD universe file.
How Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. compares
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alaska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.6:1 | ▲ 29% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 97.3% | ▲ 58% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 275 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.6:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
275
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
97.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 58% above the Alaska average of 61.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 87% in Alaska - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$16,636
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alaska avg of $33,705
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 69 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
32
in-school suspensions + 93 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 45.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
American Indian / Alaska Native 23.6%
Two or More 20.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 18.2%
White 14.9%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
African American 7.6%
Asian 3.6%
Largest group: American Indian / Alaska Native at 23.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 82.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 82.6, Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
District finance for Anchorage School District reports $16,636 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Service High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bartlett High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dimond High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,636
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,518
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,431
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,373
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Anchorage
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Family Partnership Charter School
Standard public school
1,008 students 50.4:1 students per teacher
Frontier Charter School
Standard public school
689 students
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School
Standard public school
582 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Focus Homeschool
Standard public school
549 students 61:1 students per teacher
Bowman Elementary
Standard public school
536 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Polaris K-12 School
Standard public school
483 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~275 students)
Frequently asked questions about Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.
How many students attend Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.?
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. has 275 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Anchorage, AK. CCD year-over-year: 295 (2022-23) → 319 (2023-24), up 24.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.?
The student-teacher ratio at Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. is 19.6:1, which is 29% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.?
97.3% of students at Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.?
The largest demographic group at Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. is American Indian / Alaska Native at 23.6% of enrollment, in Anchorage, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 82.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H.?
Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. rank among schools in Anchorage?
By Resource Investment Index, Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H. ranks #6 of 59 schools in Anchorage, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Anchorage on the city page.
What other schools are in Anchorage School District?
Besides Benson Secondary/S.E.a.R.C.H., Anchorage School District also operates West High School (1,702 students), Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School (1,636 students), and Service High School (1,518 students). See the Anchorage School District district page for the complete list.