- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Wasilla, AK
Dena'ina Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Dena'ina Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 020051000759
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dena'ina Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alaska median.
- #10 of 18
- schools in Wasilla · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 73.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Dena'ina Elementary School has class sizes near the Alaska median. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dena'ina Elementary School ranks #10 of 18 schools in Wasilla, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000759 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-51 students YoY
Dena'ina Elementary School shrank from 435 students in 2022-23 to 384 in 2023-24 (-11.7%).
Teacher FTE added 25.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-51 students YoY 020051000759 · Wasilla, AK Other · SMALL · TRAD
396 enr · 15.8:1 · 73.6% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Dena'ina Elementary School shrank from 435 students in 2022-23 to 384 in 2023-24 (-11.7%). Teacher FTE added 25.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Dena'ina Elementary 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
- Colony Middle 771
Colony Middle School
771 students
- Mat-Su Career 705
Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School
705 students
- This school 396
Dena'ina Elementary School
396 students
What this shows Dena'ina Elementary School reports 396 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dena'ina Elementary School compares
Dena'ina Elementary School is a shrinking 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 | 15.8:1 | ▲ 4% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.6% | ▲ 20% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 396 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
396
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% 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
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 64% in Alaska - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
79.3%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 396 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.6%
Two or More 23.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 10.9%
Hispanic or Latino 8.8%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 55.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.5, Dena'ina Elementary 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 Dena'ina Elementary 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 | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wasilla High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Colony Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dena'ina Elementary 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
- 771
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 705
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Wasilla
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Mat-Su Central School
Standard public school
2,780 students
Twindly Bridge Charter School
Standard public school
601 students
John Shaw Elementary
Standard public school
507 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Joe Redington Senior Jr/Sr High School
Standard public school
497 students 16:1 students per teacher
Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School
Standard public school
468 students 18:1 students per teacher
Finger Lake Elementary
Standard public school
445 students 17.8:1 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 (~396 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dena'ina Elementary School
How many students attend Dena'ina Elementary School?
Dena'ina Elementary School has 396 students enrolled. It is a public school in Wasilla, AK. CCD year-over-year: 435 (2022-23) → 384 (2023-24), down 51.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dena'ina Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dena'ina Elementary School is 15.8:1, which is 4% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dena'ina Elementary School?
73.6% of students at Dena'ina Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dena'ina Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Dena'ina Elementary School is White at 55.6% of enrollment, in Wasilla, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dena'ina Elementary School?
Dena'ina Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Dena'ina Elementary School rank among schools in Wasilla?
By Resource Investment Index, Dena'ina Elementary School ranks #10 of 18 schools in Wasilla, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Wasilla on the city page.
What other schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Besides Dena'ina Elementary 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.