- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Palmer, AK
Valley Pathways
Federal NCES profile for Valley Pathways, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 020051000425
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Valley Pathways earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alaska median.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 81.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Valley Pathways has class sizes near the Alaska median. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Valley Pathways ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000425 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-47 students YoY
Valley Pathways shrank from 200 students in 2022-23 to 153 in 2023-24 (-23.5%).
Teacher FTE added 10.8 → 12.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-47 students YoY 020051000425 · Palmer, AK High · SMALL · TRAD
143 enr · 14.3:1 · 81.0% lunch · RII 61
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Valley Pathways shrank from 200 students in 2022-23 to 153 in 2023-24 (-23.5%). Teacher FTE added 10.8 → 12.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Valley Pathways 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 143
Valley Pathways
143 students
What this shows Valley Pathways reports 143 students on the CCD universe file.
How Valley Pathways compares
Valley Pathways 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 | 14.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.0% | ▲ 32% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 143 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
143
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
81.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% above the Alaska average of 61.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 50% in Alaska - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
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 143 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.5%
Two or More 19.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 9.8%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Largest group: White at 61.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.5, Valley Pathways is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
AP program Not offered
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 Valley Pathways 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 | Lower 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 Valley Pathways'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 (~143 students)
Frequently asked questions about Valley Pathways
How many students attend Valley Pathways?
Valley Pathways has 143 students enrolled. It is a high school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 200 (2022-23) → 153 (2023-24), down 47.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Pathways?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Pathways is 14.3:1, which is 6% lower than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 9% 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 Valley Pathways?
81.0% of students at Valley Pathways are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Valley Pathways?
The largest demographic group at Valley Pathways is White at 61.5% of enrollment, in Palmer, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Valley Pathways?
Valley Pathways has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Valley Pathways rank among high schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Valley Pathways ranks #1 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 Valley Pathways, 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.