- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Palmer, AK
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Pioneer Peak Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 020051000565
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pioneer Peak Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alaska median.
- #4 of 6
- schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- students per teacher
- 26.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Pioneer Peak Elementary has class sizes near the Alaska median. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Peak Elementary ranks #4 of 6 schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000565 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-42 students YoY
Pioneer Peak Elementary shrank from 513 students in 2022-23 to 471 in 2023-24 (-8.2%).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 31.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-42 students YoY 020051000565 · Palmer, AK Other · SMALL · TRAD
449 enr · 16:1 · 26.3% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Pioneer Peak Elementary shrank from 513 students in 2022-23 to 471 in 2023-24 (-8.2%). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 31.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Pioneer Peak 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 449
Pioneer Peak Elementary
449 students
What this shows Pioneer Peak Elementary reports 449 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pioneer Peak Elementary compares
Pioneer Peak 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 | 16:1 | ▲ 5% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.3% | ▼ 57% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 449 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
449
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% 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
16:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 67% in Alaska - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
65.7%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 69.5%
Two or More 13.8%
Hispanic or Latino 9.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 69.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.6, Pioneer Peak Elementary 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 Pioneer Peak 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 | 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 | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pioneer Peak 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 Palmer
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Swanson Elementary
Standard public school
348 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Butte Elementary
Standard public school
263 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Mat-Su Middle College School
Standard public school
222 students
Beryozova School
Standard public school
39 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Mat-Su Youth Facility
Alternative education program
10 students 10:1 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 (~449 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pioneer Peak Elementary
How many students attend Pioneer Peak Elementary?
Pioneer Peak Elementary has 449 students enrolled. It is a public school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 513 (2022-23) → 471 (2023-24), down 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Peak Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Peak Elementary is 16:1, which is 5% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pioneer Peak Elementary?
26.3% of students at Pioneer Peak Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pioneer Peak Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Pioneer Peak Elementary is White at 69.5% of enrollment, in Palmer, AK.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pioneer Peak Elementary?
Pioneer Peak Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Pioneer Peak Elementary rank among schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Peak Elementary ranks #4 of 6 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 schools in Palmer on the city page.
What other schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Besides Pioneer Peak 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.