Summary:
The city of Palmer, Alaska is home to 14 schools that serve students from elementary through high school, all part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The district is ranked 8th out of 24 in the state and has a 4-star rating, with several standout schools that excel academically.
At the top of the list is Academy Charter School, an elementary/middle charter school that ranks 4th out of 173 elementary schools in the state and has a 5-star rating. It boasts exceptional test scores, with over 65% of students proficient or better in English language arts and over 72% in science. Other high-performing schools include Colony High School, which ranks 18th out of 63 high schools in the state, and Pioneer Peak Elementary, which ranks 30th out of 173 elementary schools and has impressive science scores.
The schools in Palmer serve diverse student populations, with varying free/reduced lunch rates and student-teacher ratios. The alternative and smaller schools, like Valley Pathways and Mat-Su Secondary School, tend to have higher rates of economically disadvantaged students, while the top-performing schools have lower ratios and stronger academic outcomes. Understanding these differences can help the district and community better support all students in the Palmer area.
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