Northwest Arctic Borough School District

The Northwest Arctic Borough School District in Alaska is home to 13 schools, including 1 elementary school, 1 middle/high school, and 11 alternative schools. The district as a whole is ranked 24 out of 24 in the state and is rated 0 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger, indicating significant challenges in academic performance and student outcomes.

Among the standout schools in the district, Kotzebue Middle/High School is the largest with 328 students and performs better than the district average on most academic metrics, though it still ranks relatively low in the state. June Nelson Elementary, the only elementary school in the district, ranks 172nd out of 173 elementary schools in Alaska, the second-lowest ranking in the district. Meanwhile, Kobuk School, a small alternative school with only 35 students, has the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts among all the schools in the district.

Across the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, the student population is overwhelmingly Native American, ranging from 85% to 100% at individual schools. Additionally, all but one school have free/reduced lunch rates of 93% or higher, indicating high levels of poverty in the district. Academic performance is extremely low, with most schools scoring below 20% proficient in English Language Arts and Math, and below 25% proficient in Science. These systemic challenges suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique cultural and community context of the Northwest Arctic Borough.