- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Wasilla, AK
John Shaw Elementary
Federal NCES profile for John Shaw Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 020051000480
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John Shaw Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Alaska schools.
- #14 of 18
- schools in Wasilla · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.5:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 35.3%
- free-lunch eligible
John Shaw Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John Shaw Elementary ranks #14 of 18 schools in Wasilla, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000480 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-50 students YoY
John Shaw Elementary shrank from 533 students in 2022-23 to 483 in 2023-24 (-9.4%).
Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 30.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-50 students YoY 020051000480 · Wasilla, AK Other · MID · TRAD
507 enr · 17.5:1 · 35.3% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
John Shaw Elementary shrank from 533 students in 2022-23 to 483 in 2023-24 (-9.4%). Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 30.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
John Shaw Elementary 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 507
John Shaw Elementary
507 students
What this shows John Shaw Elementary reports 507 students on the CCD universe file.
How John Shaw Elementary compares
John Shaw Elementary 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 | 17.5:1 | ▲ 15% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.3% | ▼ 43% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 507 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
507
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% 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
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 76% in Alaska - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
48.7%
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
Counselors0.5 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.
Student demographics
White 77.9%
Two or More 8.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 77.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.8, John Shaw Elementary is less 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 John Shaw Elementary 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 | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Colony Middle School | Larger | Similar 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 John Shaw Elementary'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
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
Iditarod Elementary
Standard public school
424 students 16.3:1 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 (~507 students)
Frequently asked questions about John Shaw Elementary
How many students attend John Shaw Elementary?
John Shaw Elementary has 507 students enrolled. It is a public school in Wasilla, AK. CCD year-over-year: 533 (2022-23) → 483 (2023-24), down 50.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Shaw Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at John Shaw Elementary is 17.5:1, which is 15% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at John Shaw Elementary?
35.3% of students at John Shaw Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John Shaw Elementary?
The largest demographic group at John Shaw Elementary is White at 77.9% of enrollment, in Wasilla, AK.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John Shaw Elementary?
John Shaw Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 John Shaw Elementary rank among schools in Wasilla?
By Resource Investment Index, John Shaw Elementary ranks #14 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 John Shaw Elementary, 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.