- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Palmer, AK
Colony High School
Federal NCES profile for Colony High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 020051000711
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Colony High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Alaska schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alaska.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 24.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Colony High School has class sizes larger than 84% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Colony High School ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000711 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-25 students YoY
Colony High School held near 1,092 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 55.5 → 53.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-25 students YoY 020051000711 · Palmer, AK High · MID · TRAD
1,046 enr · 19:1 · 24.2% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Colony High School held near 1,092 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 55.5 → 53.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Colony High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mat-Su Central
Mat-Su Central School
2,780 students
- This school 1,046
Colony High School
1,046 students
- Wasilla High S 816
Wasilla High School
816 students
- Colony Middle 771
Colony Middle School
771 students
- Mat-Su Career 705
Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School
705 students
- Teeland Middle 643
Teeland Middle School
643 students
What this shows Colony High School reports 1,046 students on the CCD universe file.
How Colony High School compares
Colony High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alaska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19:1 | ▲ 25% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.2% | ▼ 61% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,046 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,046
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Alaska average of 61.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 84% in Alaska - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
49.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,575
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 209 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.6%
Two or More 16.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.5%
Asian 1.4%
African American 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 66.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.9, Colony High School is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District reports $15,575 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Colony High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mat-Su Central School | Larger | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
| Wasilla High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Colony Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Teeland Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Colony High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 816
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 771
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 705
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 643
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar high schools in Palmer
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,046 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19:1)
Frequently asked questions about Colony High School
How many students attend Colony High School?
Colony High School has 1,046 students enrolled. It is a high school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 1,117 (2022-23) → 1,092 (2023-24), nearly flat (-25).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Colony High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Colony High School is 19:1, which is 25% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 21% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Colony High School?
24.2% of students at Colony High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Colony High School?
The largest demographic group at Colony High School is White at 66.6% of enrollment, in Palmer, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Colony High School?
Colony High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Colony High School rank among high schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Colony High School ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Palmer, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Palmer on the city page.
What other schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Besides Colony High School, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District also operates Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students), Wasilla High School (816 students), and Colony Middle School (771 students). See the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District district page for the complete list.