Enrollment
7,876
Alaska · 2024-25 NCES data
2024-25 NCES data Other / mixed grade configuration NCES 020013000253
Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) — Fairbanks, AK
Federal NCES profile for Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators — Resource Investment Index 15/100.
👥 Class size 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
How this works: Each indicator above is scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC data, then averaged into the Resource Investment Index. This measures resource allocation — staffing, programs, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes. Full methodology →
School address
District: Galena City School District · Alaska
Public location data per NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) Common Core of Data. Verify the school's current address on the NCES CCD record.
Teachers (FTE)
54.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
127.8:1
vs 20:1 Alaska avg
+539% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) compares with Alaska and U.S. medians
The federal record — no proprietary index, no editorial formula.
PlainSchools publishes the actual federal measurements — enrollment, staffing, demographics, discipline, and finance — straight from the NCES Common Core of Data, CRDC, and F-33 surveys. No composite rating, no opinion-based score on top. You get the same raw numbers researchers and policymakers use, with benchmarks, spending context, and equity indicators computed from the same federal datasets. Full methodology linked below.
What this school's NCES data tells you
Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) reports 7,876 enrolled students to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) alongside 54.0 full-time-equivalent teachers, producing a 127.8:1 student-teacher ratio. That figure sits 539% above the Alaska state mean of 20:1, signalling larger average class loads than peers in the same state. Against the national 2024-25 average of 15.9:1, it is 704% higher, a useful calibration for families comparing districts across state lines.
On the finance side, the surrounding Galena City School District spends $6,074 per pupil district-wide, below the Alaska average of $36,093 and below the national average of $19,490. Revenue comes 3.1% from local sources (property taxes), 91.2% from the state, and 5.6% from federal programs per the NCES F-33 finance survey. Taken together, these measurements produce a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (F), calculated from 2 distinct NCES and CRDC indicators measuring resource allocation rather than academic outcomes.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) compares
Cross-validating school-level NCES values against Alaska state and U.S. national means lets readers see whether this school is an outlier or in line with peers.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 127.8:1 | ▲ 539% | 20:1 | 15.9:1 |
| Enrollment | 7,876 | top 100% | — | — |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
What the federal data reveals about equity at this school
Federal measurements — not ratings — surface the resource and opportunity picture. Below are the indicators that researchers, civil-rights monitors, and funding formulas use to assess equity.
Staffing depth
127.8:1
students per teacher
— 539% above state mean
Top 99% in Alaska — lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Above 20:1 — larger class loads than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is stretched relative to enrollment.
Funding equity
$6,074
per pupil, district-wide
— below Alaska avg of $36,093
Below the U.S. average per-pupil spend — funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 7,876 Top 100% in Alaska — larger than 0% of 496 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 54.0
Students per teacher 127.8:1 +539% vs state
Free-lunch eligible —
NCES ID 020013000253
Student demographics
White 72.9%
Two or More 10.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 10.1%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
African American 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.2%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: White at 72.9% of enrollment.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Galena City School District, which includes Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea).
$6,074
Per student
-83%
vs Alaska
Avg $36,093
-69%
vs U.S.
Avg $19,490
Revenue mix
Local 3.1%
State 91.2%
Federal 5.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 185
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Enrollment
- 65
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Enrollment
- 42
- Students per teacher
- 8.8:1
Similar other schools in Fairbanks
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Raven School
Standard public school
3,687 students 120.5:1 students per teacher
Fairbanks B.E.S.T.
Standard public school
784 students 801:1 students per teacher
Barnette Magnet School
Standard public school
417 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Weller Elementary
Standard public school
413 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Pearl Creek Elementary
Standard public school
388 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Ladd Elementary
Standard public school
383 students 19:1 students per teacher
Educator & family resources
In-depth guides on understanding NCES data, school choice, and education funding.
Understanding NCES data
How CCD, CRDC and EDFacts feed every public-school number you see.
Choose a school district
Eight signals that matter more than the overall ranking number.
How schools are funded
Title I, F-33, state aid formulas and what per-pupil spending really means.
Chronic absenteeism
Why missing 10% of school matters and how it varies by district.
Magnet vs charter vs traditional
Three school types, three funding models, three sets of trade-offs.
School discipline data
What CRDC suspension and expulsion records do and don't reveal.
Frequently asked questions about Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea)
How many students attend Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea)?
Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) has 7,876 students enrolled. It is a other school in Fairbanks, AK.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea)?
The student-teacher ratio at Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) is 127.8:1, which is 539% higher than the Alaska average of 20:1 and 704% higher than the national average of 15.9:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea)?
The largest demographic group at Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) is White at 72.9%. The school serves a diverse student body in Fairbanks, AK.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea)?
Interior Distance Education of Alaska (Idea) has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (F) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. This index measures federal resource allocation — staffing levels, program availability, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes. Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.