Haines Borough School District

Haines Borough School District is a small Alaska district serving roughly 255 students across three schools: Haines Elementary (PK–8), Haines High School (9–12), and Haines Home School (K–12). The district ranks in the middle-lower range of Alaska districts overall, but that ranking hides big differences among its schools.

Haines Elementary is the academic anchor of the district. It is the only traditional school that meets or beats state averages in all three tested subjects, with especially strong science and math results. Third grade is a clear highlight, while fifth grade math and ELA lag well behind state averages. By contrast, Haines High School is the district’s biggest concern: it posts a perfect 100% graduation rate but only 16.67% science proficiency and 25% ELA proficiency, far below state averages. Its recent ranking has fallen sharply. Haines Home School is difficult to compare because it only reports math proficiency, which is strong at 50%, but it has no school ranking, no ELA or science scores, and a very low 33.3% graduation rate tied to a tiny enrollment.

Several patterns stand out for parents. Science performance drops dramatically between the elementary years and high school, while math and ELA also weaken. The high school’s high graduation rate exists alongside low proficiency, suggesting students graduate without necessarily meeting state academic benchmarks. Spending differences are also notable: the high school spends about $23,605 per student, the elementary school about $21,221, and the home school just $7,180, yet higher spending does not consistently produce higher proficiency. Both traditional schools serve a majority low-income student population, and the elementary school still outperforms state averages in math and science. Given the small size of these schools, especially the high school and home school, year-to-year swings can be dramatic, so the latest results should be read with some caution.