Cordova Junior/Senior High School

Cordova Junior/Senior High School is a small combined secondary school serving 126 students in grades 7 through 12 in the remote coastal community of Cordova, Alaska, and it currently ranks 14th out of 62 Alaska high schools, placing it in the top quarter statewide with a 4-star rating. The school's district, Cordova City School District, is ranked 2nd out of 23 districts in Alaska with a 5-star rating. There are no other schools within 20 miles, so direct comparisons to nearby schools aren't possible here, but against statewide benchmarks, Cordova compares very favorably.

Academically, the school consistently outperforms Alaska statewide proficiency averages across all core subjects. In the most recent year, English Language Arts proficiency came in at 49.3% versus 32.9% statewide, with math and science also scoring well above state levels. The school is small by design, with a student-teacher ratio around 10.6 to 12.0, which means students receive a relatively high level of adult support. One of the most distinctive strengths is how well the school serves groups often underserved elsewhere: it ranks #1 in the state for both low-income and migrant students, which is especially meaningful given that roughly two-thirds of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch. Female students also rank #1 among Alaska high schools. The graduation rate has stayed strong and stable, averaging about 92.5% over the past five years.

The clearest area to watch is math. While overall math proficiency is above the state average, grade-level results show a steep drop between 7th grade (65.5% proficient) and 8th grade (28.6% proficient), so parents of 7th graders may want to ask how the school supports that transition. Also, with a student body of just 126, year-to-year ranking swings can look dramatic even when they reflect only a handful of students. Looking at the longer trend, the school has ranked above the Alaska median in nearly every year for the past decade, with current performance reflecting a pattern of consistent success rather than a one-year fluke.