Best Public Schools in Chugiak, AK

Chugiak, Alaska—a suburban community within the Municipality of Anchorage—is served by three public schools, Chugiak Elementary (PK–6), Mirror Lake Middle School (6–8), and Chugiak High School (9–12), which together enroll about 1,938 students in the Anchorage School District. Although that district ranks only near the middle of Alaska's 23 school districts, this Chugiak cluster is a standout relative to the rest: all three schools currently earn 4-star ratings and rank in the top 30 percent of their respective school categories statewide.

Chugiak Elementary is the strongest all-around school in the group, ranking 30th of 166 Alaska elementary schools (82nd percentile) with the highest proficiency rates in every subject—including 60 percent math and 66.2 percent science, both far above statewide averages near 32–38 percent. It also has the smallest classes (17.3 students per teacher) and the lowest economic-disadvantage rate. Chugiak High School deserves attention for a dramatic two-year rise from 25th to 12th place statewide and an outstanding 94.2 percent graduation rate, 11 points above the district's 83.2 percent. Mirror Lake Middle School is notable for its exceptional math proficiency of 55.94 percent—more than 20 points above the district—while its 7th-grade ELA scores lag its own 6th- and 8th-grade results by roughly 11 points, suggesting a possible cohort soft spot.

All three Chugiak schools beat district and state averages in most subjects, but families should note that math proficiency declines sharply by school level, from 60 percent at Chugiak Elementary to 55.9 percent at Mirror Lake Middle and 37.3 percent at Chugiak High. The high school's math scores jumped nearly 15 points in a single year, from 22.4 percent to 37.3 percent, moving it from below to above district and state averages. Spending does not neatly explain outcomes: Chugiak High spends about $15,696 per student yet posts the lowest proficiency, while Chugiak Elementary spends the least ($12,355) and posts the highest. Overall, this is a stable, improving cluster of schools that out-performs its district and offers strong options for families at every grade level.