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Houston High School

Q: Is Houston High School a good school?

Houston High School ranks 44 th of 60 Alaska high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

44^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 60 Alaska High Schools

Better than 27% of Alaska high schools

Summary

Houston High School is a public high school located in Big Lake, Alaska, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 372 students. It is part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which is ranked 10th out of 24 districts in Alaska and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite being part of a relatively high-performing district, Houston High School has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state averages in various standardized test scores. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in STAR/English Language Arts (24.05%) and STAR/Mathematics (6.49%) for all grades were significantly lower than the district (40.81% and 40.92%) and state (32.69% and 32.18%) averages. Additionally, the school's performance varies across different student subgroups, with female students performing relatively better than male students and white students, who have consistently ranked in the bottom half of Alaska high schools.

Houston High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Alaska high schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger in recent years. When compared to other high schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, such as Colony High School and Mat-Su Career & Technical Educational High School, Houston High School's proficiency rates in core subjects are much lower. Despite having a relatively low student-teacher ratio and higher spending per student than the district and state averages, these factors do not seem to translate into better academic outcomes for the school.

337

Students ?

13.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,488

Per pupil spending ?

61.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12501 W Hawk Lane
Big Lake, AK 99623

(907) 892-9400

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Feeder schools for Houston High School:

Elementary:	Big Lake Elementary
	Meadow Lakes Elementary
Middle:	Houston Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.9%

Two or more races:

19.6%

American Indian:

9.8%

See top rated Alaska high schools

Compare Houston High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 3rd percentile in 2018 → 27th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 27th (2025) from a 3rd-percentile low (2018)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alaska average (27% vs 33% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 26 pts below the Alaska average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school27%

District avg42%

Alaska avg33%

44^th of 60

Alaska public high schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 13 pts since 2015

From bottom 40% (2015) to bottom 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 8High Schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

10^th of 24Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District among Alaska districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	32.9	44 of 60	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.0	45 of 63	28.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	11.7	56 of 62	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	56 of 62	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.1	56 of 61	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.2	70 of 77	9.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.5	72 of 74	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	11.3	77 of 83	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	33.6	81 of 135	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	71.9	36 of 139	74.1%	★★★★☆
2013	59.6	55 of 148	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	67.3	47 of 136	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	80.0	22 of 142	84.5%	★★★★☆
2010	79.7	19 of 140	86.4%	★★★★☆
2009	72.2	41 of 151	72.8%	★★★★☆
2008	70.9	40 of 151	73.5%	★★★★☆
2007	77.5	33 of 139	76.3%	★★★★☆
2006	65.8	49 of 135	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	77.2	30 of 116	74.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	60.8	15 of 45	66.7%	★★★★☆
2024	39.8	30 of 45	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	11.0	49 of 54	9.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.8	41 of 43	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.0	36 of 37	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.1	47 of 54	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	42.0	20 of 39	48.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.3	28 of 41	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	15.8	33 of 37	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.1	43 of 55	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	22.0	38 of 45	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.0	41 of 48	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	43 of 47	8.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.3	41 of 46	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.0	36 of 42	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.7	58 of 58	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2024	47.8	10 of 24	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.9	5 of 19	73.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	22.0	40 of 43	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.2	39 of 46	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	6.9	47 of 47	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.5	46 of 47	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	2.2	43 of 43	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.1	54 of 56	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

High school

Female (2025)67th percentile+40 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)58th percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)49th percentile+22 vs school

Male (2025)16th percentile-11 vs school

White (2025)7th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

Science51%+13 vs state

English Language Arts24%-9 vs state

Mathematics6%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Houston High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				STAR English Language Arts (2025)					STAR Mathematics (2025)					ASA Science (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 9th Grade	STAR English Language Arts All Grades	STAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAR Mathematics 9th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science 10th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Houston High School	Public	9-12	12501 W Hawk Lane	Big Lake	99623	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 892-9400	337	25	13.4	61.1%	212 (62.9%)	2 (0.6%)	16 (4.7%)	5 (1.5%)	33 (9.8%)	3 (0.9%)	66 (19.6%)	32.9	44^th of 60 public high schools	26.7%		30	45^th of 63 public high schools	28.6%	1				24.1	24.1				6.5	6.5		50.7	50.7	$20,488	$2,810	$17,678
Joe Redington Senior Junior/Senior High School	Public	6-12	10015 W Redington School Rd	Wasilla	99623	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 864-5400	497	31	16.0	45.5%	276 (55.5%)	5 (1.0%)	46 (9.3%)	6 (1.2%)	68 (13.7%)	5 (1.0%)	91 (18.3%)	24.7	49^th of 60 public high schools	18.3%		14.6	55^th of 63 public high schools	12.7%	6	26.7	22.4	23.8	31.4	25.7	18.3	29.3	33.9	16.7	24.3	34.3	24.5	30.0	$15,358	$1,294	$14,063
Burchell High School	Public	9-12	1775 W Parks Hwy	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 864-2600	200	12	16.6	70.0%	106 (53.0%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (4.0%)	2 (1.0%)	37 (18.5%)	2 (1.0%)	44 (22.0%)	15.7	54^th of 60 public high schools	10.0%		11.2	58^th of 63 public high schools	7.9%	4				28.6	28.6							18.2	18.2	$23,979	$5,024	$18,955
Wasilla High School	Public	9-12	701 E Bogard Rd	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-8200	816	45	18.0	33.3%	525 (64.3%)	9 (1.1%)	80 (9.8%)	11 (1.3%)	63 (7.7%)	8 (1.0%)	120 (14.7%)	39.5	38^th of 60 public high schools	36.7%		44.3	38^th of 63 public high schools	39.7%					29.0	29.0				16.8	16.8		45.2	45.2	$14,988	$1,108	$13,880
Mat-Su Career & Technical Educational High School	Public	9-12	2472 N Seward Meridian Pkwy	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 352-0400	705	42	16.6	25.0%	523 (74.2%)	5 (0.7%)	53 (7.5%)	6 (0.9%)	38 (5.4%)	3 (0.4%)	77 (10.9%)	65	23^rd of 60 public high schools	61.7%		74.8	12^th of 63 public high schools	81.0%	11				40.0	40.0				26.1	26.1		51.2	51.2	$12,208	$273	$11,935
Chugiak High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	16525 S Birchwood Loop Rd	Chugiak	99567	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	Yes	No	No	(907) 742-3050	928	40	23.1	18.3%	601 (64.8%)	10 (1.1%)	86 (9.3%)	22 (2.4%)	53 (5.7%)	19 (2.0%)	137 (14.8%)	57.3	26^th of 60 public high schools	56.7%		58.7	25^th of 63 public high schools	60.3%	1				41.2	41.2				22.4	22.4		46.7	46.7	$15,696	$1,013	$14,683
Mat-Su Middle College School	Public	8-12	8295 East College Drive	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 746-8485	222	2	111.0	20.3%	170 (76.6%)	1 (0.5%)	13 (5.9%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (13.5%)								(n/a)														$12,676	$94	$12,582
Colony High School	Public	9-12	9550 E Bogard Rd	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 861-5500	1,046	51	20.4	31.3%	697 (66.6%)	5 (0.5%)	87 (8.3%)	15 (1.4%)	68 (6.5%)	4 (0.4%)	170 (16.3%)	50.2	30^th of 60 public high schools	50.0%		64.7	18^th of 63 public high schools	71.4%	12				39.0	39.0				22.0	22.0		41.3	41.3	$12,195	$658	$11,537

Frequently Asked Questions about Houston High School

What district is Houston High School in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Is Houston High School a good school?

Houston High School ranks 44^th of 60 Alaska high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What schools feed into Houston High School?

Houston High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Big Lake Elementary
Elementary : Meadow Lakes Elementary
Middle : Houston Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Houston High School?

Students at Houston High School are 63% White, 20% Two or more races, 10% American Indian, 5% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Houston High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 337 students attended Houston High School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.