- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Palmer, AK
Palmer Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Palmer Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 020051000544
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmer Middle School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Alaska schools.
- #10 of 14
- public schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.1:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 36.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmer Middle School has class sizes larger than 88% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Middle School ranks #10 of 14 public schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000544 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Palmer Middle School held near 567 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-27 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.6 → 31.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-27 students YoY 020051000544 · Palmer, AK Middle · MID · TRAD
563 enr · 20.1:1 · 36.4% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Palmer Middle School held near 567 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-27 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.6 → 31.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Palmer Middle 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 563
Palmer Middle School
563 students
What this shows Palmer Middle School reports 563 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmer Middle School compares
Palmer Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 | 36.4% | ▼ 41% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 563 | top 9% | - | - |
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.
563
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% 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
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
63.9%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 282 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 36 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.8%
Two or More 15.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.0%
Asian 1.1%
African American 0.5%
Largest group: White at 66.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.9, Palmer Middle 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 Palmer Middle 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wasilla High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Colony Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmer Middle 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 middle schools in Palmer
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~563 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Palmer Middle School
How many students attend Palmer Middle School?
Palmer Middle School has 563 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 594 (2022-23) → 567 (2023-24), nearly flat (-27).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmer Middle 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 Palmer Middle School?
36.4% of students at Palmer Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmer Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Palmer Middle School is White at 66.8% 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 Middle School?
Palmer Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Middle School rank among public schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Middle School ranks #10 of 14 public 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 public schools in Palmer on the city page.
What other schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Besides Palmer Middle 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.