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Houghtaling Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-6

136^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 175 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 22% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Houghtaling Elementary is a public elementary school located in Ketchikan, Alaska, serving grades PK-6 with a student population of 289. It is part of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, which is ranked 17th out of 24 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Houghtaling Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Alaska elementary schools, with a ranking between 103-143 out of 171-186 schools over the past several years. The school's performance on standardized tests is generally below the district and state averages, particularly in 4th grade where only 15% of students are proficient in English Language Arts and 7.5% are proficient in Mathematics. The school has a relatively high percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with 58.13% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2023-2024. However, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 10.3 and higher per-student spending of $21,228 in 2018-2019 compared to nearby schools.

Compared to the nearby schools in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, such as Richard Johnson Elementary, Point Higgins School, Fawn Mountain Elementary, Ketchikan Charter School, and Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School, Houghtaling Elementary generally performs worse on standardized tests, with lower proficiency rates in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. To address these challenges, the school may need to implement more targeted interventions and strategies to support its students and improve its overall academic performance.

310

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,228

Per pupil spending ?

52.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2940 Baranof
Ketchikan, AK 99901

(907) 225-4128

District: Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District

Students who attend Houghtaling Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Schoenbar Middle School
High:	Ketchikan High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.3%

American Indian:

33.2%

Asian:

14.5%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Houghtaling Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 67th percentile in 2014 → 22nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 45 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school27%

District avg33%

Alaska avg33%

136^th of 175

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 41 pts since 2015

From top 37% (2015) to bottom 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District

17^th of 24Ketchikan Gateway 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	24.0	136 of 175	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.5	133 of 173	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.5	115 of 176	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.5	104 of 171	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.1	103 of 173	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.5	141 of 185	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.1	143 of 186	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	49.0	90 of 180	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.7	90 of 246	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	68.2	73 of 218	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	56.5	116 of 223	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	55.2	120 of 227	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	63.6	95 of 223	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	74.9	53 of 229	76.9%	★★★★☆
2009	74.9	50 of 226	77.9%	★★★★☆
2008	64.3	92 of 219	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.0	101 of 212	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	61.5	108 of 218	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	47.3	137 of 213	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	76.0	5 of 27	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	81.3	3 of 36	91.7%	★★★★★
2022	81.2	2 of 26	92.3%	★★★★★
2021	55.9	9 of 25	64.0%	★★★★☆
2019	42.6	23 of 41	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2021	51.6	9 of 22	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	77.3	6 of 41	85.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	19.8	126 of 154	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.3	103 of 142	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.9	89 of 152	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.0	67 of 143	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.9	75 of 141	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.2	117 of 159	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2021	31.7	74 of 110	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.4	108 of 147	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	103 of 149	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.6	105 of 150	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.7	97 of 148	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.4	111 of 148	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.2	110 of 142	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.9	132 of 159	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	64.5	10 of 28	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.8	5 of 20	75.0%	★★★★☆
2023	28.7	16 of 23	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.3	9 of 22	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.3	36 of 50	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	20 of 29	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	8.3	134 of 139	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.0	126 of 133	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	33.0	103 of 138	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.8	101 of 137	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.2	117 of 127	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	32.1	107 of 147	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Asian (2025)81st percentile+59 vs school

Native American (2025)64th percentile+42 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)59th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)33rd percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2025)31st percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)31st percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)18th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)4th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts29%-4 vs state

Science28%-10 vs state

Mathematics25%-7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, April 24, 2022

My daughter attends 2nd grade here. Her teacher has been nothing but wonderful. The front office staff and administration are always helpful and friendly. They remember students' names so well. While the building is older than other local schools, it is kept clean and well maintained. The smaller class sizes are great as well! My daughter has had a wonderful year here! She is always excited to go, which is a good sign. Close Quote

Schools Near Houghtaling 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
Houghtaling Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2940 Baranof	Ketchikan	99901	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 225-4128	310	26	11.9	52.6%	131 (42.3%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (1.0%)	45 (14.5%)	103 (33.2%)	4 (1.3%)	22 (7.1%)	24	136^th of 175 public elementary schools	22.3%		24.5	133^rd of 173 public elementary schools	23.1%	3	23.1	15.0	37.0	38.9			28.6	22.5	7.5	28.3	42.9			24.8	28.3		28.3	$21,228	$1,764	$19,464
Ketchikan Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	410 Schoenbar Rd	Ketchikan	99901	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(907) 225-8568	190	13	15.2	56.3%	71 (37.4%)	5 (2.6%)	2 (1.1%)	12 (6.3%)	79 (41.6%)	4 (2.1%)	17 (8.9%)	24.6	134^th of 175 public elementary schools	23.4%		30.4	125^th of 173 public elementary schools	27.7%	9	20.0	30.4	35.0	23.1	29.2	12.0	24.8		17.4	52.6	23.1	37.5	12.0	25.8	30.0	12.0	20.0	$19,534	$1,276	$18,257
Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	410 Schoenbar Rd	Ketchikan	99901	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(907) 225-5720	140	10	14.7		76 (54.3%)	2 (1.4%)	3 (2.1%)	7 (5.0%)	45 (32.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.0%)	27.9	128^th of 175 public elementary schools	26.9%		23.6	135^th of 173 public elementary schools	22.0%	7	25.0	21.4	20.8				21.5		21.4	37.5	36.4			26.2	45.8		45.8	$20,938	$1,793	$19,145
Fawn Mountain Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	400 Old Homestead Rd	Ketchikan	99901	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 228-2200	210	21	10.0	40.0%	111 (52.9%)	3 (1.4%)	3 (1.4%)	5 (2.4%)	72 (34.3%)	1 (0.5%)	15 (7.1%)	58.4	74^th of 175 public elementary schools	57.7%		60.4	72^nd of 173 public elementary schools	58.4%	2	37.9	25.0	66.7	51.6			44.0	48.3	31.3	50.0	45.2			43.1				$20,172	$1,593	$18,580
Point Higgins School	Public	PK, KG-6	981 North Point Higgins Rd NTG	Ketchikan	99901	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 247-1500	204	18	11.3	22.1%	142 (69.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	4 (2.0%)	37 (18.1%)	2 (1.0%)	15 (7.4%)	48	89^th of 175 public elementary schools	49.1%		50.2	89^th of 173 public elementary schools	48.6%		48.0	22.2	39.4	51.7			39.0	56.0	44.4	30.3	37.9			41.5	36.4		36.4	$18,962	$795	$18,167
Richard Johnson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	89 Milton St	Metlakatla	99926	Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area	Annette Island School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 886-4121	130	16	8.2	96.2%	2 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	126 (96.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)	26.7	131^st of 175 public elementary schools	25.1%		15.8	148^th of 173 public elementary schools	14.5%	17	40.0	17.4	25.0				25.9	33.3	13.0	50.0				29.6	18.8		18.8	$28,715	$4,949	$23,765

Frequently Asked Questions about Houghtaling Elementary

How many students attend Houghtaling Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 310 students attended Houghtaling Elementary.

Is Houghtaling Elementary a good school?

Houghtaling Elementary ranks in the bottom 22.3% of Alaska elementary schools.

What district is Houghtaling Elementary in?

Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District

What schools do graduates of Houghtaling Elementary attend?

Students who attend Houghtaling Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Schoenbar Middle School
High : Ketchikan High School

What is the racial makeup of Houghtaling Elementary?

Students at Houghtaling Elementary are 42% White, 33% American Indian, 15% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

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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.