Enrollment
582
Alaska · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Anchorage, AK
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School
Federal NCES profile for Northern Lights Abc K-8 School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 020018000094
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Alaska schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alaska schools.
- #13 of 59
- schools in Anchorage · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.1:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 18.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School has class sizes larger than 88% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Lights Abc K-8 School ranks #13 of 59 schools in Anchorage, AK.
School address
District: Anchorage School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020018000094 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.1:1
vs 15.2:1 Alaska avg
+32% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
18.5%
vs 61.5% Alaska avg
-70% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Northern Lights Abc K-8 School compares with Alaska and U.S. medians
What stands out at Northern Lights Abc K-8 School
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Anchorage, Alaska, enrolling 582 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.1:1 is larger than about 88% of Alaska schools and 32% above the 15.2:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 18.5% free-meal eligibility runs 70% below the Alaska average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Alaska, bigger than 92% of state schools at 582 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 495 scored Alaska schools.
Against 49 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #9.
Its student body is led by White (31%) and Asian (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 79/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Anchorage School District spends $17,200 per pupil, 48% below the Alaska average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 18.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Anchorage's public schools, it stands alongside Family Partnership Charter School (1,008 students): Northern Lights Abc K-8 School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.1:1 vs 50.4:1).
Anchorage School District also operates West High School (1,702 students) and Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School (1,636 students) alongside Northern Lights Abc K-8 School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Northern Lights Abc K-8 School compares
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School on the metrics families compare, against Alaska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▲ 32% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.5% | ▼ 70% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 582 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
582
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
18.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 70% below the Alaska average of 61.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 88% in Alaska - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
28.0%
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
$17,200
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alaska avg of $33,240
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 30.8%
Asian 26.3%
Two or More 16.0%
Hispanic or Latino 11.5%
African American 8.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.5%
Largest group: White at 30.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.6, Northern Lights Abc K-8 School is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Anchorage School District, which includes Northern Lights Abc K-8 School.
$17,200
Per student
-48%
vs Alaska
Avg $33,240
+4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.8%
State 54.1%
Federal 18.1%
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.
How Northern Lights Abc K-8 School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Service High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bartlett High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dimond High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern Lights Abc K-8 School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,636
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,518
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,431
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,373
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Anchorage
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Family Partnership Charter School
Standard public school
1,008 students 50.4:1 students per teacher
Frontier Charter School
Standard public school
689 students
Focus Homeschool
Standard public school
549 students 61:1 students per teacher
Bowman Elementary
Standard public school
536 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Polaris K-12 School
Standard public school
483 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Government Hill Elementary
Standard public school
424 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alaska, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~582 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Northern Lights Abc K-8 School's federal record.
- Compare Northern Lights Abc K-8 School against another school. Compare schools
- Anchorage School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Northern Lights Abc K-8 School
How many students attend Northern Lights Abc K-8 School?
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School has 582 students enrolled. It is a public school in Anchorage, AK.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Lights Abc K-8 School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Lights Abc K-8 School is 20.1:1, which is 32% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northern Lights Abc K-8 School?
18.5% of students at Northern Lights Abc K-8 School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern Lights Abc K-8 School?
The largest demographic group at Northern Lights Abc K-8 School is White at 30.8% of enrollment, in Anchorage, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern Lights Abc K-8 School?
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northern Lights Abc K-8 School rank among schools in Anchorage?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Lights Abc K-8 School ranks #13 of 59 schools in Anchorage, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Anchorage on the city page.
Is Northern Lights Abc K-8 School a good school?
Northern Lights Abc K-8 School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Alaska schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alaska schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Anchorage School District?
Besides Northern Lights Abc K-8 School, Anchorage School District also operates West High School (1,702 students), Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School (1,636 students), and Service High School (1,518 students). See the Anchorage School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.