- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Palmer, AK
Swanson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Swanson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 020051000233
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Swanson Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alaska median.
- #5 of 6
- schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 38.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Swanson Elementary has class sizes near the Alaska median. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Swanson Elementary ranks #5 of 6 schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000233 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-63 students YoY
Swanson Elementary shrank from 406 students in 2022-23 to 343 in 2023-24 (-15.5%).
Teacher FTE added 23.0 → 23.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-63 students YoY 020051000233 · Palmer, AK Other · SMALL · TRAD
348 enr · 15.1:1 · 38.9% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Swanson Elementary shrank from 406 students in 2022-23 to 343 in 2023-24 (-15.5%). Teacher FTE added 23.0 → 23.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Swanson 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 348
Swanson Elementary
348 students
What this shows Swanson Elementary reports 348 students on the CCD universe file.
How Swanson Elementary compares
Swanson 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 | 15.1:1 | ▼ 1% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.9% | ▼ 37% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 348 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
348
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 57% in Alaska - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
71.6%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 348 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.4%
Two or More 18.1%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 7.8%
Asian 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.1%
Largest group: White at 62.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.3, Swanson Elementary is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
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 Swanson 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Colony Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Swanson 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.
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Standard public school
449 students 16:1 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 (~348 students)
Frequently asked questions about Swanson Elementary
How many students attend Swanson Elementary?
Swanson Elementary has 348 students enrolled. It is a public school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 406 (2022-23) → 343 (2023-24), down 63.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Swanson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Swanson Elementary is 15.1:1, which is 1% lower than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 4% 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 Swanson Elementary?
38.9% of students at Swanson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Swanson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Swanson Elementary is White at 62.4% of enrollment, in Palmer, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Swanson Elementary?
Swanson 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 Swanson Elementary rank among schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Swanson Elementary ranks #5 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 Swanson 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.