- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Palmer, AK
Colony Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Colony Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 020051000719
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Colony Middle School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Alaska schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alaska.
- #12 of 14
- public schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.4:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 26.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Colony Middle School has class sizes larger than 91% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Colony Middle School ranks #12 of 14 public schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000719 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Colony Middle School held near 757 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 36.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+22 students YoY 020051000719 · Palmer, AK Middle · MID · TRAD
771 enr · 21.4:1 · 26.8% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Colony Middle School held near 757 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 36.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Colony Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mat-Su Central
Mat-Su Central School
2,780 students
- Colony High Sc 1,046
Colony High School
1,046 students
- Wasilla High S 816
Wasilla High School
816 students
- This school 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 Middle School reports 771 students on the CCD universe file.
How Colony Middle School compares
Colony Middle 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 | 21.4:1 | ▲ 41% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.8% | ▼ 56% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 771 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.4:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
771
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% 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
21.4:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 91% in Alaska - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
56.4%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 386 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 68.7%
Two or More 17.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.2%
Asian 0.9%
African American 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 68.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.1, Colony Middle School is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
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 Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mat-Su Central School | Larger | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
| Colony High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wasilla High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Teeland Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Colony Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,046
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 816
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- 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 middle schools in Palmer
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~771 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Colony Middle School
How many students attend Colony Middle School?
Colony Middle School has 771 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 735 (2022-23) → 757 (2023-24), nearly flat (+22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Colony Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Colony Middle School is 21.4:1, which is 41% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Colony Middle School?
26.8% of students at Colony Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Colony Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Colony Middle School is White at 68.7% of enrollment, in Palmer, AK.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Colony Middle School?
Colony Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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 Middle School rank among public schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Colony Middle School ranks #12 of 14 public 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 public schools in Palmer on the city page.
What other schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Besides Colony Middle School, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District also operates Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students), Colony High School (1,046 students), and Wasilla High School (816 students). See the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District district page for the complete list.