Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Willow Elementary

Q: Is Willow Elementary a good school?

Willow Elementary ranks 86 th of 175 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

86^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 175 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Willow Elementary is an elementary school located in Willow, Alaska, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 119 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.

Willow Elementary has consistently ranked in the top half of Alaska elementary schools, with rankings ranging from 32nd to 94th out of 173-246 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is generally above the state and district averages, particularly in science and mathematics. In the 2024-2025 school year, Willow Elementary's proficiency rates were 52.17% in science, 37.14% in English Language Arts, and 42.03% in mathematics, compared to the state averages of 37.87%, 32.69%, and 32.18%, respectively. The school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.5 to 13.5 students per teacher in recent years, and its per-student spending of $18,751 in the 2018-2019 school year was higher than the nearby schools.

In contrast to some of the nearby schools, such as Meadow Lakes Elementary and Knik Elementary School, Willow Elementary has maintained a consistent academic performance. The school's academic performance, particularly in science and mathematics, is generally stronger than the nearby schools, such as Goose Bay Elementary and Big Lake Elementary. However, Willow Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds compared to the nearby schools, which may present unique challenges in terms of student support and resources.

127

Students ?

12.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,751

Per pupil spending ?

66.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

31706 W Parks Hwy
Willow, AK 99688

(907) 495-9300

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Students who attend Willow Elementary usually attend:

High:

Susitna Valley High

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.6%

Two or more races:

13.4%

American Indian:

7.1%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Willow Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 57th percentile in 2014 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (41% vs 33% meeting standards)

✓Above the Alaska median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2014

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

!Near the bottom of Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg42%

Alaska avg33%

86^th of 175

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 24 pts since 2015

From top 25% (2015) to top 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^th of 21Elementary 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	49.9	86 of 175	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.0	46 of 173	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	51.6	87 of 176	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.9	35 of 171	79.5%	★★★★☆
2021	76.9	32 of 173	81.5%	★★★★☆
2019	70.5	48 of 185	74.1%	★★★★☆
2018	76.6	36 of 186	80.6%	★★★★☆
2017	62.8	59 of 180	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	68.0	62 of 246	74.8%	★★★★☆
2014	61.6	94 of 218	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.4	93 of 223	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.5	97 of 227	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	63.8	94 of 223	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	68.0	82 of 229	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	50.6	126 of 226	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	69.0	81 of 219	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	60.7	104 of 212	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.6	123 of 218	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	57.8	111 of 213	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	61.6	56 of 154	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.2	34 of 142	76.1%	★★★★☆
2023	77.4	23 of 152	84.9%	★★★★☆
2022	80.5	17 of 143	88.1%	★★★★☆
2019	76.8	30 of 159	81.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	55.2	57 of 125	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.2	30 of 122	75.4%	★★★★☆
2023	70.8	23 of 119	80.7%	★★★★☆
2019	77.6	22 of 147	85.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	35.9	99 of 149	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.3	73 of 150	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.5	100 of 148	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	69.2	34 of 148	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	87.0	9 of 142	93.7%	★★★★★
2019	66.5	49 of 159	69.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	37.3	96 of 139	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.7	42 of 133	68.4%	★★★★☆
2023	30.8	106 of 138	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	63.5	41 of 137	70.1%	★★★★☆
2021	50.6	64 of 127	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.6	47 of 147	68.0%	★★★☆☆

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)

Female (2025)64th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)54th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile-17 vs school

White (2025)31st percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

Science52%+14 vs state

Mathematics42%+10 vs state

English Language Arts37%+4 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Willow Elementary and help other families decide.

Rate Willow Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Willow Elementary

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 3rd Grade	STAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	STAR English Language Arts All Grades	STAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 5th Grade	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Willow Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	31706 W Parks Hwy	Willow	99688	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 495-9300	127	10	12.7	66.1%	96 (75.6%)	1 (0.8%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (13.4%)	49.9	86^th of 175 public elementary schools	50.9%		69	46^th of 173 public elementary schools	73.4%	40	36.0	38.1	37.5				37.1	24.0	65.0	41.7				42.0	52.2		52.2	$18,751	$1,867	$16,884
Big Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	Mile 4.5 South Big Lake Rd	Big Lake	99652	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 892-9700	362	22	16.2	61.9%	220 (60.8%)	2 (0.6%)	28 (7.7%)	3 (0.8%)	40 (11.0%)	4 (1.1%)	65 (18.0%)	40.1	109^th of 175 public elementary schools	37.7%		48.2	94^th of 173 public elementary schools	45.7%	15	24.6	35.4	32.7				30.4	46.2	33.3	34.6				38.7	44.6		44.6	$15,634	$2,351	$13,283
Meadow Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1741 Pittman Rd	Wasilla	99687	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-6100	308	25	12.3	65.9%	181 (58.8%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (6.2%)	3 (1.0%)	37 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (21.8%)	16.7	151^st of 175 public elementary schools	13.7%		13.6	149^th of 173 public elementary schools	13.9%	2	22.7	15.5	29.0				21.4	34.1	8.5	12.8				17.6	32.5		32.5	$18,303	$2,517	$15,787
Midnight Sun Family Learning Center	Public, Charter	K-8	7275 W Midnight Sun Cir	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 357-6786	189	8	23.6		140 (74.1%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.3%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (14.8%)	77.8	27^th of 175 public elementary schools	84.6%		76.4	27^th of 173 public elementary schools	84.4%		39.1	39.4	73.7	38.9	40.9	45.5	45.2	65.2	60.6	84.2	50.0	54.6	36.4	60.3	83.3	45.5	69.0	$20,311	$100	$20,211
Goose Bay Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	6400 Hollywood Blvd	Wasilla	99687	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-6400	305	21	14.5	43.3%	200 (65.6%)	1 (0.3%)	25 (8.2%)	2 (0.7%)	21 (6.9%)	2 (0.7%)	54 (17.7%)								(n/a)																		$17,882	$1,993	$15,889
Knik Elementary School	Public	K-5	6350 W Hollywood	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-0300	263	16	16.4	48.3%	137 (52.1%)	1 (0.4%)	25 (9.5%)	3 (1.1%)	20 (7.6%)	5 (1.9%)	72 (27.4%)	50.3	84^th of 175 public elementary schools	52.0%		51.6	88^th of 173 public elementary schools	49.1%	4	26.4	41.5	47.4				38.2	42.5	42.6	39.2				41.5	44.2		44.2	$14,106	$925	$13,181

Frequently Asked Questions about Willow Elementary

What schools do graduates of Willow Elementary attend?

Students who attend Willow Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Susitna Valley High

What district is Willow Elementary in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

How many students attend Willow Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 127 students attended Willow Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Willow Elementary?

Students at Willow Elementary are 76% White, 13% Two or more races, 7% American Indian, 3% Hispanic.

Is Willow Elementary a good school?

Willow Elementary ranks 86^th of 175 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Willow Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

AKAlaska Elementary School Rankings

AKAlaska District Rankings

Schools in Willow, AK

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Willow Elementary!

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.