- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Palmer, AK
Palmer High School
Federal NCES profile for Palmer High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 020051000227
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmer High School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alaska median.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 28.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmer High School has class sizes near the Alaska median. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000227 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-111 students YoY
Palmer High School shrank from 760 students in 2022-23 to 649 in 2023-24 (-14.6%).
Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 42.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-111 students YoY 020051000227 · Palmer, AK High · MID · TRAD
616 enr · 14.7:1 · 28.6% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Palmer High School shrank from 760 students in 2022-23 to 649 in 2023-24 (-14.6%). Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 42.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Palmer High 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 616
Palmer High School
616 students
What this shows Palmer High School reports 616 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmer High School compares
Palmer High 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 | 14.7:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.6% | ▼ 53% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 616 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
616
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 53% in Alaska - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
80.7%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 205 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.0%
Two or More 11.9%
Hispanic or Latino 10.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.4%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: White at 67.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.9, Palmer High School is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
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 Palmer High 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wasilla High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Colony Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmer High 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 high schools in Palmer
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~616 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palmer High School
How many students attend Palmer High School?
Palmer High School has 616 students enrolled. It is a high school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 760 (2022-23) → 649 (2023-24), down 111.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmer High School is 14.7:1, which is 3% lower than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Palmer High School?
28.6% of students at Palmer High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmer High School?
The largest demographic group at Palmer High School is White at 67.0% of enrollment, in Palmer, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmer High School?
Palmer High School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Palmer High School rank among high schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer High School ranks #2 of 3 high 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 high schools in Palmer on the city page.
What other schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Besides Palmer High 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.